Paul did not create the Gospel of grace, or the symbol of baptism. Jesus had commanded him to testify to His glorious person, and that He is the only way to God. Paul testified before the great, hushed multitude in the temple courtyard that Christ had appeared to him. Jesus, who had been crucified and rejected by the nation, now appeared in the midst of the dwelling place of the Holy God through Paul´s testimony. His words stabbed at the heart of every Jew. First, he claimed that Jesus is true God, eternally united with the Holy One, who dwellt in the temple. Second, Paul´s testimony made clear that the Jews were his murderers. For killing the Son of God and not recognizing His glory all of the Jews were instantly condemned to destruction. None of those who were present in the temple saw Jesus except Paul.
Now his Lord was not meeting him personally, as he did near Damascus, but in an encounter in the temple. This second revelation of the resurrected Christ was also true. Paul´s testimony concerning the glory of the person of Jesus was born out in truth before his hearers. He did not discuss with them the issues of the law at all, but bore witness to the person of the living Jesus.
Jesus did not manifest Himself to his servant for his own spiritual enjoyment, but to build up the church of God all over the world. He commanded him, saying: “Hurry up! Do not remain sitting! Leave Jerusalem and the communion of the saints. I am commissioning you to go to the Gentiles. Yet Paul was stubborn, and did not want to go far. He preferred to stay near the dwelling place of God, where Jesus had appeared to him. He insisted on testifying to the Jews that Jesus is alive, and hoped that they would believe his testimony. After all, he had been an honorable witness to Stephen´s stoning, and was known as the killer of Christians.
Paul’s body and will were slow to Acts. He did not envision preaching to the Gentiles, nor was he willing to draw idolaters into the covenant with God. But his living Lord clearly ordered him to go to the Gentiles. He moved him out of his comfort zone, for the New Testament message is for all men, and not only for the Jews. The Lord Jesus himself expanded the borders of the Old Testament, and opened the door leading to God for all men. The age of the Gentiles has begun, and grace began to shower down upon all of God’s faithful seekers.