How did the ministry shift from Peter and Israel to Paul and the Gentiles?
God raised up Saul of Tarsus after Peter’s early Acts ministry to Israel and made it plain that Saul would be sent to the Gentiles. This transition followed Paul’s flight from Damascus, and Galatians chapter 1 brings the account up to date.
Les teaches that the shift is seen by going back to Acts and tracing the early chapters, when Peter was still dealing with the nation of Israel. Then God raised up Saul of Tarsus and made it plain as day that this man was now going to be sent to the Gentiles. That is shown in Acts chapter 9, where Paul was lowered in a basket over the wall because of threats on his life. After he fled from Damascus, Galatians chapter 1 brings the account up to date. So the ministry moves from Peter and Israel to Paul and the Gentiles through God’s raising up of Saul of Tarsus and his later flight from Damascus.
What change involving Israel and the Gentiles happened with the Apostle Paul?
With the Apostle Paul, a change occurred: instead of Israel going out to the nations with the Gospel, God commissioned Saul of Tarsus as the Apostle of the Gentiles. God told Ananias not to fear Saul, for He had commissioned him specifically to the Gentiles.
What did the Lord say to Paul at his conversion about the Gentiles?
At Paul's conversion on the road to Damascus, the Lord told him He would send him far hence to the Gentiles. This commission marked God's turning from Israel to the heathen or Gentile world, and Paul received the gospel by revelation of Jesus Christ, not from men.