Acts 2:38 & 41

[BrotherJJ]

Any supporting scripture would be helpful.

 

[Phil W]

Any supporting scripture would be helpful.

I would say "no", because the first Gentile presented with and accepting the gospel was Cornelius the centurion.
Acts 10:45 is a good place to start a study of the Gentile's conversion time-line.

 

[BrotherJJ]

Any supporting scripture would be helpful.

Should have read Acts 38 & 41

Pentecost:
Acts 2:
38 (C) and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

41 (B) and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

It's not until many years later, Peter is lead by the Holy Spirit, via a vision. To travel to the Italian gentile centurion Cornelius house (Acts10:9-24).

Acts 10:
44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

(NOTE: Gentiles via hearing & believing the Word, without any repentance, water baptism, law keeping etc. Were baptized with Christ's eternally sealing/saving, indwelling Holy Spirit)

45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

(NOTE: Peter & the Jews with him were ASTONISHED, to see Gentiles receive the baptism with God's Holy Spirit. If any gentiles had been baptized at on the Temple Mt during (Acts 2 Peter was there) Pentecost. Why were these Jews ASTONISHED to witness the gentiles salvation?)

Peter shares/revisits his Acts 10 experience
Acts 11:
15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.

16 Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.
(NOTE: Upon returning to Jerusalem Peter with the apostles & brethren. The Acts 10 gentile's baptism with the Holy Ghost)

 

[Greengardener]

I chuckle at this one. Here, Jesus clearly told the disciples to take this good news to the "nations" (same word for "gentiles), God lovingly gave them both power and the ability to communicate in all sorts of languages, and yet the disciples were clearly amazed when Cornelius shows up. Thankfully they took the good news to the rest of the world once persecution arose in Jerusalem. If not, I likely would never had heard, being gentile.

 

[BrotherJJ]

I chuckle at this one. Here, Jesus clearly told the disciples to take this good news to the "nations" (same word for "gentiles), God lovingly gave them both power and the ability to communicate in all sorts of languages, and yet the disciples were clearly amazed when Cornelius shows up. Thankfully they took the good news to the rest of the world once persecution arose in Jerusalem. If not, I likely would never had heard, being gentile.

1st:
Jews were dispersed a couple times, Assyrian & Babylonian captivity. Pentecost, a mandatory Mosaic law pilgrimage feast. Every male Jew of age had to travel to Jerusalem. Jerusalem had about 1/2 million people, the feast drew millions of Jews (remember 2 past national dispersions) Jews are living in many different nations. The crowd is Jew's that spoke the language of the nation they traveled from.

2ndly: James 1:1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
(NOTE: Who is James main targeted audience: The twelve tribes/JEWS, WHERE? That were scattered, WHERE? abroad)

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""".

(QUESTION: Who did they preach to after the scattering? JEWS ONLY! Where were theses Jews? SCATTERED ABROAD. Because of the persecution that arose after Stephen is killed 34AD. This is """4 years after Pentecost""". They travelled as far as Phenice, Cyprus, Antioch & preached to who? JEWS ONLY! You're placing gentiles (THEY WERE JEWS) at Pentecost & in this passage, """4 years after Pentecost""" & message is still to JEWS ONLY!)

 

[BrotherJJ]

I chuckle at this one. Here, Jesus clearly told the disciples to take this good news to the "nations" (same word for "gentiles), God lovingly gave them both power and the ability to communicate in all sorts of languages, and yet the disciples were clearly amazed when Cornelius shows up. Thankfully they took the good news to the rest of the world once persecution arose in Jerusalem. If not, I likely would never had heard, being gentile.

Additional context:
Jews (to include the Lord himself Matt 15:26) often referred to Gentiles as unclean "dogs". (See Matt 7:6; Lk 16:21)

Gentiles were considered bastard's outside of covenant seals, so ungodly, simply being in their presence could make a Jew ceremonially unclean. (See Jn 11:28 below)

Eph 2:
11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

(NOTE: Gentiles were what? """Strangers from the covenants of promise""" """having no hope""" """without God in the world"""

John 18:28 Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover.

(NOTE: The Jews wouldn't even walk into the Roman/gentile judgment hall, lest they should be defiled/become unclean. They wouldn't enter because they wanted to eat the Passover meal on the next day. There was a 7 day ritual cleansing period that had to be honored once deemed unclean. Contact with a dead person or animal, a woman during her menstrual cycle etc.

Acts 10:28 happens many years after Acts 2 Pentecost. Peter has a vision & argues, 3 TIMES, with the Lord about things clean & unclean. The Lord tells Peter, if I say it's clean, IT'S CLEAN, now go!

Acts 10:28 Peter said unto them, Ye know how that it is an ""unlawful"" thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean

(NOTE: Peter tells Cornelius a gentile. IT'S UNLAWFUL for a Jew to keep company with a gentile)

Acts 10:45 And """they of the circumcision which believed were astonished""", as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

(NOTE: This is aprox 7 yrs after the Temple Mt Pentecost where JEWS only had received the gift of the indwelling H/S. The Jews here (Peter included) that witnessed the gentiles receiving the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit were ASTONISHED. If gentiles had received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, WHY, were these Jews (to included Peter) ASTONISHED here?)

Finally:
Paul is at Stephen's stoning (4 yrs after Pentecost) cheering the crowd on. Next, Paul is on the road to Damascus, meets the Lord & is soon converted. Next, Paul travels to Arabia (Gal 1:7) Paul returns 3 years later (Gal 1:18). Its now at least 7 years after Pentecost.

It gets really ugly for Paul here. We are way beyond Acts 2 Pentecost here:

Acts 21:28-36 Jews that were aware of Paul's dealings with gentiles, throw Paul out of the Temple, begin to beat him to death. Roman soldiers show up & pull Paul from the mob.

Acts 21:37- Acts 22:20: Paul reasons with the Roman in charge & is allowed to address the crowd. They listen to Paul's conversion testimony until verse 21

Acts 22:21 Paul say's he was sent to proclaim God to the gentiles & the Jewish crowd hears the word GENTILE and once again go ballistic & try to KILL Paul.

I adamantly reject the notion at the Acts 2 Pentecost. A Temple Mt full of devote law keeping Jews. Stood & remained peaceful while a bunch of UNCLEAN gentiles are running around speaking in tongues?

 

[BrotherJJ]

I chuckle at this one. Here, Jesus clearly told the disciples to take this good news to the "nations" (same word for "gentiles), God lovingly gave them both power and the ability to communicate in all sorts of languages, and yet the disciples were clearly amazed when Cornelius shows up. Thankfully they took the good news to the rest of the world once persecution arose in Jerusalem. If not, I likely would never had heard, being gentile.

More help:
Peter shares/revisits his Acts 10 experience

Acts 11:
1 And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.

2 And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him,

(NOTE: Here again this discussion takes place many years after Acts 2 Pentecost. Why did the Jews/circumcision contended/argued/scold Peter? Because he had went to gentiles!)_

15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.
(NOTE: H/S fell on them (AT CORNELIUS HOUSE) as on us at the beginning (PENTECOST)

16 Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.

(NOTE: It's at Cornelius house when Gentiles 1st receive the baptism with Gods eternally saving/sealing, indwelling Holy Spirit.)

 

[Soyeong]

Any supporting scripture would be helpful.

There may have been righteous Gentiles, but it would have been predominately Jews. When Peter told them to repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins, the Mosaic Law was how they knew what sin is.