The Jews reacted with violent outrage: at the word "Gentile" they rioted, demanded Paul's death, and would have torn him to pieces had Roman authorities not intervened.
In Acts 22, Paul told the Jerusalem crowd that the Lord had sent him "far hence unto the Gentiles." Up to that word they listened, but the mention of Gentiles infuriated them. Les Feldick explains that the Jews considered themselves God's chosen covenant people and saw Gentiles as having no part in that relationship, so Paul's Gentile commission provoked murderous rejection.
Acts 22:21-22 — This passage records both Paul's commission to the Gentiles and the crowd's hostile response at the word "Gentile."
When Paul stood before the hostile Jewish crowd in Jerusalem, he told them what the Lord had spoken to him: "And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles" (Acts 22:21). The Bible immediately records the crowd's reaction: "And they gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live" (Acts 22:22). Paul had also reminded the crowd of the Lord's earlier warning: "Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me" (Acts 22:18). The scriptural record itself shows that the Jewish crowd rejected even the idea that Paul was being sent to the Gentiles.
Les Feldick explains that the Jews reacted to Paul's Gentile mission with outrage because of their deeply ingrained identity as God's chosen covenant people. They were steeped in the covenant God made with Abraham and the law given through Moses, and although they understood little of it, they believed Gentiles had no part in that relationship (Clip 0). For a Jew, to put a Gentile in the same category as themselves was anathema—they couldn't stomach the thought (Clip 7). Les points to the scene in Acts 22 as proof. Paul's audience listened with rapt silence until the word "Gentile," and then a riot broke out (Clip 1). They shouted that Paul was "not fit to live" simply because he had dared to use the word "Gentile" (Clips 1, 2, 5). Les emphasizes that Israel had been blinded to her true role of being God's vehicle to reach the Gentiles; in unbelief, they rejected that role and fought Paul "every inch of the way" (Clip 1). The nation detested him because he was taking the gospel of that Jewish believer, Jesus of Nazareth, to the Gentile world (Clip 2). Les also notes that the hostility was not merely theological—it was physically violent. The crowd had already tried to kill Paul by mob rule, and had the Roman authorities not intervened, they would have torn him to pieces (Clips 4, 7). This reaction grew out of almost two thousand years of God demonstrating that Israel was separate and different. It was so hard for Jews to get that out of their system that even Peter, a believing apostle, withdrew from Gentile believers at Antioch when fellow Jews arrived (Clip 6).
In Acts 22:21-22, after Paul said the Lord sent him far hence to the Gentiles, the crowd lifted up their voices and shouted, "Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live." Les Feldick comments that they listened with rapt, silent attention until the word "Gentile"—then a riot broke out (Clip 1). The crowd had already attempted to kill Paul by mob rule before the Romans rescued him, and the uproar at the word "Gentile" was so intense that without Roman authorities they would have torn him to pieces (Clips 4, 7).
Les Feldick says the Jews were steeped in the covenant God gave to Abraham and the law He gave to Moses, and although they didn't understand much of it, they realized they were a chosen covenant people and that Gentiles had no part in that relationship (Clip 0). Their mentality, well into Paul's ministry, was that they were the only ones with any access to God; to put a Gentile in the same category was anathema to them (Clip 7). After almost two thousand years of God proving they were different and separated, it took a long time for that mindset to change (Clip 6).
Les describes that the nation of Israel detested Paul (Clip 2), and the crowd's reaction at the word "Gentile" was to demand that he be removed from the earth. They shouted, "Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live" (Acts 22:22). It was mob violence—the crowd had already tried to kill Paul, and the Roman authorities had to rescue him (Clip 7). Les says the Jews fought Paul "every inch of the way" in his ministry to the Gentiles (Clip 1).
Les explains that Israel had been blinded to her true role—to be God's vehicle to reach the Gentiles—and had rejected it in unbelief (Clip 1). Even among believers, the mindset lingered: in Galatians 2, Peter withdrew from Gentile believers at Antioch when his fellow Jews came up from Jerusalem, and Paul confronted him (Clip 6). It wasn't just Paul's opponents; it was deeply embedded Jewish thinking.
The Jewish Mindset Toward Gentiles
Les shows that before Paul even received his sight, the Lord told Ananias Paul would bear His name before Gentiles, and he explains that Jews saw themselves as a chosen covenant people with no Gentile part.
Violent Reaction at the Word 'Gentile'
In the Jerusalem crowd, they listened until Paul said the word "Gentile" and then a riot erupted; Israel had rejected her role to reach Gentiles and fought Paul every inch of the way.
Detestation for Paul's Gentile Mission
Paul told the crowd the Lord had sent him far hence to the Gentiles; at that word they shouted "Away with such a fellow" because he had even dared to use the word, and Israel detested him.
Jews Refused to Receive Paul's Testimony
Citing Acts 22, Les notes the Lord warned the Jews would not receive Paul's testimony, and the crowd listened only until the word "Gentile"—revealing their attitude toward Gentiles.
Roman Authorities Prevented the Mob from Killing Paul
Les points out that at the word "Gentile" the Jewish crowd went into an uproar and, if not for the Roman authorities, would have torn Paul to pieces; then Paul had the audacity to say there is no difference.
What the Word 'Gentile' Did to the Jews
Les describes the crowd saying "Away with such a fellow" because Paul dared to use the word "Gentile," and he connects this rage to Paul's statement that God called not only Jews but also Gentiles.
Jews' Long-Held Sense of Separation
Les explains that because God had separated Israel to Himself for almost two thousand years, Jews were upset at anyone going to pagan Gentiles, and it even affected Peter's behavior with Gentile believers.
The Anathema of Gentile Inclusion
Les summarizes the Jewish mentality that only Jews had access to God, making the idea of Gentiles in the same category anathema; he recalls the mob that attacked Paul and how Romans rescued him.
Acts 22:21: And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.
The Lord Jesus tells Paul to leave Jerusalem because he will be sent to the Gentiles, which immediately triggers the crowd's hostile reaction.
Acts 22:22: And they gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.
The crowd's response to the word "Gentile" shows they saw the very mention as worthy of Paul's death.
Acts 22:18: And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.
God warned Paul that the Jews in Jerusalem would not accept his testimony, which was fulfilled in their violent reaction.
Acts 9:15: But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
This commission shows God's purpose for Paul included the Gentiles, the very thing that infuriated the Jewish crowd.
They became violent. According to Acts 22:21-22, the moment Paul said the Lord sent him to the Gentiles, the crowd lifted up their voices and shouted, "Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live." Les Feldick notes that they would have torn Paul to pieces had the Roman authorities not intervened.
Les Feldick explains that the Jews viewed themselves as God's chosen covenant people, steeped in Abraham's covenant and Moses' law, and believed Gentiles had no part in that relationship. To put a Gentile in the same category as a Jew was anathema to them, so Paul's claim that God was sending him to the Gentiles infuriated them.
Yes. Les points to Galatians 2 where Peter withdrew from Gentile believers at Antioch when fellow Jews came from Jerusalem. Although Peter had seen Gentiles come to faith, he couldn't shake the mindset that had been built over almost two thousand years of separation.
Watch the Teaching: Introducing Paul: Why God Stopped the Prophetic Clock