Q1. Gentiles

[Pastor Ralph]

Q1. (Acts 11:19-21) Why do you think it took so long for the gospel to jump over from the Jewish “fishing pond” into the vast ocean of Gentiles who need Christ? What kind of preparation did God have to do among the Jewish Christians to get them ready for this?

[Krissi]

It's my understanding that Paul was born in Tarsus (Turkey) and so returned "home" to minister among the people he knew from childhood. As there were many Jews in Tarsus, Paul probably started with his own "tribe" and then slowly expanded his ministry to include non-Jews in that city.  

God had to soften Paul's heart, first toward Christian-Jews (Damascus road) and then toward gentiles. I would imagine that this took some time as his patterns of thinking were so parochial and Pharisaical. 

But once that jump was made -- from thinking of Christians as a Jewish sect to thinking of Christians as a universal religion or a religion for everyone -- then the missionary mentality and impulse quickly blossomed. Today, we seek to evangelize every people group, giving them the bible in their own tongue and contextualizing it to fit their culture, a goal that would not be possible if we saw Christianity as limited to the Jews, or small group.

 

 

[Katy]

Q1. Jews and gentiles didn’t mix very much as the Jews considered gentiles to be pagan and unclean. They were considered unclean because they ate everything and had no dietary restrictions as the Jews had. Paul in particular because of his background of being a Pharisee would not think about having anything to do with a gentile and certainly not to sit down and eat with him. Then the Lord put Paul into a trance and showed him a vision of all kinds of animals and told him to eat. The Lord was showing him that He wanted Paul to go to the gentiles and in particular starting with Cornelius and his friends.. Because of the persecution in Jerusalem people fled  to other areas including Samaria , here the gospel is preached first by Philip and spreads to the Samaritans. Before this Jews and Samaritans did not mix as the Jews considered Samaritans to be half breeds because of intermarriage. People in Antioch started to come to Christ from there Paul brought the gospel to gentiles along the Mediterranean and as far as Rome.

 

[Yvonne Peterson]

Yes God had them start in their own country. Jews and gentiles were not together. One thought they were better than the other. God had to renew their minds as he does for us each day. 

[kreilly]

The gospel followed the same route Jesus had said it would-Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and then to the ends of the earth.  God had to prepare the hearts and minds of the Jews and Gentiles both.  He showed both Peter and Cornelius a vision.  Both were obedient to follow the Lord's instructions.  The Lord demonstrated to the Jews and Gentiles that He accepted the Gentiles by anointing them with the Spirit.  This news was sent back to Jerusalem and the Jews were obedient in accepting the Gentiles and filled with joy for them.  Change doesn't happen overnight.  These things had to happen-hearts, minds, and attitudes had to change before the people would start to truly realize the responsibility of sharing the gospel with everyone 

[haar]

1.    (Acts 11:19-21) Why do you think it took so long for the gospel to jump over from the Jewish "fishing pond" into the vast ocean of Gentiles who need Christ? What kind of preparation did God have to do among the Jewish Christians to get them ready for this?

 

There was need to prepare the Jews that salvation is also available to the Gentiles as well as to Jews. God himself determines time for everything. This ripe time came when Peter was shown a vision of different animals and told to kill and eat. When he refused for reasons of uncleanness, he was told that whatever God has made clean should not be called unclean.  
 

[hanks]

Q1. (Acts 11:19-21) Why do you think it took so long for the gospel to jump over from the Jewish "fishing pond" into the vast ocean of Gentiles who need Christ? What kind of preparation did God have to do among the Jewish Christians to get them ready for this? 
God had pre-programmed this in eternity past. All the steps had to occur in the sequence God had determined. It took a long time, because of the animosity that existed between the Samaritans and the Jewish people, which was even worse with the Gentiles. The gospel had to cross these cultural barriers. The Jewish Christians were given the Holy Spirit to help them, and to spread the gospel further than Jerusalem area, persecution occurred. This resulted in them being scattered all over the surrounding areas, even as far as Rome itself. They were now living in Gentile lands and able to tell all about the saving grace of Jesus Christ. 
 

[Old Jerry]

I think that it took so long for the gospel to jump over the Jewish “fishing pond” into the vast ocean of Gentiles was that the people that were going to spread the Good News was comfortable in their homes. They didn’t leave until a persecution happened. They had to understand what had happening.

[Irmela]

Q1. (Acts 11:19-21)

Why do you think it took so long for the gospel to jump over from the Jewish "fishing pond" into the vast ocean of Gentiles who need Christ?

What kind of preparation did God have to do among the Jewish Christians to get them ready for this?

Babies don't grow overnight.  They grow fast, yes,  but it still takes time.   Believers take time to mature, to ripen.  Before the new converts could be sent into the vast ocean of Gentiles,  they needed to be able to share in the "fish-pond of Jews".  There were still Jews that were open to the Good News of the KIngdom.  They needed to join in first.  The Good News was to be given  to the Jews first and then the Gentiles.  Home-ground first.  When they were persecuted there and the dispersion came in earnest, they were ready to pick up tools , as it were, and start off elsewhere.  In the new places they then began spreading the Word among fellow- Jews who had settled there previously then in the market places or public places where a mixture of people were gathered.  Those interested would then gather in areas where they were taught together.  

The mind-set of the Jewish Christians had to change before they could be sent to the Samaritans and the Gentiles.  They had to see them as potential fellow-believers and not view them as unclean or as a different class of people.