The Gentile mission caused mixed emotions of support and opposition due to particular people’s initial struggles with their viewpoint on the matter, as Gentiles held an unfavorable status among the Jewish society, and some wavered between where they stood. The result, however, was ultimately a division between groups of people who either supported or opposed such an outreach. The key earthly players leading up to the outreach of the Gentiles included Cornelius, Peter, and an angel of the Lord. Follow up support later came from Paul, Barnabas, James, the apostles, and the Jerusalem council. In contrast, non-supporters included a major portion of the Jewish people, believers and non-believers, that openly displayed their contempt for the Gentiles.
…show more content…
2). His meeting with Peter, along with the vision from God, altered Peter’s original negative view regarding Gentiles; thus, facilitating the furthered missionary works towards them. Peter’s trust in God over the situation shows in this statement, “’In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness He accepts.’” (Acts 10:34-35, NKJV). The Jerusalem church and apostles also did not look kindly upon the Gentiles, but Peter’s case for this mission proved to be persuasive and he gained their support, as they found Peter’s reasoning to be from God. Enter in Barnabas, described as “a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith” (Acts 11:24, NKJV), and per his works he seemed to be compassionate towards the Gentiles. There seemed to be a moment though when he reverted back to the common negative mindset against the Gentiles, along with Peter, while Jews and others were around and Paul saw this as hypocrisy (Galatians 2:11-13, NKJV). Paul, on the other hand, revealed no bias towards the Gentiles appearing to be fully supportive of their inclusion. Both Paul and Barnabas honored the Jewish people by preaching to them first in the synagogues, but the rejection of this led them to also preach to the Gentiles. This statement depicts the mindset of these two missionary’s, “’For the Lord has commanded us: I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, that you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth’” (Acts 13:47, NKJV). James also entered the argument, when the elders and apostles became involved in the situation regarding circumcision, and he reverted to Old Testament prophecies. The supporters of the Gentile mission revealed a
2). His meeting with Peter, along with the vision from God, altered Peter’s original negative view regarding Gentiles; thus, facilitating the furthered missionary works towards them. Peter’s trust in God over the situation shows in this statement, “’In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness He accepts.’” (Acts 10:34-35, NKJV). The Jerusalem church and apostles also did not look kindly upon the Gentiles, but Peter’s case for this mission proved to be persuasive and he gained their support, as they found Peter’s reasoning to be from God. Enter in Barnabas, described as “a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith” (Acts 11:24, NKJV), and per his works he seemed to be compassionate towards the Gentiles. There seemed to be a moment though when he reverted back to the common negative mindset against the Gentiles, along with Peter, while Jews and others were around and Paul saw this as hypocrisy (Galatians 2:11-13, NKJV). Paul, on the other hand, revealed no bias towards the Gentiles appearing to be fully supportive of their inclusion. Both Paul and Barnabas honored the Jewish people by preaching to them first in the synagogues, but the rejection of this led them to also preach to the Gentiles. This statement depicts the mindset of these two missionary’s, “’For the Lord has commanded us: I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, that you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth’” (Acts 13:47, NKJV). James also entered the argument, when the elders and apostles became involved in the situation regarding circumcision, and he reverted to Old Testament prophecies. The supporters of the Gentile mission revealed a