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The Epistle to the Ephesians Chapter 3 Paul's Ministry to the Gentiles A Prisoner for the Sake of the Gentiles 1. For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles. From his prison in Rome, Paul could look back over the years of his ministry as the apostle to the Gentiles. Although the Gospel had already been heard by many Gentiles, Paul was the first to be sent by Christ on a large scale mission to the Gentile world. It because of this mission that he found himself in prison, since the Jews’ antagonism toward him at Jerusalem, which led to his imprisonment, was largely the result of his ministry to the Gentiles. (The full story of this episode in Paul’s life is found in Acts chapters twenty one to twenty seven).
Paul’s Preparation 2,3,4. If indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ). According to W.E. Vine, the word “dispensation” signifies “the management of a household or of household affairs”, that is, a stewardship. The stewardship God had given to Paul by His grace was the responsibility of making Christ known among the Gentiles. God prepared Paul for this ministry by revealing Christ to Him supernaturally, first of all on the Damascus Road, where the risen Christ both spoke to him and appeared to him personally, (Acts 22:6 - 7), and later as He revealed the truths of the Gospel to him, not through any intermediary human teacher, but by visions and revelation of the Spirit (Gal. 1:11 - 17). This accounted for Paul's understanding of the Gospel, which was briefly outlined in chapters one and two of this epistle. 5,6. Which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the Gospel. The Holy Spirit especially impressed Paul’s heart with the truth that the Gospel is for all men. It had been God’s purpose from the beginning of time that men of every nation should receive the gift of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ, and become part of a new body, the Church. This purpose was not known to men in former times, but now has been made clear by the Holy Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets.