It also appears that the focus of the apostles for the first years after Pentecost remained on the house of Israel aka the Jews, until the call of Paul, which together with Peter's visit to the house of Cornelius, opened the door of the kingdom to the Gentiles.
That's where Peter used his famous keys to the kingdom --- to open the door for the Gentiles. This event actually marks the birth of the Gentile part of the church. But note how unwilling Peter was to go down there. He had to be dragged kicking and screaming into Cornelius' house, the house of a Gentile to give them the Gospel.
It may have been at this time that all of the other apostles widened their ministries to include Gentiles as well as the Jews. If not then, then it certainly would have been at the Council at Jerusalem circa 49 AD. But Peter's focus remained on the Jews [the circumcision] throughout his apostolic life ---
Agreed.
That's where Peter used his famous keys to the kingdom --- to open the door for the Gentiles. This event actually marks the birth of the Gentile part of the church. But note how unwilling Peter was to go down there. He had to be dragged kicking and screaming into Cornelius' house, the house of a Gentile to give them the Gospel.
Agreed...with part. You are right that Peter had to be dragged kicking and screaming, metaphorically. God had to present him with a vision in order to knock him upside the head.
However, I believe you are misinterpreting the use of the "keys of the kingdom." The symbology behind the 'keys' are a transfer of authority. Please refer to Isaiah 22:22 and Revelation 1:18.
Smith's Bible Dictionary says the following about "keys:"
The key of a native Oriental lock is a piece of wood, from seven inches to two feet in length, fitted with the wires or short nails, which, being inserted laterally into the hollow bolt which serves as a lock, raises other pins within the staple so as to allow the bolt to be drawn back. (Keys were sometimes of bronze or iron, and so large that one was as much as a man could carry. They are used in Scripture as a symbol of authority and power. Giving keys to a person signifies the intrusting of him with an important charge. (Matthew 16:19) In England in modern times certain officers of the government receive, at their induction into office, a golden key.—ED.)
Nave's Topical Bible says:
–General scriptures concerning Jud 3:25
- A symbol of authority Isa 22:22; Mt 16:19; Re 1:18; 3:7; 9:1; 20:1
- FIGURATIVE Lu 11:52
Easton's Bible Dictionary says the following:
Frequently mentioned in Scripture. It is called in Hebrew maphteah, i.e., the opener (Judg. 3:25); and in the Greek New Testament kleis, from its use in shutting (Matt. 16:19; Luke 11:52; Rev. 1:18, etc.). Figures of ancient Egyptian keys are frequently found on the monuments, also of Assyrian locks and keys of wood, and of a large size (comp. Isa. 22:22). The word is used figuratively of power or authority or office (Isa. 22:22; Rev. 3:7; Rev. 1:8; comp. 9:1; 20:1; comp. also Matt. 16:19; 18:18). The “key of knowledge” (Luke 11:52; comp. Matt. 23:13) is the means of attaining the knowledge regarding the kingdom of God. The “power of the keys” is a phrase in general use to denote the extent of ecclesiastical authority.
Also notice this: The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles.
As you say....this was some time after Pentecost, perhaps a year or two. Why should these folks have been so astonished.... if among the Apostles, "The Great Commission" had directed them to the Gentiles?
Also, Peter was still being criticized by some in the early Church for doing such things. This was shortly after his experience with Cornelius: The apostles and the brothers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him and said, "You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them."
If it had been common knowledge among the Church from the beginning....to evangelize the gentiles......why the "Big Stink"! So what!
The reason is obvious. It was not common knowledge...in fact it was not even knowledge. The original twelve had received instructions directly from Our Lord on more than one occasion to do precisely this: Go rather to the lost Sheep of the House of Israel. [Matthew 10:6]
The original Hebrew of Matthew may not have said the same thing the Greek manuscripts say. Who knows? Other scriptures seem to bear this out.