“Paul’s Second Letter to Timothy — The Great Transition, The Glorious Sweep of God’s Abundant Grace — The Kingdom Foreshadowed in Power But Nevertheless Rejected by Israel’s Leaders”

Perhaps the greatest miracle of all in the early chapters of the Acts (before Paul’s salvation, that is) was the work of the Holy Spirit in bringing a singleness of heart to all believers that led to the selling of properties and the proceeds being distributed according to need.  However, even with so many spiritual and physical miracles proving that God was working toward the realization of the earthly Kingdom, the religious leaders of Israel still were in rebellion and would not accept Jesus as their risen Messiah.  Peter offered the kingdom in Acts 3 and on multiple occasions after that without a positive response by Israel’s religious leaders. Then, finally, when Stephen preached that great message recorded in Acts 7 in which he so powerfully blamed Israel’s leaders for the death of our Lord, they stoned him.  In this event, Israel had now in the plan of God nationally rejected the salvation of God.  The Lord would consequently turn away from Israel through the salvation of Saul, renamed Paul, and his appointment as apostle of the Gentiles.