No, the early Jewish believers did not preach to the Gentiles immediately after Jesus' ascension; they preached to Jews only.
According to the evidence, the twelve apostles were commanded by Christ to go only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, not to Gentiles or Samaritans (Matthew 10:5). Even after Pentecost, the believers stayed in Jerusalem and, when scattered, preached to none but Jews. It was not until Paul's ministry that God began to turn to the Gentiles, and even then, the Jerusalem believers were shocked and resistant to the idea.
Matthew 10:5 — This verse records Jesus' explicit commandment to the Twelve not to go to Gentiles or Samaritans, directly answering the question.
The Bible clearly shows that Jesus, during His earthly ministry, commanded His twelve disciples: "Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Matthew 10:5-6). This command was a direct instruction that limited their mission to the nation of Israel. After His resurrection, Jesus told His disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father (Acts 1:4), and while He said they would be witnesses to the uttermost part of the earth (Acts 1:8), the biblical record in Acts 8 shows that the believers were scattered due to persecution and preached the word to none but Jews only (Acts 11:19).
Les Feldick emphasizes that the early Jewish believers did not immediately preach to the Gentiles. He points out that Jesus gave a commandment, not a suggestion, in Matthew 10:5, to go only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. He explains that even after Pentecost, the believers stayed in Jerusalem and had no concept that God would ever turn to the Gentiles; it was anathema to them. Les highlights that even when persecution scattered the believers, they preached to none but Jews only (Acts 11:19). This continued for years until Saul's conversion and Peter's encounter with Cornelius, but even then, Peter and the other apostles did not publicly proclaim that God was now dealing with the Gentiles without Israel. They remained silent for years, as seen in Acts 15.
Jesus commanded the Twelve to go only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, not to Gentiles or Samaritans. Les notes this was a commandment, not a suggestion.
Yes, they stayed in Jerusalem and did not go all over the world immediately. Even when scattered by persecution, they preached to none but Jews.
They had no idea God would turn to the Gentiles. Their program was based on the Abrahamic covenant with Israel first. The gospel they preached was from the Old Testament, proving Jesus was the Christ.
Christ's Commandment to the Twelve
Les teaches that Jesus commanded the Twelve to go only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, clearly excluding Gentiles and Samaritans.
Believers Preached to Jews Only
Les says the believers stayed in Jerusalem and, when scattered, preached to nobody but Jews — they had no idea God would go to the Gentiles.
Misconception About Great Commission
Les challenges the notion that after the ascension the Jews immediately went worldwide with the gospel; Acts 8 shows they did not.
No Word About Gentiles
Les notes that in Acts 1 there is no mention of going to Gentiles; everything is based on the Abrahamic covenant with Israel.
Ishmael vs. Isaac: The Allegory of Law and Grace Explained
Remember it was at Antioch that they were first called Christians. And when the Jewish believers down at Jerusalem got wind that Gentiles were being brought into a relationship with their God, they got all shook up, didn't they? And so they send men from Jerusalem all the way up to Antioch to check out and see if this is really true.
Seven Years After Pentecost
Seven years after Pentecost, the believers were still preaching to none but Jews only, showing the gospel had not yet gone to Gentiles.
Why Israel Rejected the Gospel — Acts 8 Explained
Now when it says here that they preached the word, my land, we're seven years after Pentecost. Has the New Testament been written? No. So what word are they preaching? Old Testament. Old Testament. That's all they've got. And what was the Old Testament used for? To prove that the One that Israel crucified was the Christ. That's been the message all the way through here. And it hasn't changed.
Peter's Silence
Even after Cornelius, Peter and the others said nothing publicly for years about God turning to the Gentiles directly.
Matthew 10:5: These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
This verse shows Jesus' explicit command to avoid Gentiles, directly answering the question.
Acts 11:19: Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.
This verse confirms that even after persecution, believers preached only to Jews.
Acts 1:4: And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
This shows the disciples were told to stay in Jerusalem, not to spread out globally immediately.
Because Jesus commanded them to go only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and they had no understanding that God would turn to the Gentiles until later through Paul's ministry.
Watch the Teaching: Why Paul Didn't Learn From Peter — Galatians Chapter 1 Explained