How did God begin to deal with the Gentiles in Acts?
In Acts, God began dealing with the Gentiles by raising up the apostle Paul and then initiating Gentile dealings at the house of Cornelius, even through Peter's preaching. This shift occurred as Israel fell away and the Church came up, and God turned to the Gentile, though not exclusively, as some Jews were still saved.
Les explains that during the first seven to eight years of the book of Acts, God was still dealing with Israel. Then He raised up the apostle Paul and began the Gentile dealing with the house of Cornelius, even at Peter's preaching. Les says it had to be that way so Peter could come to Paul's defense. Les also notes that Israel falls away, the Gentiles come up, and the Church comes up—that is the book of Acts. He prefers to view Acts primarily as the fall of the nation of Israel, because Israel finally rejects their Messiah completely and will not have Him as their king. God then puts them into dispersion, takes away their temple, and turns to the Gentile—not exclusively, since some Jews are still being saved, but for the most part the last 1900 and some years have been God calling out Gentiles, comprising the Body of Christ. Les points out that Acts was written by the same author as the Gospel of Luke, namely Luke, who addressed it to Theophilus and referenced his former treatise about all Jesus began to do and teach.