Ephesians 3:3 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

The mystery (as I wrote afore, &c.— Though St. Peter was by a vision from God sent to Cornelius, a Gentile, Acts 10 yet we do not find that this purpose of God's calling the Gentiles to be his people equally with the Jews, without any regard to circumcision or the Mosaical rites, was revealed to him, or any other of the apostles, as a doctrine which they were to preach and publish in the world; neither indeed was it needful that it should be any part of their commission to mix that in their message to the Jews, which would make them stop their ears, and refuse to hearken to the other parts of the gospel which they were more concerned to know and be instructed in. It may be asked, "To what purpose is that contained in the parenthesis in this and the following verse concerning himself?"—And indeed, without having an eye on the design of this epistle, it is difficult to give an account of it; but that being carried in view, there is nothing plainer nor more pertinent and persuasive: for what could be of more force to make them stand firm in the doctrine he had taught them, of their being exempt from circumcision and the observances of the law? If you have heard,—and I assure you in my epistle that this mystery of the gospel was revealed in a particular manner to me from heaven,—the very reading of this is enough to satisfyyou that Iam well instructed in that truth, and that you may safely depend upon what I have taught you concerning this point, notwithstanding I am in prison for it; which is a thing wherein you ought to glory, since I suffer for a truth wherein you are so nearly concerned. See ch. Ephesians 6:19-20.