They Will Hear It (Acts 28:28)

2024-01-23

Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it. (Acts 28:28)

After reasoning with the Roman Jews concerning faith in Christ and seeing their division over the Gospel, Paul told them this. This was a shift throughout this historical book from always beginning with the Jews when preaching to focusing mainly on Gentiles. “Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles” (Acts 13:46). The response to the Gospel was overwhelmingly Gentile.

After Acts 12, Peter becomes less the main human actor, while Paul becomes the more human actor, demonstrating this shift. “But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter; (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)” (Galatians 2:7-8).

All Christian history after this is mainly Gentile Christianity. We know at some point after this, Jerusalem was destroyed, and another diaspora occurred. This did not slow down the speed of the Gospel; over the next few hundred years, the Gospel spread rapidly throughout the known world. The Gentiles definitely did hear it!