Did Jesus have anything to do with the Gentiles during His earthly ministry?
During His earthly ministry, Jesus focused on Israel, not the Gentiles. He commanded the Twelve not to go into the way of the Gentiles or Samaritans but only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Only after Israel rejected Him would He turn to the Gentiles, though there were some exceptions.
Les explains that when Christ began His earthly ministry, He commanded the twelve not to go into the way of a Gentile or any city of the Samaritan, but to go only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. He notes that people have a hard time swallowing this. He recalls a tour group member who became angry and asked, “You mean to tell me that Jesus did not have anything to do with the Gentiles?” The answer given was that the Book says He came only to the Jew, and when Israel rejected it, then He would turn to the Gentile. Les also stresses that from the call of Abraham until well into the Book of Acts, it is Jew only, with some exceptions, and he does not want anyone to forget that part. This sets up the timeline as they move into Acts.