"Now You Are God's People " - THE NEW PEOPLE OF GOD

Jehovah used the apostle Peter to take the lead in opening up the way for Jews and proselytes to become members of this newborn nation, the Christian congregation.  On the day of Pentecost, Peter boldly told the Jews that they must accept Jesus, they man they had "fastened to a stake," because God made him both Lord and Christ."  When the crowd asked what they should do, Peter replied: "Repent, and let each one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the free gift of the holy spirit." (ACTS 2:22, 23, 36-38) That day, some 3,000 people were added to the new nation of Israel.  (Acts 2:41)  Afterward, the zealous preaching of the apostles continued to bear more fruit.  (Acts 6:7)  The new nations was growing.

Later, the preaching work was extended to the Samaritans, with good success. Many were baptized by the evangelizer Philip, but they did not immediately  receive the holy spirit.  The governing body in Jerusalem sent the apostles Peter and John to these Samaritan converts, and these Samaritans also became spirit-anointed members of the spiritual Israel.

In 36 C.E., Peter was again used to extend to others entrance into the new nation of spiritual Israel. This occurred when he preached to the Roman centurion Cornelius and his relatives and friends. (Acts 10:22, 24, 34, 35) The Bible record states: "While Peter was still speaking . . . . , the holy spirit came upon all the [non-Jews] hearing the word. And the circumcised believers who had come with Peter were amazed, because the free gift of the holy spirit was being poured out also on people of the nations." (Acts 10:44, 45) Thus, membership in the new nation of spiritual Israel was now extended to believers who were uncircumcised Gentiles.

Next time: "Now You Are God's People" - "A PEOPLE FOR HIS NAME" 

From the jw.org publications