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The Acts of the Apostles
When the mind of man is brought into communion with the mind
of God, the finite with the Infinite, the effect on body and mind and
soul is beyond estimate. In such communion is found the highest
education. It is God’s own method of development. “Acquaint now
thyself with Him” (
Job 22:21
), is His message to mankind.
The solemn charge that had been given Paul on the occasion of his
interview with Ananias, rested with increasing weight upon his heart.
When, in response to the word, “Brother Saul, receive thy sight,” Paul
had for the first time looked upon the face of this devout man, Ananias
under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit said to him: “The God of our
fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know His will, and see
that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of His mouth. For thou
shalt be His witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.
And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy
sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”
Acts 22:13-16
.
These words were in harmony with the words of Jesus Himself,
who, when He arrested Saul on the journey to Damascus, declared:
“I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister
and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those
things in the which I will appear unto thee; delivering thee from the
people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, to open
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their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power
of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and
inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in Me.”
Acts 26:16-18
.
As he pondered these things in his heart, Paul understood more
and more clearly the meaning of his call “to be an apostle of Jesus
Christ through the will of God.”
1 Corinthians 1:1
. His call had come,
“not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father.”
Galatians 1:1
. The greatness of the work before him led him to give
much study to the Holy Scriptures, in order that he might preach the
gospel “not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be
made of none effect,” “but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,”
that the faith of all who heard “should not stand in the wisdom of men,
but in the power of God.”
1 Corinthians 1:17
;
2:4, 5
.
As Paul searched the Scriptures, he learned that throughout the
ages “not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many
noble, are called: but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world