What marks the departure from the early Peter-and-Israel section of Acts?
The departure is marked by the conversion of Saul and, then, by Peter's going to the house of the Gentile Cornelius in Acts chapter 10. This signals Israel going off the scene and Gentiles coming into God's favor under the whole system of grace.
Les explains that the first part of Acts is nothing but Peter and the nation of Israel. Then all of a sudden there is a departure. He identifies it as the conversion of Saul and then, in chapter 10, Peter going to the house of the Gentile Cornelius. Gentiles are something new. What is coming is Israel going off the scene, the Gentiles coming into God's favor under the whole system of grace. Once that is seen, Acts becomes exciting to study because it is so obvious what is happening. Peter had still been appealing to Israel on the basis of Old Testament prophecy and the Old Covenant program.