We must consider the New Testament history that leads us to Romans. As we read through the Gospels and then go into Acts, we realize Acts is a continuation of God’s focus upon dealing with the Nation Israel, not the Gentiles.

²⁴ But he [Jesus] answered and said, I am not sent but [only] unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Matt. 15:24
⁵ These twelve [Apostles] Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: ⁶ But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Matthew 10:5-6

But we must observe how something significant happened during the 35-year Acts period. As explained parabolically in Luke 13:6-9, Jesus’ words of the parable of “the [baren] fig tree” concern barren unbelieving nation of Israel. God gives Israel one more year to produce spiritual fruit (Acts 1-8). Jesus’ “Little Flock” of Christ Jewish believers (Luke 12:32) was supposed to nourish the saints with the Lord’s teachings concerning ‘the Kingdom of [from] Heaven’ being “at hand,” and that the Jesus Christ is their Messiah.

However, three times the religious leaders of the nation of Israel rejected the Holy Spirit’s work and witness by the signs done through the disciples, so with the end of the Acts period God sets Israel aside for a time as they are to this today, by Paul’s words of Acts 28:26-28 as explained here in Romans 11:25.

²⁸ Be it known therefore unto you [Israel], that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it. Acts 28:28 (KJV)

²⁵ For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery [secret], lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to ISRAEL, until the fulness of the GENTILES be come in.

This is Israel’s ‘Loammi’ status as was prophesied in Hosea:

⁹ Then said God, Call his name Loammi: for ye [Israel] are not my people, and I will not be your God. Hosea 1:9 (KJV)

These miraculous events below were not enough for the leaders of the nation of Israel to believe.

1) Healing of lame man: A sign and picture of Israel’s spiritual condition, yet it is ignored. (Acts 4:9, 13-18)
2) Miracle prison release: Saints were imprisoned & warned when they taught Christ but miraculously released; another sign ignored. (Acts 5:17-28)
3) The Stoning of Stephen, with the face of an angel and by the Spirit preached God’s Truth but it was rejected and they stoned him to death. (Acts 6:15, 7:51-60)

The rest of Acts reveals God sending Paul to “the Gentiles.” From Acts chapters 9-28, the primary focus, like a pendulum, switches from Israel and Peter with the eleven unto … Paul and his new ministry to “all men” of all nations, to include the Gentiles which were still under ‘Israel’s program’ right up to Acts 28:28. Then again, three times God holds forth the Truth to Israel, yet the leaders consistently reject Paul’s ministry as seen in Acts13:44-52, Acts 18:4-6, and Acts 28:23-28.

⁴⁴ And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God. ⁴⁵ But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. ⁴⁶ Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you [Israel]: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. ⁴⁷ For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. ⁴⁸ And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. ⁴⁹ And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region. ⁵⁰ But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts. ⁵¹ But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium. ⁵² And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost. Acts 13:44-52 (KJV)

⁴ And he [Paul] reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks [i.e., Gentiles]. ⁵ And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. ⁶ And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles. Acts 18:4-6 (KJV)

²³ And when they [The unbelieving Jews of Rome] had appointed him [Paul] a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening. ²⁴ And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not. ²⁵  And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias [Isaiah 6:9-10] the prophet unto our fathers, ²⁶ Saying, “Go unto this people [Israel], and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: ²⁷  For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.” ²⁸ Be it known therefore unto you [Israel], that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear [heed] it. Acts 28:23-28 (KJV)

So, as the book of Acts ends, Paul relays what’s next in God’s agenda:

• Israel’s rejection resulted in its program the gospel of “Thy kingdom come on earth” being temporarily set aside. Every promise of God will ultimately be fulfilled with the 2^nd coming of Christ, returning “in wrath” in which 2/3s of Israel will die in unbelief… while 1/3 are will believe and be saved. (Zech. 13:8-9).

¹ In that day there shall be a fountain [of Jesus’ blood] opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness. Zechariah 13:1 (KJV)

• After Acts God’s focus, plan and purpose is unto “all nations” (all men believing men are seen as Gentiles) called to heaven’s glory (Eph. 1:3).

“Be it known therefore unto you [Israel], that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.” (Acts 28:28)

God had appointed Paul as “the [singular] Apostle to the Gentiles” (cf. Rom. 11:13) and we have his 6 Acts period epistles, Then, after Acts 28:28 we get with Paul’s 7 Post-Acts ministry and epistles beginning with his prison epistles of Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, then continuing with 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon

Romans is first in the set of Paul’s courses of core doctrine for all who will believe. Romans is foundational and needed first for those who would later become believing “saints,” to grow and become counted among “the faithful” (cf. Eph. 1:1b) members of the Gentile “Body of Christ.” Romans is organized into these four parts concerning:

1) Justification (Romans 1-5)

2) Sanctification (Romans 6-8)

3) How we fit in God’s plan/purpose (Romans 9-11), and

4) Faithful Service (Rom. 12-16).

Romans sets forth key doctrine to educate and edify “the saints.” ‘All’ genuine grace believers are seen of God as ‘saints’ set apart unto God, to understand new truth that is often contrary to the truth and destiny of Israel. But this makes them part of what God is doing today during “The Dispensation Of The Grace Of God” (Eph. 3:2).

 [Some portions adapted from Deborah Johnson]