From Acts 9, when Paul was saved, to the end of Acts we see a major ‘transition’ from Israel and her Prophetic Kingdom Program to Paul’s new Grace Program as the new focus of God.

Acts chapters 9-28 can be awfully confusing and impossible to understand unless we keep in mind the facts of Paul’s explanation of Israel’s fallen status as seen in Rom. 11:11-15, 25. The first step in understanding Paul’s ministry during the Acts period is to read and believe his words here concerning Israel’s “fall.”

“¹¹I say then, Have they [Israel] stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather Through Their [Israel’s] Fall Salvation Is Come Unto The Gentiles, for to provoke them [Israel] to jealousy.

¹²Now if The Fall of Them [Israel] be the riches of the world, and the DIMINISHING of them the Riches Of The Gentiles…?

Paul goes onto say;

¹³I [Paul] speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the [one chief] apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify [honor] mine office (ministry): ¹⁴If by any means [or, so that] I may provoke [Israel] to emulation [jealousy of the Gentiles] them which are my flesh [Israel], and might save some of them. ¹⁵ For if the casting away of them [Israel] be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? ²⁵ For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery [God-kept 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 [at the Rapture].” (Romans 11:11-15, 25)

According God’s O.T. Prophetic Program for Israel, the Nation Israel was to rise to her kingdom glory and bless the whole world of mankind. But, first, National Israel would have to receive and trust her Messiah and King… Jesus the Christ. Then, He would then establish His literal visible kingdom on the physical earth, in which Israel is to be a “kingdom of priests” who would then evangelize the nations, (Gk. the ethnics, the Gentiles) (cf. Ex. 19:5-6; Isa. 59:21–60:3, 61:6; Zech. 8:20-23; Matt 28:19; Mk 16:15; etc.). We now know that will not occur until the Millennium after the Rapture of “the body of Christ.”

When National Israel refused Jesus, and crucified Him, and given a 2^nd chance in Acts, they again refused to change their mind about who Jesus was. As seen in the early Acts period… God caused Israel’s program to ‘diminish’ and totally fall away temporarily. This is exactly what Paul is conveying in Rom. 11:11-15.

Israel did ‘stumble’ at Calvary’s cross when she crucified her Messiah, but that was not “the fall of them” (cf. Rom. 9:32-33). Later, Israel did fall when they rejected the third Person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, who was speaking through Stephen before being stoned (cf. Acts 7:51, 55). This was Unforgiveable.

“Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. ³² And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man [against Jesus], it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall NOT be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.” (Matthew 12:31-32 (KJV)

During today’s Gentile age of grace, National Israel remains “fallen” (Rom. 11:11-12). During today’s age of the pure “grace of God,” He sees no difference between Jew and Gentile who are lost and Jew and Gentile who believe (Rom. 3:22; Gal 3:28, 6:15; Eph 2:13-18; Col 3:11), rather He sees “ALL men” as either lost sinners who are “in Adam” …  or saints, [believers] saved into “the body of Christ.”

From Acts 7:51 up to Acts 28:28, Israel and her program are seen as “diminishing” (Rom. 11:12), but then with Acts 28:28, Israel’s Prophetic Program was fully set aside for a time.

“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 28:28)

One day, after God has finished adding members to “the church… the Body of Christ” it will be Raptured to “dwell eternal in the heaven” (2Cor 5:1b).

Then the Lord turn again to Israel and resume Israel’s Prophetic program, fulfilling ALL His promises and prophecies. (cf. Rom. 11:25-32, 1Thes. 4:13–5:9, 2Thes. 2:1-17). At that time Israel will again be pre-eminent in God’s dealings with all mankind… beginning with the Tribulation judgment on the world and Israel to purge out all the rebels, the unbelievers on earth at that time.

Then He will literally and physically return to earth (to the Mount of Olives) to save the believing “remnant” of Israel and establish His Millennial Kingdom on earth, in which they will co-reign with Him.