Interesting that the publishing of the gospel to all the nations is sandwiched between 2 versus depicting the being brought before counsels and kings for a testimony against them and how we are to proceed into these trials.
This was the work of the Spirit not Paul. Not simply because of being called, not simply because of having hands laid upon by the elders, but by being filled with the Holly Spirit. The Spirit is not at our beck and call, we are at His. Being filled is being surrendered to, hungering/thirsting/being meek/being poor in spirit/presenting ourselves a living sacrifice/being faithful in the little things so that larger things can be done. In other words submitting to Christ's present tense Lordship.
Think of what the perception of God was before these acts. He was mostly full of promises. He had accomplished some necessary judgments (flood, Sodom), talked now and then to direct an individual. This is the first though that He had revealed with a mighty hand a entire people; first He had used one people to show forth His power to all other people and thereby spread the prophesy of the coming Christ. Now He will be right on top of these chosen people for a time to show us His precise nature.
2012 - pBiblx2 Field Wise Bible System Version 2.0.9d - GPL3
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