A Year in Luke/ActsНамуна

There’s an interesting question to ask at this point about whether Paul and the other Christians, come to these flashpoints in their presentations on purpose or if it’s simply part of the reaction to what they’re sharing. The answer is probably that it’s a mixture. It seems as if Stephen planned to land a stunning verbal blow on the Council in his speech, probably knowing the reaction would not be good. Then at other times, it seems almost surprising that the response would be so strong. Paul’s speech here seems an example of the latter.

Gentiles being included in the people of God is all over the Hebrew Bible. For example, Isaiah 49 talks of a servant who will be a light to the nations so that salvation may extend to them, and Psalm 117 encourages all people to praise the Lord. So the people were familiar with this message and it shouldn’t have been controversial, but they didn’t like the implications and so reacted violently.