To The Jew First
"This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses…the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses…Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead…And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great GRACE was upon them all...I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile... (Acts 2:32; 3:15; 4:10, 33; Romans 1:16)
The message of the Jewish disciples to the Jewish people was the RESURRECTION of "Jesus Christ of Nazareth". The resurrection of Jesus proved he was their Messiah and Savior. And when they shared that they had witnessed his resurrection - "great GRACE was upon them all".
At first they went ONLY to their fellow Israelites. Then Cornelius, a devout and God-fearing Gentile, had a vision and sent for Peter. Peter told him about the RESURRECTION of Jesus and Cornelius and his household believed. For the first time, the Jewish followers realized that both ethnic Jews and "DEVOUT AND GOD-FEARING" Gentiles would be included in the Kingdom of God.
The message of the Jewish disciples to the Jewish people was the RESURRECTION of "Jesus Christ of Nazareth". The resurrection of Jesus proved he was their Messiah and Savior. And when they shared that they had witnessed his resurrection - "great GRACE was upon them all".
At first they went ONLY to their fellow Israelites. Then Cornelius, a devout and God-fearing Gentile, had a vision and sent for Peter. Peter told him about the RESURRECTION of Jesus and Cornelius and his household believed. For the first time, the Jewish followers realized that both ethnic Jews and "DEVOUT AND GOD-FEARING" Gentiles would be included in the Kingdom of God.
"At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly...The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles." (Acts 10:1-2,45)
Years later the Jew Saul (Paul) encountered the RESURRECTED Jesus on the road to Damascus and became a witness of his resurrection. At first, Paul spoke ONLY at synagogues where Jews and God-fearing gentiles were allowed. But on his first missionary journey he went to Cyprus where Sergius Paulus, the gentile governor under the Roman ruler Claudius, asked Paul to tell him about the Word of God. And for the first time, a Gentile who was NOT "devout and God-fearing" believed. Paul realized that salvation was the destiny for ALL mankind, not just Jews and Gentile God-fearers, and he taught this truth for the rest of his life under great persecution.
"It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all mankind, especially of believers. Prescribe and teach these things." (1 Timothy 4:9-11)
People who believe and teach this are still persecuted. The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus is still the primary message, and the result of his resurrection is the "gift" of Salvation to "ALL mankind" by the "GRACE" of our loving and merciful God.
"For the GRACE of God has appeared bringing salvation to all mankind…so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His GRACE in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by GRACE you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the GIFT of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.…" (Titus 2:11; Ephesians 2:7-10)
Years later the Jew Saul (Paul) encountered the RESURRECTED Jesus on the road to Damascus and became a witness of his resurrection. At first, Paul spoke ONLY at synagogues where Jews and God-fearing gentiles were allowed. But on his first missionary journey he went to Cyprus where Sergius Paulus, the gentile governor under the Roman ruler Claudius, asked Paul to tell him about the Word of God. And for the first time, a Gentile who was NOT "devout and God-fearing" believed. Paul realized that salvation was the destiny for ALL mankind, not just Jews and Gentile God-fearers, and he taught this truth for the rest of his life under great persecution.
"It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all mankind, especially of believers. Prescribe and teach these things." (1 Timothy 4:9-11)
People who believe and teach this are still persecuted. The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus is still the primary message, and the result of his resurrection is the "gift" of Salvation to "ALL mankind" by the "GRACE" of our loving and merciful God.
"For the GRACE of God has appeared bringing salvation to all mankind…so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His GRACE in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by GRACE you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the GIFT of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.…" (Titus 2:11; Ephesians 2:7-10)