Peter and Paul

PETER AND PAUL: APOSTLES TO JEWS AND GENTILES
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Dr. Paul Manuel—2009

The movement Jesus established sees its greatest growth first under the ministry of Peter, then under that of Paul, although they are not the only ones engaged in spreading the gospel. Moreover, from the beginning, the good news is decidedly ecumenical in its appeal, culturally and ethnically. Those to whom Peter directs his Pentecost invitation are either Jews or converts to Judaism, and they are the ones who constitute the initial Jerusalem assembly.¹

Acts 2:5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.... 10c visitors from Rome 11a (both Jews and converts to Judaism).... 22a "Men of Israel, listen to this...." 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

As they meet in the temple court (and in home s),² their number increases gradually,³ but it jumps significantly after Peter remarks on the healing of a lame beggar.

Acts 4:4 ...many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.

This growth also includes members of the temple staff.

Acts 6:7b The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

Stephen's murder seems to galvanize opposition to the gospel, initiating a wave of persecution that forces many believers to leave Jerusalem and take the good news to other areas.⁴ Philip, for example, wins a number of converts among the Samaritans.

Acts 8:5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there.... 12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

A delegation from the Jerusalem confirms the status of these new converts and spreads the news in other Samaritan towns upon its return.

Acts 8:14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.... 25 When they had testified and proclaimed the word of the Lord, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages.

Peter's experience with Samaritans, who bear a quasi-ethnic relation to Jews,⁵ may prepare him for the more radical notion that the gospel will also find acceptance among gentiles. For his next assignment, Peter becomes the first apostle to bring the good news to non-Jews.⁶

Acts 10:28 He said to them: "You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean.

Whereas the focus of evangelism remains on the Jewish community, some extend that ministry, perhaps as a result of Peter's initial contact.

Acts 11:19 Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews. 20 Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21 The Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.

About the same time, Paul's life undergoes a radical shift as he changes from a persecutor of the gospel to preacher of it. More than any other New Testament author, Paul understands his mission to be cross-cultural, inclusive of both Jews and gentiles. That is God's commission for him.

Acts 9:15b This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.

When Paul goes to a new area, he stops first at the synagogue.⁷ Not only does that site provide an assembly of Jews to hear his presentation, there he finds gentiles who will be most receptive to the gospel.⁸

• Pisidian Antioch

Acts 13:14b On the Sabbath they entered the synagogue and sat down.... 43 When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked with them and urged them to continue in the grace of God.

• Iconium

Acts 14:1 At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Gentiles believed.

• Philippi

Acts 16:12 From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days. 13 On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. 14 One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message.

• Thessalonica

Acts 17:1 When they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2 As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures.... 4 Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and not a few prominent women.

• Berea

Acts 17:10b On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. 11 Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. 12 Many of the Jews believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek[s].

• Corinth

Acts 18:1 After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.... 4 Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.

• Ephesus

Acts 18:19 They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.

• Corinth (again)

Acts 19:8 Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. 10 This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.

Whenever the reception among his fellow Jews is less than cordial, he turns his attention to gentiles, beginning with those who have heard him in the synagogue.

• Pisidian Antioch

Acts 13:45 When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and talked abusively against what Paul was saying. 46 Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: "We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.... 48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed. 49 The word of the Lord spread through the whole region.

• Corinth

Acts 18:6 But when the Jews opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, "Your blood be on your own heads! I am clear of my responsibility. From now on I will go to the Gentiles." 7 Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. 8 Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized.

As the number of gentiles converts grows, along with Paul's identification with them, he focuses his efforts accordingly.

Acts 13:47 For this is what the Lord has commanded us: "I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth."

Acts 21:19 Paul ...reported in detail what God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.

Acts 22:21 "Then the Lord said to me, 'Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles."

Paul still has concern for his fellow countrymen.

Rom 9:2 I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, 4a the people of Israel.

Nevertheless, rumors about his work hinder fruitful contact with Jews.⁹

The incident with Cornelius is probably what enables the apostles later to accept Paul's work as legitimate.¹⁰

Gal 2:1 Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also. 2 I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I did this privately to those who seemed to be leaders, for fear that I was running or had run my race in vain.... 9a James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me.

The meeting seems to crystallize the difference in Paul's and Peter's respective ministries.

Gal 2:7 ...they saw that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, just as Peter had been to the Jews. 8 For God, who was at work in the ministry of Peter as an apostle to the Jews, was also at work in my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles.... 9b They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews.

Paul's letters evince this distinction, especially his correspondence to the
predominantly gentile church in Rome.¹¹

Rom 1:5 ...we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith.... 13 ...I planned many times to come to you...that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.

Rom. 11:13 I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I make much of my ministry

Rom 15:15c ...God gave me 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles...so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God.... 18 I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done —

Peter directs his missives primarily to Jewish believers, something particularly clear in his first letter, which he addresses to Diaspora Jews,¹² distinguishing them from unbelieving gentiles.¹³

1 Pet 1:lb To God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia,

1 Pet 2:12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

The respective ministries of these two men, Peter to Jews and Paul to gentiles, helped the burgeoning movement to grow far beyond its beginning in Jerusalem. 14 As the influx of gentiles outpaced that of Jews, however, the church assumed a decidedly non-Jewish cast that eventually separated it from the synagogue, an unfortunate situation that continues to this day.

For the Bibliography and Endnotes see the pdf here.