It appears that the Apostle Peter is the first to minister to Gentiles in Acts 10?

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.

The Two Programs in God's Plan of Redemption

The following post is in response to a person asking what the two different programs in the Bible are and provide scriptural references to distinguish them.

Let me answer this question by first stating that it is of great importance to know these two programs and keep them separate. Most of the false doctrine in church denominations today is in direct cause to ignoring these two programs or blending the two programs together to create skewed doctrine in the imagination of men.

The differences between the two ministries are found in the contradictory statements in Paul's letters versus scriptures in the rest of the bible. These contradictions are not inaccuracies in the bible as some suggest. They also do not disprove Paul's apostleship. They are simply two separate programs that God initiated within His greater plan of redemption of creation and humanity.

OBS: God's Word is a Progressive Plan (Part.5.1)

This is Part 5 of the Series

Click here for Part 4

TWO interesting points that required
a 'CHANGE IN COMMUNICATION'

Point #1

Even though Peter and John were disciples of Christ and had intimate knowledge of His teachings and life, it's only later, in their epistles that they write about the concepts of grace, the cross, and the redemptive blood, (which was never mentioned in the Gospels or Acts). Where did they get it from? Well, they learned it from the revelations that Paul received from the glorified Christ.