When and why did Paul turn from going to the Jews first and go to the Gentiles?
After about thirty years of taking the Gospel to the synagogue first, Paul declared, 'From henceforth we go to the Gentiles.' Israel as a nation had continued to reject the message, so the Gospel then went primarily to the Gentiles, though it remains open to any Jew who believes.
Les explains that as Paul began his earthly ministry in Acts, he went first to the synagogue of the Jew in every place, a logical starting point because Israel had been God's covenant people, steeped in the Word and the very writers of Scripture. But after about thirty years of continued rejection, Paul made his final statement: from henceforth we go to the Gentiles, because Israel as a nation was rejecting the Gospel. Les notes that for the last 1900 and some years the Gospel has gone primarily to the Gentiles, yet it remains open to a Jew, who must come the same way, since there is no difference.
Why did Paul go to the Jews first in the Book of Acts?
Paul went to the Jews first in Acts because Israel had been God’s covenant people, were steeped in the Word, and were the writers of Scripture. The synagogue was the logical starting place. After about thirty years of national rejection, he turned to the Gentiles, though the Gospel remains open to Jews on the same terms.
Why did Paul say 'from henceforth we go to the Gentiles'?
Paul declared this because Israel as a nation was rejecting the Gospel after roughly thirty years of ministry, even though they were the covenant people and the synagogue was the logical starting place. Therefore the precious Gospel turned primarily to the Gentiles, though Jews may still come the same way by faith.