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Kingdom Parables

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THE KINGDOM PARABLES<br />

57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed<br />

at him, 58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him.<br />

By stoning Stephen the Jewish nation finally rejected their messiah. So<br />

gentile dominion was allowed to run its full course. And witnessing was<br />

given over to a new people - both the Jews and the Gentiles - now called<br />

Christians. From then on, the Holy Spirit was given to both the Jews<br />

and the Gentiles alike. Jesus probably knew of this eventuality. hence<br />

after the resurrection when the disciples asked him, "Lord, will you at<br />

this time restore the <strong>Kingdom</strong> to Israel?" he replied "it is not for you to<br />

know..." (Act 1:6-7)<br />

This change in plan in Heaven required the building up of a team of<br />

sowers until the fullness of time for the second coming. The <strong>Kingdom</strong><br />

message has to be translated into concepts understandable to the<br />

Gentiles. So a new Apostle, who never lived with Jesus while the master<br />

was on the earth, was recruited. Saul of Tarsus, a Pharisee from the tribe<br />

of Benjamin, an eminent scholar with a doctorate in Philosophy and<br />

Law, a pupil of Prof., Gamaliel - one and only Rabbi who earned the<br />

title of Raban. He was commissioned, prepared for the job, shown the<br />

secrets of the <strong>Kingdom</strong> of God by transporting him into Heaven and<br />

was sent out. He became Paul - a Gentile name - the missionary to<br />

Gentiles.<br />

2.11 THE SOWING OF THE SEED<br />

The book of Acts describes the early expansion of the new faith into<br />

Jerusalem, from Jerusalem into Judo, Samaria and the neighboring places<br />

and from Antioch into Rome. After the rejection of Jesus by the Jews at<br />

the trial of Stephen, the gentiles came into the inheritance of the<br />

<strong>Kingdom</strong> of Heaven. The seed of this was laid at the stoning of Stephen<br />

in Saul of Tarsus who witnessed this stoning. He later became the<br />

Apostle Paul - the apostle to the gentiles. Peter also became very active<br />

in proclaiming the message to the Gentiles after his specific calling and<br />

22

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