The book of Acts is significant as the transitional record of Israel's rejection of Christ and God's turning to the Gentiles to call out the Body of Christ.
Les teaches that the early chapters of Acts show God still dealing with the nation of Israel as Peter preaches to the Jews. As Israel continues to reject Jesus as King, the book transitions to the conversion of Paul and the work among the Gentiles. Acts therefore records the decline of Israel's central place and the rise of the Body of Christ.
Acts 2:22 — Peter's Pentecost sermon opens with 'Ye men of Israel,' showing the first public gospel message in Acts is addressed exclusively to the Jewish nation.
Acts 15:7 — Peter recalls at the Jerusalem council that God used him to take the gospel to the Gentiles, a key event in the Acts transition.
Acts 2:22 records Peter's Pentecost sermon beginning, "Ye men of Israel, hear these words." The opening of the book's first great gospel message is directed solely to the nation of Israel, with no mention of Gentiles. Acts 15:7 records Peter rising up at the Jerusalem council and reminding the believers that a good while ago God made choice that the Gentiles, by his mouth, should hear the word of the gospel and believe.
Les emphasizes that the book of Acts is transitional. In the early chapters, God continues to deal with Israel, and Peter's message is strictly an appeal to the Jews. Israel keeps rejecting the Messiah, and the turning point comes with the conversion of Saul and Peter's visit to the Gentile Cornelius. Les points out that after Acts 10 and a brief mention in Acts 11, Peter is never mentioned again in Acts. This shows Israel falling out of the things God had promised while the Gentiles and the Body of Christ come to prominence. The Body of Christ is a Pauline revelation, and Acts shows God turning from Israel to gather out a people for His name.
Les stresses the transitional aspect of Acts. The book moves from a period when God continues to deal exclusively with the Jews to the introduction of the Body of Christ, the Church. The early chapters of Acts are nothing but Peter and the nation of Israel; then, with the conversion of Saul and Peter's visit to the house of Cornelius, God begins a new work among the Gentiles. Israel's continued rejection of her Messiah is what causes this turning.
In Acts 2:22, Peter begins his Pentecost sermon with "Ye men of Israel." Les points out that the text does not say "ye men of Israel, and all you Gentiles" — not a single Gentile is included. Peter was strictly appealing to the Jews, continuing the premise of Jesus' earthly ministry. The early gospel in Acts was still proclaimed to Israel on the basis of Old Testament prophecy.
According to Les, after Israel rejected Christ, God raised up Saul of Tarsus and sent him to the Gentiles. Chronologically, Stephen's martyrdom is followed by Saul's conversion, and about a year later Peter goes to the house of Cornelius. Les explains that Israel rejected the King and the kingdom in unbelief, so God turned to the Gentiles with the age of grace, calling out a people for His name — the Body of Christ.
Peter was used by God in Acts 10 when he went to the house of the Gentile Cornelius. Later, at the Jerusalem council of Acts 15, Peter remembered what took place at Cornelius's house and came to Paul's defense. Yet after Acts 11, Peter is never mentioned again in Acts — showing how Israel recedes from the narrative while Paul and the Gentile mission take over.
Peter's Defense of Paul at the Jerusalem Council
Les uses the sequence in Acts to show how Peter, remembering Cornelius's conversion, defended Paul's Gentile gospel at the Acts 15 council.
Peter's Disappearance and Israel's Decline
Les points out that after Acts 10 and a brief mention in Acts 11, Peter is never mentioned again in Acts, showing Israel falling away while the Gentiles and the Body of Christ rise.
Peter's Gospel Was Still to Israel
Les says the early chapters of Acts continue the same premise as the Gospels — Peter was strictly appealing to the Jew, not to Gentiles.
God Continues With Israel Before Revealing the Body of Christ
Les explains that God did not immediately turn to the Gentiles in early Acts but kept dealing with Israel until the Body of Christ was revealed — a Pauline term.
Israel's Continuing Rejection and the Departure in Acts
Les shows that the first part of Acts is Peter and the nation of Israel, and the departure comes with Saul's conversion and Peter going to the Gentile Cornelius.
Israel's Failed Calling to Be the Light to the Gentiles
Les ties the Old Testament mandate for Israel to bring light to the Gentiles into the book of Acts.
Peter's Message to Israel and the Result of Its Rejection
Les explains that Peter and the eleven preached to Israel that the crucified Jesus was their King, but Israel rejected it in unbelief, so God turned to the Gentiles with the age of grace.
Acts 2:22 Addresses Only Israel
Les emphasizes that Peter's Pentecost sermon says "Ye men of Israel" — no Gentile is included — proving the early Acts gospel is still Israel-focused.
Acts 2:22: Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
Peter's Pentecost sermon opens by addressing only Israel, showing that the early events of Acts are still centered on the Jews.
Acts 15:7: And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
At the Jerusalem council, Peter recalls how God used him to take the gospel to the Gentiles, which Les says is the basis for Peter defending Paul.
Les says the early chapters of Acts are still Israel-focused, with Peter preaching to 'Ye men of Israel.' The Body of Christ is not introduced until the revelations given to the Apostle Paul, so the book of Acts is transitional rather than the point where the Church is fully explained.
Les uses this as evidence that Israel was falling out of the things God had promised. After Peter's ministry to Cornelius in Acts 10 and a brief mention in Acts 11, the narrative shifts to the Gentiles and the rise of Paul, so Peter disappears from the record.
Les teaches that Israel was meant to be God's light to the Gentiles, but they rejected Jesus as Messiah and King. Because Israel rejected in unbelief, God turned to the Gentiles with the age of grace to call out a people for His name, the Body of Christ.
It was the first direct move toward the Gentiles in Acts. Peter saw Gentiles converted there, and later at the Jerusalem council he defended Paul's Gentile ministry by reminding everyone what had happened at Cornelius's house.
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