Q. “E. W. M.” Did the ministry of Paul, concerning “one body,” the church, commence when he was a prisoner at Rome? Because, at the conclusion of his oral testimony in Acts 26, he says to Agrippa that he was “saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come.” Now we know his written testimony goes much beyond this.
Does the Acts at all comprehend the church of God as united to Christ in heavenly glory? and is the distinction of Jew and Gentile (the absence of which characterizes the church) maintained all through the Acts?
A. In Paul’s answer before Agrippa you will find many more things stated than those embraced in verses 22, 23. The union of the saints with Christ on high is owned of the Lord by the words, “Why persecutest thou me?” (Acts 9:44And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? (Acts 9:4)). Paul was to be a minister and a witness of what he had seen, i.e, the appearing of a glorified Christ, and of those things in which He would appear to Paul — embracing fresh revelations of truth communicated through him at subsequent seasons, for all truth was not communicated to him at the moment of his conversion. But the Jews, being his accusers, and king Agrippa being one who knew the prophets and was versed in the Jewish Scriptures, the statements of the verses quoted (Acts 26:22,2322Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: 23That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should show light unto the people, and to the Gentiles. (Acts 26:22‑23)), rather show that he was saying nothing contrary to the testimony of God in the Scriptures, which the Jews who accused him professed to accept.
Besides, Paul wrote 1 Corinthians during the early part of his stay at Ephesus, and sent it by Titus (compare Acts 19:2222So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season. (Acts 19:22), with 1 Corinthians 16:8-10, 28But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost. 9For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries. 10Now if Timotheus come, see that he may be with you without fear: for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do. (1 Corinthians 16:8‑10)
2Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. (1 Corinthians 16:2) Corinthians 7:6). In it he taught the doctrine of the Church as “one body” (see chapter 12. He also wrote the Epistle to the Romans from Corinth during his ministrations there (see Rom. 16:11I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea: (Romans 16:1)), where he commends Phoebe, who served the assembly at Cenchrea, near to Corinth; and in it he speaks of the practical relationship of Christ’s members as “one body” in chapter 12.
His ministry of the church as “one body” was no new thing when at Rome. He had taught it all through before he became the prisoner of Jesus Christ.
We must remember that Acts is transitional in its character. Jewish Christians were emerging from Judaism, and God thought of the strong prejudices of His ancient people, and forbore with them until the last testimony to them in Hebrews to “go forth unto him, without the camp” (Heb. 13:1313Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. (Hebrews 13:13)) before Jerusalem was destroyed by the armies of Titus (compare Matt. 22:77But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. (Matthew 22:7)). The Acts is historic Scripture, the Epistles are doctrinal. This accounts for much; but strong traces abound throughout the book of the Acts to prove that the doctrine of “one body,” the church, was the groundwork of all, and that care was taken to maintain the unity. Samaria must receive the Holy Spirit from Jerusalem (Acts 8). Antioch was not permitted to settle the question as to the law, and so to create a breach with Jerusalem (Acts 15). Jerusalem herself must surrender the right of imposing the law on Gentiles. So in many instances.
Words of Truth 5:218, 219.