In the context of Acts 2, 'those who are far off' are distant Jews of the dispersion, not Gentiles.
Peter's Pentecost audience was a huge crowd of Jews gathered from all over the Roman Empire (Clip 7). The early believing Jews, even years after Pentecost, preached God's Word to 'none but Jews only' (Clips 1, 3, 4). So Les Feldick places the promise of Acts 2:39 within the nation of Israel, extending it to Jewish people scattered far from Jerusalem.
Acts 2:39 — This is the verse in question, in which the promise of the Holy Spirit is extended to those present, their children, and all that are afar off.
Acts 2:39 says, 'For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.' This is the conclusion of Peter's Pentecost sermon, where he has been speaking to 'Ye men of Israel' (Acts 2:22). The preceding verse commands, 'Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost' (Acts 2:38). The promise of the Holy Spirit is thus given to the Jewish audience and to those who are 'afar off.' Later in Acts, when persecution arose about Stephen, the believers 'were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria' (Acts 8:1). Acts 11:19 records that those scattered believers 'travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.' The early chapters of Acts consistently keep the message and the promise within the Jewish nation.
Les emphasizes that Acts 2 is still dealing with the nation of Israel. He points out that Peter was addressing a huge crowd of Jews who had gathered from all over the Roman Empire (Clip 7). The call to repent and be baptized was made to every Israelite, and the promise of the Holy Spirit was part of that Israel-focused offer (Clip 0). Les repeatedly uses Acts 11:19 to show that even seven or eight years after Pentecost, the scattered Jewish believers went to Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch and preached 'to none but unto the Jews only' (Clips 1, 3, 4). For Les, this Jewish-only outreach confirms that the 'far off' mentioned in Acts 2:39 are Jewish people scattered throughout the Roman Empire, not Gentile believers. Only later, after Israel's rejection, does God turn to the Gentiles in a distinct way (Clips 2, 3).
Les shows that Peter's Pentecost sermon is a continuation of the Old Testament promises made to Israel. Peter addresses the huge crowd of Jews that had gathered from all over the Roman Empire, and he makes his claim on the nation even after the crucifixion and resurrection (Clip 7). Les also notes that Peter's command to repent and be baptized was the same for every Israelite, and the promise of the Holy Spirit was attached to that national call (Clip 0).
Les highlights Acts 11:19, where the believers scattered abroad upon the persecution of Stephen went as far as Phoenice, Cyprus, and Antioch. He stresses that they preached the Word to 'none but Jews only' (Clips 1, 3, 4). This shows that even after the dispersion, the Jewish believers were still reaching out only to their fellow Jews. For Les, this is strong evidence that the 'far off' in Acts 2:39 are dispersed Israelites, not Gentiles.
In a different context, Paul uses 'far off' of Gentile believers in Ephesians 2:13: 'But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.' Les explains this 'far off' as describing Gentiles who were outside the covenant, aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, without hope and without God in this world (Clip 6). This later Pauline usage is distinct from the Jewish context of Acts 2:39, where the promise is being offered to the nation of Israel and to Jews afar off.
The Call to Israel to Repent
Les shows that Peter's command to repent and be baptized was addressed to the Jewish people who had rejected Christ, and the promise of the Holy Spirit was part of this Israel-focused call.
Scattered Jews Preaching to Jews Only
Les points to the believers scattered after Stephen's death who went to Phoenice, Cyprus, and Antioch and preached the Old Testament Word to none but Jews only.
Two Baptisms Explained: What Most Christians Miss in Acts 1
They'll not have Him to be their king. And God puts them into a dispersion, takes away their temple, and He turns to the Gentile. Oh, not exclusively. Some Jews are still being saved. But for the most part, the last 1900 and some years have been God calling out Gentiles, comprising the Body of Christ. But we're not up to that point in time yet as we come into the book of Acts.
The Jewish-Only Stumbling Block
Les emphasizes that even years after Pentecost these Jewish believers still went only to Jews, and Israel's rejection later caused God to do something different.
Old Testament Word to None but Jews
Les again cites Acts 11:19, noting that the scattered believers only had the Old Testament and preached that Christ was the Messiah to Jews only.
Revelation vs. Instruction: How Paul Received the Gospel
In other words, this called out group of Jewish believers who had believed who Jesus really was. And they were still within the confines of Judaism. They were still practicing the law. They were still worshiping at the temple. But they were also a set-aside group who had recognized their Messiah and put their faith in Him.
A Different 'Far Off' for Gentiles
Les explains that Ephesians 2:13 uses 'far off' for Gentiles who were once without hope and without God, showing a different application from the Jewish context of Acts.
Peter's Audience in Acts 2
Les describes Peter's Pentecost audience as a huge crowd of Jews gathered from all over the Roman Empire, and says Peter was making his claim on the nation of Israel.
Acts 2:38: Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
This is the immediate command that leads into the promise of Acts 2:39.
Acts 2:39: For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
This is the key verse under question, naming those to whom the promise belongs.
Acts 8:4: Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.
This shows the Jewish believers being scattered after the persecution about Stephen.
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 is the verse Les repeatedly cites to show that the early scattered believers preached to none but Jews only.
Ephesians 2:13: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Paul uses 'far off' here of Gentile believers, showing a different usage from the Jewish context of Acts 2:39.
In Les Feldick's teaching, no. Peter was speaking to Jews gathered from all over the Roman Empire (Clip 7), and the scattered believers preached to none but Jews only (Acts 11:19; Clips 1, 3, 4). The 'afar off' are distant Jewish people to whom the promise still belonged.
The promise Peter references is the gift of the Holy Ghost, which he had just told his audience to expect when they repented and were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38). Les notes this offer still belonged to the nation of Israel in the early chapters of Acts.
No—Les teaches that in the early chapters of Acts the message is still to Israel, not the Body of Christ. He says to look for death, burial, and resurrection as the means of salvation and it is not there (Clip 0). The video title 'Why Acts 2 Is NOT the Birth of the Church' reflects this consistent theme.
Watch the Teaching: Why Acts 2 Is NOT the Birth of the Church — Explained