Romans 10:18, Sounding Forth of the Gospel

Romans 10:18 (KJV) ¹⁸  But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.

The Apostle Paul’s conscience is very clear that his heart was for the conversion of the Jews. Into every city the Lord directed him, he would first preach the gospel in the Jewish synagogue. When the Jews reject the gospel, he would then preach to the Gentiles. He saw that many of the Jews were not ready to receive Christ Jesus for they went about to establish their own righteousness (Rom. 10:3) although the Word of God has been sounded forth throughout the Roman Empire.

And the Jews would not just reject the gospel but would put to death God’s servant. The deacon Stephen was the first Christian martyr. This was his truthful assessment of the hardened heart of the Jews before he was stoned to death:

Acts 7:51-60 (KJV) ⁵¹  Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. ⁵²  Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: ⁵³  Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. ⁵⁴  When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. ⁵⁵  But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, ⁵⁶  And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. ⁵⁷  Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, ⁵⁸  And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul. ⁵⁹  And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. ⁶⁰  And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

May God be merciful to those who reject Him. May the people of God not give up on them but continue to pray for them. Amen.