The Gentile Exceptions from Abraham to Stephen

For the first 2000 years of Biblical History, God dealt with all mankind and all mankind spoke one language. The time element is approximately 4004 BC to 2000 BC.

From Abraham to Stephen ‘Jew Only’

So many have asked (not so lovingly) how in the world do you get the idea that God dealt with the Jewish people only, until Paul? My answer is always, easily, because scripture declares it. From Abraham (Genesis 12; 2000 BC) to the stoning of Stephen in the book of Acts (Act 7; 36 AD) the Gentile world was without God, with no hope. God said it not me or some denomination or church father (Ephesians 2:11-12). We always have the choice to study the Bible for ourselves, to find out whether or not something is true or not and not just to rely on men who cling to tradition over truth.

‘Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word (what word? old testament, that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God) to no one but the Jews only.’

Acts 11:19

Two hundred years after God scatters mankind from the tower of Babel God does something completely different and chooses one man, Abram (2000 BC). Or Abraham (Nehemiah 9:7-8) as we know him today and creates a new race of people for Himself, the Jewish people.

For the next 2000 years, God reveals Himself only to the nation of Israel, His chosen People (Deuteronomy 7:6-9), through covenants and Jewish prophets. Beginning with the Abrahamic covenant in Genesis 12 God makes Abraham a promise that through him all the families of the earth would be blessed. That, of course, is a reference to Jesus Christ the Son of God and the finished work of the cross (Genesis 12:3).

The Biblical record is clear from the time God called out Abraham and started a new race of people for Himself the Jewish people. On through all of the Old Testament into the four gospels, and early chapters of the book of Acts, God deals only with Israel (with exceptions).

The entire theme of the Old Testament from Genesis 12 through the early chapters in Acts is; the promise God made to Israel, that a Messiah, a King would come on the scene, crush Israel’s enemies, and set up a glorious kingdom on earth. Israel would be the preeminent nation above all nations with Christ ruling from David’s throne in Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:2-5, 9:6-7, 11:1-16; Jeremiah 23:3-8, 30:8-24; Ezekiel 36:21-38, 37:1-28; Zechariah 14:8-11). Gentiles were always on God’s mind for salvation but Gentile salvation was to come through Israel (Zechariah 8:20-23; Isaiah 60:1-3).

9 Gentiles Saved in 2000 Years

From the time God called Abraham in Genesis 12 up through the book of Acts in chapter 9 (Acts 9:15), the Biblical record indicates only 9 Gentiles were saved.

1. Jethro was Moses’ father-in-law (Exodus 18.1).
2. Ruth. (Ruth 1:16-18)
3. Rahab a pagan Gentile woman had faith. She believed God. (Joshua 2.8-24)
4. Naaman the Syrian General. (2 Kings 5:15 & 17)
5. Darius / Cyrus. Darius was the Persian King that defeated Babylon when Nebuchadnezzar’s grandson, Belshazzar (the one who witnessed the disembodied handwriting on the wall) ruled Babylon. (Daniel 6:25-27)
6. Nebuchadnezzar. Ruler of the Babylon Empire. (Daniel 4:34-37)
7. Jonah and the Ninevites. Jonah 3:5,7,9,10
8. The Roman Centurion. [New Testament] (Matthew 8:5-13, Luke 7:1-10)
9. The Canaanite Woman [New Testament] (Matthew 15:21-28)

Thank God for His Grace

Thank God for this time of grace specifically the gospel of the grace of God. (Acts 20:24) Where Jew or Gentile, man or woman makes no difference to God. The whole world has been already reconciled to God through His Son Jesus Christ; but not all will believe. Since the call of the apostle Paul in Acts 9, 2000 years ago the whole world has access to Israel’s God by grace through faith alone in the finished work of the cross.