Jerry Shugart
Well-known member
I don't know why they did not carry out the command of the great commission. May you can enlighten me.
I already did. According to prophecy the Gentiles would be brought in when the Lord had endowed Israel with splendor:
"Surely you will summon nations you know not, and nations that do not know you will hasten to you, because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has endowed you with splendor" (Isa.55:5; NIV).
That hadn't happened yet so the Apostles did not go to the Gentiles. They also knew from the following prophecy that the Gentiles would not be receptive to the Jews until they knew that the Lord was with the Jews:
"And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness...And it shall come to pass, that as ye were a curse among the heathen, O house of Judah, and house of Israel; so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing...In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you" (Zech.8:8,13,23).
The Apostles knew that condition was not yet fulfilled so they did not go to the Gentiles.