Until the time Israel is blinded (temporarily) and set aside, (Acts 28), Paul confirmed the covenants God made with Israel and kept the law. Once they were set aside, the ordinances that were contained in the law were blotted out. Col. 2:9-14. Paul had a two fold ministry. First he confirmed the covenants and promises made to Israel and second he proclaimed the gospel of the grace of God. As long as Israel was still operating as God's favored people, they were given the gospel of the kingdom, to accept whereby Christ would return and set up the Kingdom. Once they rejected the gospel of the kingdom and Christ as Messiah, there was no longer a gospel of the kingdom to proclaim. There was no one to proclaim it to. The gospel of the grace of God superceded it and will until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. At which time the Church the Body of Christ is removed and God removes the scales from Israel's eyes and the kingdom gospel is once again preached. Think about it: once the Body of Christ is raptured, who is there to preach the gospel of the grace of God to? Knowing that this gospel, when believed, places us into the Body of Christ, once that Body is complete, it is removed from this earth to heaven. There is no more Body left to fill. It is complete. This is why the dispensation of the grace of God ends. And why the kingdom message is once again proclaimed.
**And Matt and Mark and Luke and John.**
There was no remission of sins until the crucifixion of Jesus Christ (Heb. 9:16,17, and 10:15-18). And there was no pouring out of the Holy Ghost, until Jesus departed: “..for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you”. Jn 15:7
**Did Peter jump at the opportunity to witness to Cornelius as part of the great commission to go to all nations? No. He had to be given a vision about this. And he even questioned that.**
The story of the vision God gave Peter has some undeniable facts:
1. Peter did NOT know anything about Cornelius, or the messengers that were sent, BEFORE the vision.
2. The vision was given to Peter thrice.
3. God did NOT afterwards reveal what the vision meant, he simply told him about the three men and to go with them.
4. He WENT with them, no holding back.
5. Peter preached to them Christ crucified, and resurrected.
**And he STILL told Cornelius that it was unlawful for a Jew to “keep company” or “come unto one of another nation” BUT God had SHOWED him to go.**
Read the whole verse 28, and notice:
That Peter, knowing enough about Cornelius (he had just walked and probably talked, for about 40 miles with his messengers), that he knew Cornelius was aware of Jewish separation from Gentiles, said: “YE (I repeat ‘YE’) know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.”
Then in verse 29, Peter anounces: “Therefore came I unto you WITHOUT GAINSAYING, AS SOON AS I WAS SENT FOR: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?”
Cornelius told his story, and Peter responded: “Of a truth I perseive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.”
Peter preached Jesus Christ, the Holy Ghost fell, and Peter commanded them baptized in the name of the Lord (which was what the Lord commanded in his commissions).
And Paul, after seeing the goings on of the followers of Christ, persecuted them. He had to get the smack down on the road to Damascus to even admit he needed to be changed (I notice that you skirted his witness of his detailed conversion. AND you STILL won’t go to Acts 19).
The baptism of the Holy Ghost was, and has always been since Pentecost, a supernatural experience. That’s the stumblingblock so many folks have.