Paul’s Passion for Gentiles

Acts 9:15 But the Lord said to him, “ . . . he [Paul] is my chosen vessel to bear my name before the nations and kings, and the children of Israel.

Acts 13:45-48 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with jealousy, and contradicted the things which were spoken by Paul, and blasphemed.
Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, and said, “It was necessary that God’s word should be spoken to you first. Since indeed you thrust it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. For so has the Lord commanded us, saying, ‘I have set you as a light for the Gentiles, that you should bring salvation to the uttermost parts of the earth.’ ”
As the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of God. As many as were appointed to eternal life believed.

Acts 18:6 When they opposed him and blasphemed, he shook out his clothing and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am clean. From now on, I will go to the Gentiles!”

Romans 11:13 For I speak to you who are Gentiles. Since then as I am an apostle to Gentiles, I glorify my ministry

Romans 15:15-16 But I write the more boldly to you in part, as reminding you, because of the grace that was given to me by God, that I should be a servant of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, serving as a priest of the Good News of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be made acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

Galatians 1:15-16  . . . it was the good pleasure of God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me through his grace, to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Gentiles . . .

Galatians 2:7-8  . . . they saw that I had been entrusted with the Good News for the uncircumcision, even as Peter with the Good News for the circumcision (for he who appointed Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision [Jews] appointed me also to the Gentiles)

Ephesians 3:8 To me . . . was this grace given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ

1 Timothy 2:7 to which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth in Christ, not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

2. Paul kept insisting that there is no spiritual difference between Jews and Gentiles

Acts 22:21-22 “He said to me [Paul], ‘Depart, for I will send you out far from here to the Gentiles.’ ” They listened to him until he said that; then they lifted up their voice, and said, “Rid the earth of this fellow, for he isn’t fit to live!”

Galatians 2:3 But not even Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised.

Galatians 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision amounts to anything, nor uncircumcision, but faith working through love.

Romans 10:12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich to all who call on him.

1 Corinthians 12:13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks . . . and were all given to drink into one Spirit.

Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek . . . for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:12-14  . . . you [Gentiles] were at that time separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off are made near in the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who made both one, and broke down the middle wall of partition

Colossians 3:11  . . . there can’t be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision . . . but Christ is all, and in all.

1 Corinthians 9:21-22 To those not having the law [Gentiles] I became like one not having the law . . . so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. (NIV)

Galatians 2:12-14 For before some people came from James, he ate with the Gentiles. But when they came, he drew back and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. And the rest of the Jews joined him in his hypocrisy; so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy. But when I saw that they didn’t walk uprightly according to the truth of the Good News, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live as the Gentiles do, and not as the Jews do, why do you compel the Gentiles to live as the Jews do?

Galatians 5:11 But I, brothers, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? . . .

Galatians 6:12 As many as desire to look good in the flesh, they compel you to be circumcised; only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.