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CHAPTER 3
THE MISSION
During the recent Spanish civil war a member
of the Society of Friends made a statement which
has become the motto of that group in its
redemptive work throughout the world: "IT IS
BETTER TO LIGHT A CANDLE THAN TO CURSE THE DARK-
NESS." [Italics mine]. Such was the feeling of
Paul. He might have been cynical and discouraged
about the awful moral and religious conditions of
his time; but he felt that he would rather preach
a gospel big enough to conquer the sin in the
world. Hence he "lit his candle"; he became a
light for the Gentiles. [Thomas S. Kepler, A
SPIRITUAL JOURNEY WITH PAUL (New York: Abingdon-
Cokesbury Press, 1953), p. 31].
But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This
man [Paul] is my chosen instrument to
carry my name before the Gentiles and
their kings and before the people of
Israel. (Acts 9: 15, NIV).
Commenting on Acts 9:15, Ralph Earle says,
Saul's mission was first to the Gentiles, and only
secondly to the children of Israel; hence the
order here. Kings would include Herod Agrippa II
(chap. 26) and Nero (27:24). Charles W. Carter,
gen. ed., THE EVANGELICAL COMMENTARY (Grand Rapids:
Zondervan Publishing House, 1959), THE ACTS OF THE
APOSTLES, by Ralph Earle, p. 129.
The very title, "Apostle Paul," describes his mission.
The word APOSTLE means "one sent forth." (We would call
Paul a "missionary" today. Missionaries have a target
group. Paul's target group was the Gentiles, or the non-
Jews.) Paul claimed that he was sent forth by Christ
himself. (Acts 26:14-17; 1 Corinthians 1:1; Galatians 1:1).
Paul was not one to "sit around and think about it,"
but he "would do something about it." The zeal he expressed
while a Pharisee now was channeled in the right direction.
(ENCYCLOPAEDIA BRITANNICA, 1965 ed., s.v. "Paul, Saint," by
Elias Andrews).
In this lay his greatness, that, with unswerving
loyalty and complete subordination of self in
sacrificial service, all his diffuse powers were
so fully brought into captivity to Christ that he
lived only and wholly and magnificently for the
fulfillment of God's redemptive purpose.
(ENCYCLOPAEDIA BRITANNICA, 1965 ed., s.v. "Paul,
Saint," by Elias Andrews).
The suffering of Paul and the tremendous work of Paul have
not been wasted. The Holy Spirit started and guided a
chain-reaction down through history that is still expanding.
END