Yes, Paul was to take the gospel message to the Gentiles:
Acts 9:
10And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. 11And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, 12And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. 13Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: 14And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. 15But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: 16For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.
Yes, smvoice, you are correct that the gospel is a Jewish gospel (I believe that is what you are saying), and when the Jewish nation rejected Christ as their savior (final straw was the stoning of Stephen), it went to the Gentiles (effectively the heathens). The whole point of the sacrificial/ceremonial system was to show the show/play out the gospel of Jesus Christ. That’s what it was all about. The Jewish nation just refused to accept Christ as that sacrifice. They rejected him because they didn’t have faith. Paul clearly states this:
Rom 9:31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
Rom 9:32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by FAITH, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
Rom 9:33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
The old and new covenants were both based on OBEDIENCE to God’s commandments. The problem with the first covenant is that the people focused on works and not faith. Moses was the mediator of the old covenant.
Deu 4:13 And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.
Deu 5:29 O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!
The new covenant is based on “better promises”. Jesus is the mediator of the new covenant.
Heb 10:14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
Heb 10:15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,
Heb 10:16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
Heb 10:17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
“He will put his laws in our hearts and in our minds”
Christians will keep God’s law out of love for him. It has always been about FAITH AND OBEDIENCE and it always will be.
The nation of Israel had three chances to accept the Gospel of the Kingdom, promised to them from the time of Abraham (”you shall be a nation of PRIESTS to the Gentile nations. The first chance was given from God the Father to John the Baptist to the nation of Israel. They rejected his message and ALLOWED his death. STRIKE ONE.
The second chance was through Jesus Christ the Messiah, God the Son in flesh. They rejected His message and DEMANDED His death. STRIKE TWO.
The third and final chance was God the Holy Spirit coming as promised on the day of Pentecost. The nation as a hole rejected Him and kept on until it culminated in Stephen. They PERFORMED his death themselves
They rejected the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. By Acts 28 God had blinded them and set them aside and turned to the Gentiles.(Israel will be blinded until the fullness of the Gentiles is complete)
God saved Paul and sent him to the Gentiles(and whatsoever Jews believed the Gospel of the GRACE of God. Apart from covenants He had made with Israel. This gospel is based PURELY BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH, NOT OF WORKS LEST ANY MAN SHOULD BOAST.
When the fullness of the Gentiles has come in and the Body of Christ is complete, He will once again turn His eyes to Israel and the kingdom GOSPEL that was promised and preached will be preached once again. Why? Because He is going to return and set up His Kingdom just as the KINGDOM GOSPEL says. With Israel becoming a nation of PRIESTS and taking the wonderful news to the Gentiles Nations.