Part II: The Gospel Prepared for the World, The Abraham Factor; Chapter 7: The Hidden Message of Acts, pp. 175-189 Summary

Richardson contends that, after Jesus ascends into Heaven, his apostles avoid obeying his last command to preach the message to all peoples. Instead, they stay in Jerusalem, only reaching out to other Jews. When Pentecost comes, and the Holy Spirit comes upon the apostles, they spontaneously start speaking in foreign languages, and preaching the good news to the many foreigners assembled in the city. This is the beginning of the spread of the gospel.

Soon, a Jew named Saul of Tarsus has a vision in which Jesus calls him to preach to the Gentiles. Saul begins going by the name Paul, and he spreads the message throughout...