Paul is the apostle to Gentiles and the 12 or 11 are apostles to the Jews
There are two stories that impress me in my thinking that the 12 are for Jews. Zacharias' prophesy and Stephen's Acts chapter 7, a sermon based on Jewish Law.
Luke 1:67-80 KJV] Zacharias Prophesy Why now?
67 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, 68 Blessed [be] the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, 69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; 70 As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: 71 That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; 72 To perform the mercy [promised] to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; 73 The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, 74 That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, 75 In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.
76 And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; 77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, 78 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, 79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and [in] the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. 80 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.
Stephen Sermon -Wisdom only a Jew would understand.
Stephen’s speech in Acts 7 is his defense before the Sanhedrin after being accused of blasphemy against Moses, God, the temple, and the law. The high priest asks, “Are these things so?” and Stephen answers with a sweeping retelling of Israel’s history — then turns the accusation back on his judges.
The historical survey (Acts 7:2–50)
Stephen walks through key moments in Israel’s story:
Abraham (vv. 2–8) — God called Abraham out of Mesopotamia, promised the land before he had a child, foretold 400 years of bondage in Egypt, and gave the covenant of circumcision.
Joseph (vv. 9–16) — The patriarchs sold Joseph into Egypt out of envy, but God raised him up to save the family during famine. Jacob and the fathers died in Egypt and were buried at Shechem.
Moses (vv. 17–44) — A new Pharaoh oppressed Israel. Moses was born, rejected by his own people when he tried to help them, fled to Midian, then was sent by God at the burning bush — the same Moses Israel had refused. He led Israel out with signs and wonders, and predicted a prophet like himself (Christ). Yet Israel repeatedly rebelled: they rejected Moses, made the golden calf, and turned to idol worship in the wilderness.
The tabernacle and temple (vv. 44–50) — God gave the tabernacle in the wilderness; Joshua brought it into the promised land; David wanted to build God a house; Solomon built the temple. But Stephen quotes Isaiah: God does not dwell in temples made by hands — heaven is His throne.
The indictment (Acts 7:51–53)
The history lesson becomes a direct charge against the council:
• They are “stiffnecked” and “uncircumcised in heart and ears”
• They resist the Holy Spirit, just as their ancestors did
• Their fathers persecuted and killed the prophets
• They are betrayers and murderers of the “Just One” (Jesus)
• They received the law through angels but did not keep it
The climax and outcome (Acts 7:54–60)
The council is enraged. Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, sees Jesus standing at God’s right hand and says so aloud. They stop their ears, drag him out of the city, and stone him. He prays, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit,” and dies asking God not to hold the sin against them. Saul (later Paul) is present, holding the killers’ garments.
What the speech is really about
On the surface it looks like a Bible history recap. Underneath, Stephen is making a sharp theological argument:
1. God’s presence is not tied to the temple — so accusing him of attacking “this holy place” misses how God actually works.
2. Israel’s pattern is rejection of God’s deliverers — Joseph, Moses, the prophets, and now Jesus.
3. The real blasphemers are his accusers — they claim Moses and the law while resisting the Spirit and murdering the Messiah.
It is less a legal defense than a prophetic sermon — and it costs Stephen his life.
Then we Matthew 5:17
Matthew 10:5
Paul's Distinctive Revelation — Pastor David Reid, Columbus Bible Church
YouTube link (https://youtu.be/P8Du14aZkaU) (~59 min)- Grok Summary
A mid-Acts dispensational teaching arguing that Paul received a unique, hidden revelation not preached by the twelve apostles — the mystery of the Body of Christ, in which Gentiles become fellow heirs with Jews on equal footing.
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Main argument
Reid builds a case in layers:
1. Scripture is fully true — no real contradictions, only context we must respect.
2. The twelve did not understand the cross before it happened — so they could not have been preaching Paul's gospel beforehand.
3. Paul's message was a "mystery" — hidden wisdom God revealed only to him.
4. That mystery is the Body of Christ — Gentiles as fellow heirs and members of the same body (not second-class "dogs" under Israel).
5. This was revealed mid-Acts to Paul, not at the cross — the Jerusalem church still operated as Jewish well after the resurrection.
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Key sections and verses
1. Every word of God is true
┌─────────────────┬─────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Verse │ Point │
├─────────────────┼─────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ John 17:17 │ "Thy word is truth" │
├─────────────────┼─────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Proverbs 30:5 │ "Every word of God is pure" │
├─────────────────┼─────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Genesis 1:29 vs │ Different diets for Adam (plants) vs │
│ Genesis 9:3 │ Noah (all moving creatures) — not a │
│ │ contradiction │
├─────────────────┼─────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Leviticus 11 │ Refines Genesis 9: not every creature │
│ │ is food; clean vs unclean │
└─────────────────┴─────────────────────────────────────────┘
Takeaway: Different instructions for different people/times do not mean the Bible errs.
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2. The twelve did not understand the cross
┌──────────┬────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Verse │ Point │
├──────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Mark 9: │ Jesus plainly foretells death and │
│ 31–32 │ resurrection; disciples "understood not" │
├──────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Luke 18: │ Jesus tells the twelve the full passion │
│ 31–34 │ account; "they understood none of these │
│ │ things" │
├──────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ John 20 │ After the resurrection, disciples "knew not │
│ :9 │ the scripture that he must rise again" │
└──────────┴────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Takeaway: The claim that everyone in history was "saved the same way, looking forward to the cross" fails — Jesus' own apostles didn't grasp the cross before it occurred.
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3. Paul's gospel = "the preaching of the cross"
┌──────────────┬────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Verse │ Point │
├──────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ 1 │ Paul sent to preach the gospel = "the │
│ Corinthians │ preaching of the cross" │
│ 1:17–18 │ │
├──────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ 1 │ Paul speaks God's wisdom in a mystery ( │
│ Corinthians │ hidden wisdom); if earthly/heavenly " │
│ 2:7–8 │ princes" had known it, "they would not │
│ │ have crucified the Lord of glory" │
├──────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Ephesians 6: │ Those "princes" are spiritual │
│ 12 │ principalities, not human rulers │
└──────────────┴────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Takeaway: Something about the cross was hidden from Satan and the spiritual powers.
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4. What was NOT the mystery
┌─────────────┬─────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Verse │ Point │
├─────────────┼─────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Mark 9 / │ Resurrection was spoken openly — not hidden │
│ Luke 18 │ │
├─────────────┼─────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Matthew 1: │ Jesus would "save his people [Israel] from │
│ 21 │ their sins" — not hidden │
├─────────────┼─────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Luke 22:3 │ Satan entered Judas to betray Jesus — Satan │
│ │ wanted the cross │
└─────────────┴─────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Takeaway: The hidden element was not resurrection or Israel's redemption, but something else tied to Paul's revelation.
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5. Paul's distinctive revelation — the mystery (core of the sermon)
┌─────────────┬─────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Verse │ Point │
├─────────────┼─────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Ephesians │ Paul, prisoner of Christ, minister to │
│ 3:1 │ Gentiles │
├─────────────┼─────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Ephesians │ The dispensation of the grace of God given │
│ 3:2 │ to Paul │
├─────────────┼─────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Ephesians │ Made known by revelation — mystery Paul │
│ 3:3 │ already could not have learned from the │
│ │ kingdom church │
├─────────────┼─────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Ephesians │ In past ages not made known; mystery = │
│ 3:5–6 │ Gentiles fellow heirs, same body, partakers │
│ │ of promise in Christ │
├─────────────┼─────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Ephesians │ Paul preaches the unsearchable riches of │
│ 3:8 │ Christ │
├─────────────┼─────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Ephesians │ Mystery hid in God from the beginning — not │
│ 3:9 │ findable by searching OT alone │
├─────────────┼─────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Ephesians │ Body of Christ blessed with spiritual │
│ 1:3 │ blessings in heavenly places │
└─────────────┴─────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Takeaway: Paul received new information. If it were the same as the twelve, it would not be a mystery.
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6. Gospel-era Israel vs Gentiles (contrast with today)
┌─────────────┬─────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Verse │ Point │
├─────────────┼─────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Matthew 15: │ Canaanite woman; Jesus: "I am not sent but │
│ 21–28 │ unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel" │
│ │ — Gentiles only "crumbs" │
├─────────────┼─────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Ephesians │ Gentiles were once "without Christ," aliens │
│ 2:11–12 │ from Israel's covenants │
├─────────────┼─────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Ephesians │ Now Gentiles are fellow heirs, same body — │
│ 3:6 │ full equality │
└─────────────┴─────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Takeaway: During Jesus' earthly ministry, Gentiles had no equal standing; Paul's mystery changes that.
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7. Jerusalem church still Jewish after the cross
┌──────────┬────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Verse │ Point │
├──────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Acts 11: │ Believers scattered after Stephen preach "to │
│ 19 │ none but unto the Jews only" │
├──────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Acts 21: │ Years later, James and Jerusalem elders │
│ 17–20 │ rejoice over thousands of Jews zealous for the │
│ │ law │
└──────────┴────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Takeaway: The distinction between Jew and Gentile did not end at the cross; the twelve were not yet preaching Paul's mystery.
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8. Searchable vs unsearchable revelation
┌─────────────┬─────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Verse │ Point │
├─────────────┼─────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ John 5:39 │ In His earthly ministry, Jesus says "search │
│ │ the scriptures… they testify of me" │
├─────────────┼─────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Ephesians │ Paul's revelation is unsearchable — you │
│ 3:8–9 │ cannot find the Body-of-Christ mystery by │
│ │ searching OT alone │
└─────────────┴─────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Takeaway: OT points to Christ the Messiah; Paul's Body-of-Christ truth was hidden until revealed.
───
9. Why Satan would have stopped the cross (if he had known)
┌─────────────┬─────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Verse │ Point │
├─────────────┼─────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Hebrews 2:9 │ Christ made lower than angels to suffer │
│ │ death for man │
├─────────────┼─────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Luke 20:34– │ In resurrection, men become equal to angels │
│ 36 │ — cannot die anymore │
├─────────────┼─────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Colossians │ At the cross, Christ spoiled principalities │
│ 2:15 │ and powers — Satan lost heavenly ground to │
│ │ the Body of Christ │
└─────────────┴─────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Takeaway: The cross redeemed Israel and (unknown to Satan) purchased the heavenly Body of Christ. Had Satan known, he would not have aided the crucifixion.
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10. Gospel invitation (closing)
┌─────────────────┬─────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Verse │ Point │
├─────────────────┼─────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ 1 Corinthians │ Gospel = Christ died for our sins, was │
│ 15:1–4 │ buried, rose the third day │
├─────────────────┼─────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Romans 3 │ Saved by faith in Christ's blood, not │
│ │ works, baptism, or church membership │
└─────────────────┴─────────────────────────────────────────┘
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One-sentence summary
Reid teaches that Paul alone received God's hidden revelation — the mystery of the Body of Christ — making Gentiles equal members with Jews, a truth the twelve did not preach even after the cross, which is why Paul's ministry and gospel are distinct from the kingdom message of Matthew–Acts.
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If you want, I can turn this into a verse-by-verse study outline or compare Reid's reading of Ephesians 3 with your dispensation notes.