Basic HTML Version
Paul, September 27
But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for 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.
Acts 26:16
.
The solemn charge that had been given Paul on the occasion of his in-
terview with Ananias rested with increasing weight upon his heart. When,
in response to the invitation “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
I now send thee, to open 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
the meaning of his call to be “an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God”
(
Ephesians 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” (
1 Corinthians 1:17
), “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 2:4, 5
).—
The
Review and Herald, March 30, 1911
.
[281]
288