Yes — Paul's announcement that the crucified Jesus had sent him to the Gentiles sparked the Jerusalem crowd's violent anger and demand for his death.
In Acts 22, Paul quotes the Lord saying, "Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles." At that one word, the crowd shouted, "Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live." Les Feldick explains that Israel had become blinded to her God-given role as the vehicle to reach the Gentiles, and the Jews regarded themselves as the only people with access to God.
Acts 22:21-22 — This is the moment Paul told the Jerusalem crowd the Lord had sent him to the Gentiles, and their violent riot is the direct answer to the question.
In Acts 22, Paul stands before a large Jewish crowd in Jerusalem and rehearses his conversion, including the Lord's instruction: "And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles" (Acts 22:21). The next verse records the response: "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). Scripture also states that God's calling is "not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles" (Romans 9:24).
Les describes the scene again and again: the Jewish crowd listened to Paul with rapt attention until he reached the word "Gentile," and that single word produced a riot (Clips 2, 6). The crowd shouted for Paul's death, and only Roman authorities stopped them from tearing him apart (Clip 3). Les explains that Israel had completely rejected her true role as God's vehicle to reach the Gentiles, and the nation fought Paul every inch of the way when he took the gospel to them (Clip 1). He traces this to the long history of Israel's separation, noting that God had spent almost two thousand years making them His distinct people (Clip 4). In their thinking, Jews alone had access to God, and to put the Gentile in the same category was anathema (Clip 5).
Les notes that in Acts 22 the crowd gave Paul their full attention until he said the word "Gentile." At that word they lifted up their voices and shouted, "Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live" (Acts 22:22). Les says the Jews would have torn Paul in pieces if the Roman authorities had not intervened (Clip 3).
Les teaches that Israel had completely been blinded to her true role that Jehovah had intended: to be His vehicle to go out and reach the Gentiles. Because the nation rejected this in unbelief, they fought Paul every inch of the way when he went to the Gentiles (Clip 1).
Les explains that for almost two thousand years God had been telling Israel they were His separated, different people, so it took a long time to get that out of their system. He points to Peter's withdrawal in Galatians 2 as an example of how even Jewish believers struggled with eating with Gentile believers (Clip 4). The Jewish thinking was that they were the only ones with access to God, and to put the Gentile in the same category was anathema (Clip 5).
Les describes that whenever Paul went to pagan Gentiles after being rejected by the Jews, the Gentiles embraced the gospel and were thrilled by it. The Jews, in turn, hated them, feeling that the Gentiles were infringing upon their God, and they became the chief opponents of Christianity (Clip 7).
The Calling Includes Gentiles
Les ties Romans 9:24, 'not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles,' to Paul's testimony before the Jerusalem crowd that the crucified Jesus sent him to the Gentiles.
Riot at the Word 'Gentile'
Les explains that the crowd listened intently until the word 'Gentile' and then rioted, because Israel had rejected her calling to be God's vehicle for reaching the Gentiles.
Rapt Attention Until 'Gentile'
Les shows Paul quoting Jesus' words, 'I will send thee far hence to the Gentiles,' and notes the crowd reacted at the very utterance of the word.
Uproar Requiring Roman Intervention
Les says the Jewish crowd went into an uproar at the word 'Gentile,' and only Roman authority kept them from tearing Paul in pieces.
Israel's Two-Thousand-Year Separation
Les says God had spent almost two thousand years proving Israel was His separated people, making it hard for them to accept Gentiles sharing that access.
Privileged Access to God
Les says the Jewish mindset was that only they had access to God, and equating Gentiles with them was anathema.
The Word That Caused a Riot
Les repeats the key event: the Jewish multitude listened until the word 'Gentile,' and the mere dropping of that word caused a riot.
Gentiles Embrace, Jews Oppose
Les contrasts the Gentiles' joyful embrace of Paul's gospel with the Jews' hatred, making the Jews the chief opponents of Christianity.
Acts 22:21: And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.
Paul quotes the Lord's commission that sent him directly to the Gentiles, the message that triggered the riot.
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 reaction came immediately when Paul spoke the word 'Gentile.'
Romans 9:24: Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles.
Scripture shows that God's calling included Gentiles, the very point that infuriated Paul's Jewish audience.
Paul told the crowd in Acts 22 that the Lord Jesus said to him, "Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles" (Acts 22:21). The next verse records that at the word "Gentile" the crowd 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). Les Feldick points out that the mere dropping of the word "Gentile" caused the riot (Clip 6).
Les explains that the Jewish mentality was that they were the only ones who had access to God, and putting the Gentile in the same category was anathema to them (Clip 5). God had separated Israel for almost two thousand years, which made it hard for them to accept that Gentiles could be included (Clip 4).
Les says the Gentiles embraced the gospel and were thrilled by it, but the Jews hated them and felt the Gentiles were infringing upon their God. As a result, the Jews became the chief opponents of Christianity (Clip 7).
The crowd listened to Paul with rapt silence until the word "Gentile"; then they rioted and called for his death (Clips 2, 3, 6). If the Roman authorities had not intervened, they would have torn Paul in pieces (Clip 3).
Watch the Teaching: Does God Harden Hearts? Romans 9:18-24 and the Potter's Clay