The Gospel According To A King James Bible

The Revolving Door from Israel to the Nations

 

Opening of the Door 'Of Faith'

 

The opening of one door led to the closing of another door.

 

Acts 13:1-3 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. 3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

 

• As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them

• And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away

 

Acts 13:5-12 And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister. 6 And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-jesus: 7 Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. 9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, 10 And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? 11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand. 12 Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.

 

• they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews

• they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-jesus

• Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God

• But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith

• Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him

• And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?

• And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand

• Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord

 

Acts 14:26-28 And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled. 27 And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles. 28 And there they abode long time with the disciples.

 

• And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled

• And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them

• and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles

 

The opening of one door led to the closing of another! As the door ‘of faith’ is being opened up to the Gentiles in Acts 13, an immediate event is recorded clearly indicating what direction God is going to take Paul’s gospel ‘of faith’.

 

Not Seeing the Sun for a Season

 

A certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-jesus, sought to turn away the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man, from the faith who desired to hear the word of God. Not only did this Gentile end up believing, but what must also be noted is that this pattern, of the first Gentiles being saved during this mid Acts period, have all been hanging in and around the synagogues! Saul’s name now changes to Paul, as well as being reflected in the name of this first Gentile convert recorded under his ministry.

 

The major point to be made here, in Paul’s encounter with this false prophet, is that of staying within the context of Israel being blinded for a season, in being a mystery … “And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.

 

Romans 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

 

• For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery

• lest ye should be wise in your own conceits

• that blindness in part is happened to Israel

• until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in

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The door of priority slowly beings to change as we witness it closing in the last chapter of Acts.

 

Acts 13:46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

 

• It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you

• but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life

• lo, we turn to the Gentiles

 

Acts 28:16-31 And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him. 17 And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. 18 Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me. 19 But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of. 20 For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain. 21 And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judaea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came shewed or spake any harm of thee. 22 But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against. 23 And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening. 24 And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not. 25 And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers, 26 Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: 27 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. 28 Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it. 29 And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves. 30 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, 31 Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.

 

• And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together

• he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans

• For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain

• But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against

• there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening

• And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not

• And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers, Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

• Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it

• And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves

 

In Acts 28, the door of priority, to the Jew first, had been officially closed as the mystery of Israel’s blindness, in part, is now fully in place until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.