If the present dispensation didn't begin at Acts 13 then when did it begin and present your evidence? I will give the evidence I think proves that it began at Acts 13.
Here are three quotes from the pen of Paul where he speaks of a "dispensation" that has been committed or given to him:
"If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me toward you" (Eph. 3:2).
"Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God" (Col.1:25).
"...a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me" (1 Cor.9:17).
The "dispensation" which was committed to Paul is in regard to "God's grace", a "ministry", and a "gospel." Here Paul sums up his dispensational responsibility:
"But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God" (Acts 20: 24).
In
Bibliotheca Sacra, a journal published by Dallas Theological Seminary, Roy L. Aldrich quotes these three verses (Eph.3:2; Col.1:25; 1 Cor.9:17) and then says,
"These passages use the word 'dispensation' (or 'stewardship') to describe the sacred commission or trust to preach the gospel" (Aldrich, "A New Look at Dispensationalism,"
Bibliotheca Sacra, January-March, 1963, Vol.120, Number 477, p.43).
There can be no doubt whatsoever that the event which marks the beginning of the "dispensation of grace" is the preaching of the "gospel of grace." And that happened at Acts 13:49.
Nope. Its Acts 9. I'll address why, in a sec.
Like I said, your understanding is from that earlier Mid-Acts of O'Hair and even Early Bullinger.
Before Bullinger ended up at Acts 28, he used to hold the Acts 13 Position.
Which actually shows a flaw in his study approach and which in his case, ended him up at holding the Acts 28 Position.
Meaning, he never did rightly solve for where his study approach was off.
What else could it mean, but that.
In contrast, although O'Hair had flirted with the Acts 28 Position for a time, in the end he settled for the Acts 13 Position that Bullinger had already moved on from; thinking he (Bullinger) had found a much sounder approach.
In contrast, O'Hair was almost unique among all those men; his study approach was ever open to any further refinement anyone who might come along might point out to him.
As a result, for a time, O'Hair had flirted with the Acts 28 Position.
Because he was ever open to hearing a thing out, because he was aware that his study approach had failed to allow him to solve for seeming discrepancies between Paul's writings and his behaviours.
In the end, however, he shifted how he approached his studies.
In turn, that resulted in his ending up at, and settling on, the Acts 13 Position that Bullinger had once held.
It is fascinating how these great men influenced one another, often; unintentionally.
Though Ironside for example, had been a great enemy TO O'Hair, the great man (O'Hair) was nevertheless able to learn from the holes in his understandings that his run in with Ironside had resulted in his being able to see.
At which point, O'Hair would go back to the drawing board, and revise his thinking on one thing or another.
And he ever remained open to whomever might come along and help him understand a thing a bit better.
He was really almost unique in that quality.
Bullinger was also like that, but his study approach was a bit more flawed than O'Hair's.
Again, O'Hair remained ever open to revising his views.
Which brings me to why I hold the Acts 9 Position as the beginning of this present Dispensation: ever being willing to examine my own study approach.
The following being the result.
First of all, there is this...
1 Timothy 1:11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust. 1:12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; 1:13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 1:14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. 1:16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
But there is also the Gentiles Paul had preached to BEFORE Acts 13.
I believe O'Hair simply did not see the following.
That he would have eventually, had he lived longer.
For we have their shoulders to stand on, and to build even finer distinctions on.
Baker was also not Acts 9.
Stam was Acts 9, but why was escapes me at the moment.
I'll have to check his huge commentary on Acts to see if he saw the following: Paul's activity in between Acts 9 and Acts 13...
Acts 9:28 And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem. 9:29 And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him. 9:30 Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus. 9:31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.
So he goes off to Tarsus. Where is that, and what did he do there?
Acts 21:39 But Paul said, I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and, I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the people.
Tarsus was in Cilicia.
Next, note the following...
Galatians 1:20 Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not. 1:21 Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia; 1:22 And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ: 1:23 But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed. 1:24 And they glorified God in me.
So in Acts 9, he left Jerusalem and headed for "the regions beyond" a huge 300 miles away to "the regions of Syria and Cilicia (which is where Tarsus was).
What did he do there?
We read in...
Acts 11:25 Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
So we see that Barnabas headed out to those regions far beyond Jerusalem for to seek Saul.
So what did THEY do there, after Barnabas joined him, and BEFORE he returned with him to Antioch?
He joined Paul in preaching among the Gentiles there. We read about Paul and Barnabas' activities among said Gentiles, and their results, in the following...
Acts 15:22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: 15:23 And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:
Acts 15:36 And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the LORD, and see how they do.
15:40 And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God. 15:41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.
The churches - plural.
There you have Paul's highly successful, Acts 9 ministry among "the heathen."
Galatians 1:11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. 1:12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1:13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: 1:14 And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers. 1:15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, 1:16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: 1:17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. 1:18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. 1:19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother. 1:20 Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not. 1:21 Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia; 1:22 And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ: 1:23 But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed. 1:24 And they glorified God in me.
Galatians 2:1 Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also. 2:2 And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.
The Acts 9 Position.
Think on that. This gospel "among the heathen" that he had uniquely been separated unto was NOT a continuation of Israel's hope and promises - for as had been the case with their gospel (theirs had been handed down) Paul had not received his from any man, neither was he taught it, but by revelation of the Lord Himself to him, personally.
In contrast, their gospel and bits "world to come" being the same gospel that theirs had ever been; had been handed down unto them...
Hebrews 2:1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. 2:2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; 2:4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? 2:5 For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.
Not so with this Mystery gospel.
Mid-Acts to the max is fine.
But only so long as it is...
Acts 9.
Nevertheless, Rom. 14:5, in memory of Rom. 5: 6-8 - in each our stead.
