The Relationship of Jewish and Gentile Believers to the Law Between A.D. 30 and 70 in the Scripture

97 10:42). The message is confirmed by "all the prophets" (10:43). Comparing this speech to the other speeches in Acts, Tannehill notes the uniqueness of it. This story of the Jewish Messiah is placed in a universal frame, which affirms God 's acceptance of Gentiles as well as Jews. The speech thereby becomes an affirmation of the significance of the Jewish Messiah for Gentiles also. Jesus, however, does not cease to be the Jewish Messiah in this sermon to Gentiles. He is the Jewish Messiah who graciously offers the benefits of his peaceful reign to all, thereby becoming "Lord of all" (10:36). 121 Thus, Israel has not been set aside here for the sake of the Gentile mission, but is in fact the very channel of that mission. 122 This is not to deny the reality of the rejection of Messiah by most of the nation. Clearly a majority of the Jews not only rejected the Messiah himself but became confirmed in that decision as they rejected again and again the later preaching of Messiah by his followers (Acts 7). This, however, should not obscure the fact that Peter understands that God is reaching out to Gentiles through the believing remnant of Jewish disciples (Acts 10:41-42). 123 121 Robert C. Tannehill, "The Functions of Peter's Mission Speeches in the Narrative of Acts," New Testament Studies: An International Journal 37 (July 1991): 413-14. Tannehill also suggests that "The concern to make this point suggests that Peter's presentation of the Jewish messiah to Cornelius may also have an underlying theological purpo e. The 'Lord of all ' must remain the Jewish Messiah and the apostles ' missionary witnes , pre ented for the last time in this speech to Cornelius, should ensure this," Ibid. We would agree that the pre entation of Je"us as the Jewish Mes iah i not emphasized by Peter or Luke for impl historical purposes . Given Luke' well known inclination toward theological hi t ar probably right in under tanding hi point a theological. 122 Len ki call thi the " toughing off th old Jewi h l gali m and r m niali m," Len ki, Acts, 436 . view i that it all u t m int in th di tin - ppr pri t 1 th t umqu n ·s 1 d di tm t1 e n tu ind