NOTES for Act 13:47

Indeed, the fact that the Word of God has to sound unto the ends of the earth was already known thanks to the sermon of the prophets. They spoke for the first time about the call in the days of the Messiah of the gentiles, who will join the remnant of the Jewish people, forming with them the new people of God.

Here is only, nobody expected that the formation of these new people will begin with recent gentiles. The logic wanted that the firsts to recognize and to accept their Messiah are of course the Jews, especially that there was a multitude of messianic movements in the people in the evangelic time, and the question to know which of the religious brotherhoods existing at the moment was the real messianic remnant, was one of the most debated. And nevertheless it happened that especially gentiles looking for the truth in the Synagogue and worshipping the God of Israel were the first to accept Him. The paradox of the spiritual history? Probably, yes. Moreover, the paradox had its reasons: unfortunately, especially the religiosity turned out to be this heavy load that made difficult for several Jews the entrance into the Kingdom.

Free of this load, it was easier for recent gentiles, and they outstripped some of those who were sure that the Messiah will come to them and for them. And here is, the apostles had no reason for supporting the succession waited by some of their fellow countrymen and coreligionists. Of course, preaching they addressed first of all particularly to the Jews, to those, who had to listen and hear. But their refusal could not and did not have to stop the testimony of Christ and the Kingdom, which was entrusted to the apostles. Because it was not man's matter, but of God, and it did not belong to people to define the order of entrance into the Kingdom, the Jews or the heathen.

The problem of the apostles was to witness what was already witnessed before by the Savior Himself, namely, that the Kingdom is near, and that the way to the Kingdom is now opened to every seeker, to the Jew, quite as to the representative of any other nation. And who will go first, depended on God, and also on the people, to whom the Kingdom was proposed. And the apostles were satisfied to see in the Kingdom every incomer, independently of the nationality and of the religion. For, they were first of all the people of the Kingdom, and only after the representatives of their nation and religious community. As should be the witness of the Kingdom.