When does Acts chapter 9 take place in God's timeline, relative to Israel rejecting the Messiah?
Acts chapter 9 takes place after Israel rejected the Messiah and after Israel rejected the preaching of Peter and the Eleven in the first years following the crucifixion. In God's timeline, He then saves Saul of Tarsus and sends him far hence to the Gentiles, turning primarily to Gentiles while Israel is dispersed.
Les explains that once it was evident Israel was not going to accept their Messiah, Acts chapter 9 takes place again in God's operation. God saves the very man who was trying to destroy Him from Judaism, Saul of Tarsus. As Saul labored under blindness after the Damascus road experience, God told Ananias not to be afraid, because He would send Saul far hence to the Gentiles, and Saul would suffer for His name's sake. In the timeline, after Israel had rejected the Messiah and rejected all of Peter's and the Eleven's preaching in those first few years after the crucifixion, God sends Israel back into dispersion, especially after 70 A.D. and the destruction of the Temple. Meanwhile, He is doing just the opposite, dealing primarily with Gentiles, although Jews can come into the body of Christ individually, but not as a nation as God had dealt with them before. So Paul now comes in as the Apostle, and Romans chapter 11 verse 13 is referenced.
More Questions
When did Acts chapter 9 take place in God's timeline with Israel?
It was only when it became evident that Israel was not going to accept their Messiah that Acts chapter 9 took place in God's operation.
Why is the placement of Acts 10 after Acts 9 significant?
Acts 10 follows Acts 9 in content—not just by chapter number—because Acts 9 shows Saul, the chief of sinners, saved as the pattern and head of the line, and Acts 10 then shows the salvation of a house full of Gentiles.