Chapter 6 gives us what hinders this life. “Now is the accepted time,” &c., applies to the place Christ is in. It is analogous to Eph. 4 —the gifts there, the ministry here. The Holy Ghost borrows that part of the prophecy in Isa. 49,
“I have heard Thee,” for this “Thee” that we do not know after the flesh. What is true now of it is, that He has been rejected; the thing that is suspended is, “Yet shall I be glorious.” “Now is the accepted time” for the ministry to take effect. To have the heart straitened is receiving the grace in vain.
The ministry is still the subject now, as forming the ministers themselves, and in its separating power; what is external tending to produce what is internal; then leading to superiority over circumstances—this victorious character, “as poor, yet making many rich,” &c. It is the power of life from a risen Christ.
The introduction of the Holy Ghost is as varied as that of the Son. Joel 2, being connected with the Holy Ghost, must come into the Acts, but never would contain what we find in “the promise of the Father.” Here (v. 6) He characterizes the minister as “kindness,” &c.
The way Paul arrives at enlargement is by subjugation of the flesh, and being filled with. the Holy Ghost. The way to be enlarged is, “Be ye not unequally yoked.” A saint would never get into trouble if he kept things asunder; but we come in with our shadings, and put Christ and Belial together. It is very beautiful to see how the Holy Ghost never lets the people off the ground of grace: “I will be their God,” &c. On that He grounds the “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate,” &c. They know Christ-they know Belial; they know light-they know darkness. Christ breaks the “concord,” “agreement,” “fellowship,” that the devil is always seeking.