QUESTION:
It appears that the Apostle Peter is the first to
minister to Gentiles in Acts 10, not Paul. So, how can Peter therefore be
identified as an apostle “only” to the circumcision? I’m not convinced that
“only” Paul was tasked with that ministry.
ANSWER:
Thanks for this question. We need to understand this
scenario in the correct dispensational context. Let me provide some guidance.
The first thing to remember is that the WHOLE book of Acts
is a book that documents the transition from Kingdom to Grace, from Jews to
Gentiles, and from Prophecy to Mystery. In the beginning of Acts, we are
entirely immersed in the Kingdom and prophecy for the Jews. At the end of Acts,
we are completely immersed in the Grace and mystery for all nations. The middle
sections are how this transition evolved from the one to the other. Consider
the value of the book of Acts in another way. Think of the 4-Gospels, Matthew
to John. They are all about Jesus and the coming Kingdom. Acts is the book that
guides the reader systematically from these four Kingdom orientated gospels to
Paul’s doctrine in Romans. We have a smooth transition due to Acts. But now,
remove Acts and give a reader the 4-Gospels, followed immediately by Romans.
Suddenly you have shifted from the Kingdom and the life of Jesus for the Jews
to a Grace program for the Gentiles. How did one get from the one to the other?
There appears to be a big gap of missing info. Acts has a very unique role in
the bible to help a person transition into Paul’s ministry and
doctrine.
