The first Church, the original Body of Christ, consisted only of Jews.

At this time, the believers never would have considered adding a Gentile to their fellowship.

There was a large church in Jerusalem, all Jews, numbering in the thousands, pastored by James, the half brother of Jesus.

How be it many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand. (Acts 4:4)

The Jews were not at all certain Gentiles were to be included in the Kingdom of Heaven, until God gave a vision to the Apostle Peter.

And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou unclean. (Acts 10:15)

It required a Divine vision in order for the Apostle Peter, a devout Jew, to consider bringing the Gospel, the children's bread, to Cornelius, a righteous Gentile.

The Jewish apostles and elders came together to consider the problem of Gentile believers.

But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them [the Gentile believers], and to command them to keep the law of Moses. And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. (Acts 15:5,6)

The idea that God would accept a Gentile in His Church was so alien to Jews, so repugnant, that Paul and Peter had to be careful when they were near Jewish believers.

And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law: And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs. What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come. Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them; Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law. As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication. (Acts 21:20-25)

We can note the troubled thinking of the Jewish saints at this time. They did not want a Jew upon becoming a believer to forsake Moses. As for the Gentiles, they were considered to be strangers whom God had accepted but who certainly were not on a level with Jews in the Kingdom of God.

The above passage from Acts helps us appreciate the degree of faith required of Paul in order for him to be willing to receive the Divine revelation—given only to him, apparently—concerning the transition from Moses to Christ. Gentile believers are greatly indebted to the Jew, Saul of Tarsus. Let the Gentile believers help repay that debt by showing kindness to their Jewish brothers, who always were on Paul's heart as a continual grief.

To be continued.