No—according to Les Feldick, the twelve disciples never had a ministry among the Gentiles.
Jesus specifically commanded the twelve not to go into the way of the Gentiles, but only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Even after Pentecost, they stayed in Jerusalem while others scattered. Les teaches that they were not to go beyond Israel until the King and Kingdom were in place, and because Israel rejected the King, their commission to go to the uttermost parts of the earth was never realized.
Matthew 10:5-6 — Jesus directly commands the twelve to avoid Gentiles and Samaritans and go only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Acts 8:1 — Even after persecution, the twelve remained in Jerusalem; they did not scatter to the Gentiles.
Acts 1:8 — Jesus mentions the ends of the earth only after Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria—showing a sequence the twelve never completed.
In Matthew 10:5-6, Jesus sent the twelve out with an explicit limitation: "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." The twelve's ministry was confined to Israel, not to the surrounding nations. After the resurrection, Jesus told them they would be witnesses "both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 1:8). However, the book of Acts records that even after persecution, "they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles" (Acts 8:1). The twelve remained in Jerusalem. Acts 11:19 notes that when believers were scattered, they preached to "none but unto the Jews only." Thus, Scripture itself records that the early Jewish believers, including the twelve, did not take the gospel to the Gentiles.
Les emphasizes that Jesus' instruction to the twelve was deliberately narrow: "Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and go not into any city of the Samaritans, but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." He explains that God, since Abraham's covenant, was dealing only with Israel, so the twelve had no commission to the Gentiles. Les teaches that the sequence in Acts 1:8—Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts—was future-oriented. The twelve understood they could not go beyond the borders of Israel until Israel had her King. After the King and Kingdom were in place, they could have carried Jehovah's knowledge to the ends of the earth. But because Israel rejected the King, the opportunity to proceed beyond Samaria was taken away. Even years later, Les points out that the twelve were still in Jerusalem (Acts 8:1), not derelict in their duty, because they knew the gospel to the nations was not yet theirs to preach. Instead, God raised up Paul as the apostle of the Gentiles.
Jesus commanded the twelve: "Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and go not into any city of the Samaritans, but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." Les explains this was because since Abraham's covenant, God was dealing only with His covenant people Israel—promising to make them a nation, give them a land, and one day come to them as their King and Messiah.
Yes, Samaria received the Word through the scattering of believers. Acts 8 records Philip going to Samaria, but the twelve themselves stayed in Jerusalem. Les notes that by Acts chapter 8, the twelve were still in Jerusalem even though others had been scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.
Les teaches that most people assume the twelve immediately went all over the world, but they didn't. They stayed in Jerusalem. Even believing Jews who were scattered preached to none but Jews. The twelve knew they could not go beyond the borders of Israel until Israel had her King. They were not derelict; they were waiting for Israel to repent so Christ could set up His Kingdom.
Peter and the other eleven could have taken the knowledge of Jehovah to the ends of the earth after the Kingdom was established. Les explains that under the covenant, they were not to go to the ends of the earth until they had the King. The vision in Zechariah pictures non-Jews seeking to go with a Jew because God was with him. Israel's rejection of the King interrupted that plan.
Acts 1:8 Sequence
Les reads Acts 1:8 as a literal sequence for Israel—Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, then the uttermost parts—not allegorized for today's believers.
No Gentile Gospel
Les shows the early believers, including the twelve, stayed in Jerusalem and preached only to Jews; the idea of going to Gentiles was anathema to them.
Matthew 10 Command
Jesus specifically commanded the twelve not to go to Gentiles or Samaritans, but only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Waiting for Israel's King
The twelve knew they couldn't go beyond Israel until Israel had her King; they were not derelict but hoping Israel would repent so Christ could set up His Kingdom.
Why Israel Only
Les ties the restriction to God's covenant dealings with Israel since Abraham—the promise of nation, land, and Messiah.
Paul the Apostle of the Gentiles
By Paul's time, the prophetic program was falling through the cracks and God raised up Paul as the apostle of the Gentiles while the twelve stayed with Israel.
Great Commission Not Fulfilled by Twelve
Peter and the eleven did not obey the Great Commission as usually understood—they were not remiss because they knew they couldn't go to the ends of the earth until they had the King.
Twelve Still in Jerusalem
Eight years after Pentecost, the twelve were still in Jerusalem in Acts 8 while others had scattered—showing they had no Gentile ministry.
Matthew 10:5-6: 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: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
This verse records Jesus' explicit command restricting the twelve to Israel.
Acts 1:8: But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Jesus mentions the ends of the earth as the final step in a sequence the twelve never reached.
Acts 8:1: And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
The twelve stayed in Jerusalem even while others were scattered to Judea and Samaria.
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.
The scattered Jewish believers preached only to Jews, showing no Gentile outreach.
Zechariah 8:23: Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.
Les cites this verse to show that Gentiles were meant to seek Israel's God through a Jew in the Kingdom.
No. According to Les Feldick, the twelve never had a ministry among the Gentiles. They were specifically commanded to go only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and even after Pentecost they remained in Jerusalem while others scattered.
Les teaches that the twelve knew their theology better than most people do today. They understood they were not to go to the ends of the earth until Israel had her King. Because Israel rejected the King, the opportunity to proceed beyond Samaria was taken from them.
Samaria received the word through the scattering of believers, but the twelve themselves stayed in Jerusalem. Acts 8 records that they were all scattered throughout Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.
God raised up Paul as the apostle of the Gentiles. While Israel was going down, the Gentile assembly—the church—was coming up, and Paul was the one sent to the nations.
Watch the Teaching: Why the 12 Disciples Never Preached to Gentiles — Acts 1:8