The first traditional "orthodox" position is that Israel were set aside at the cross, after all, they crucified the Messiah and certainly deserved that according to man's judgment. However this can not be true because apart from stronger evidence provided later in this article, our Saviour appealed to The Father on Israel's behalf:
Luk. 23:34 And Jesus said, Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do........

Peter's testimony in Acts 3:12-17 (and Paul's in Acts 13:27) confirms that our Lord's prayer was regarding the Israelites not the Romans who were past masters at crucifixion. Our Heavenly Father forgave Israel, they were not put aside at the cross.

Then the other "orthodox" position is that Israel were cast away at Pentecost, Acts 2 and there the "church" was born when Jew and Gentile were baptized into the "body" of Christ. Apart from the fact that Pentecost was one of the middle Feasts given to Israel not the beginning, we have shown that there were no Gentiles at Acts 2 to be included in that event. It is impossible for the "church" to have started there despite the fact that the word "church" is used:
Act 2:47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.  

We can not inject the word "church" with our concepts because at the time of the New Testament the Israelites used the word church in reference to their own nation, see Acts 7:38. Church means a called out or assembly and in Acts 19:39, 41 this same original word translated "church" in Acts 2 is used to describe the law courts of the time and an unruly mob.

In Romans 9 and 11, we have Paul referring to Israel;
Rom 9:1 I tell the truth in Christ, I do not lie, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit,
Rom 9:2 that I have great heaviness and continual pain in my heart.
Rom 9:3 For I myself was wishing to be accursed from Christ for my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh,
Rom 9:4 who are Israelites; to whom belong the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the Law, and the service of God, and the promises;
Rom 9:5 whose are the fathers, and of whom is the Christ according to flesh, He being God over all, blessed forever. Amen.

Why would Paul even be in such pain for Israel if they were already cast aside years before he wrote Romans? Then Paul tells us plainly;
Rom 10:20 But Isaiah is very bold and says, "I was found by those who did not seek Me, I became known to those who did not ask after Me."
Rom 10:21 But to Israel He says, "All day long I have stretched forth My hands to a disobeying and gainsaying people."
Rom 11:1 I say then, Did not God put away His people? Let it not be said! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
Rom 11:2 God did not thrust out His people whom He foreknew.

The facts are clear, Israel was still standing as God's chosen people when Paul wrote Romans, which was written late in the book of Acts. Not only so, but the promises made to them were still in anticipation being confirmed by the ministry of Christ;
Rom 15:4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, so that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.

Rom 15:8 And I say, Jesus Christ has become a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers,

How the lies of tradition can remain in the face of the Word of God to the contrary, that God cast Israel off at the Cross or Pentecost, is to be wondered at.

In the last chapter of the book of Acts Paul arrives at Rome and calls the chief of the Jews, Acts 28:17. Paul through Acts ministered to Israel in their synagogues on the Sabbath days. See, Acts 9:20, 13:5, 14, 14:1, 16:13 and 17:1-2.

We notice that Paul was bound as a prisoner for the hope of Israel at this time;|
Act 28:20 For this cause, then, I called for you, to see and to speak with you. For I have this chain around me for the hope of Israel.

To these Jews in Rome, Paul preached about Jesus, Israel's Messiah, out of the Old Testament for an entire day;
Act 28:23 And they having appointed him a day, many came to him in his lodging; to whom he expounded, testifying the kingdom of God, and persuading them the things concerning Jesus, both out of the Law of Moses and out of the Prophets, from morning until evening.

In this final recorded witness to the Israelites, some believed and some did not and instead of seeking further light, they argued amongst themselves;
Act 28:24-25a And some indeed believed the things that were said, others did not believe. And disagreeing with one another,

Then an incredible statement is made;
Act 28:25 ....they were let go, Paul saying one word: Well did the Holy Spirit speak through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers,

This word "let go" first occurs in the New Testament in Matthew 1:19 where it is translated "put away":
Mat 1:19 But Joseph, her husband to be, being just, and not willing to make her a public example, he purposed to PUT her AWAY secretly.

That it should first occur in a divorce context will not escape those students of the Word who know God was in a marriage relationship with the nation of Israel, Jer.31:32. The prophecy of Isaiah 6 is announced against the Israelites and could not be limited to the few Jews at Rome. Isaiah 6 is prophecy against Israel who constantly refuse to listen to the Lord through those messengers He sent them. Isaiah 6 had been quoted in the NT a number of times before this. Matt.13:14, Jon. 12:38-40 and in Romans 11:8-10. The Lord held out His hands for 40 years (approx.) to this nation but their attitude was a disobedient and contradictory one. As Paul declares in Thessalonians;
1Th 2:14 For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also have suffered these things by your own countrymen, even as they also by the Jews;
1Th 2:15 who both killed the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, also driving us out and they do not please God and being contrary to all men,
1Th 2:16 forbidding us to speak to the nations that they might be saved, to fill up their sins always; but the wrath has come upon them to the uttermost.

At the end of the book of Acts Israel were "let go" for a time (not forever since we know God has made unconditional covenants with their fathers and with them) and Paul declares;
Act 28:28 Therefore be it known to you that the salvation of God is sent to the nations, and they will hear.

Previously in Acts, Paul had turned from the Israelites to the Gentiles but only in localized areas and without the application of Isaiah 6. After such local preaching to Gentiles, Paul returned to the Israelites since they had the dispensational advantage during that time, it was Jew first. Those Gentiles saved during Acts were to provoke Israel to jealousy and were made partakers of Israel's spiritual things and were blessed with faithful Abraham in hope. Acts 3:25-26, 13:46, Roms.1:16, 3:1-2, 11:11,:17, 15:4-13, 27, and Gal.3:9, 28-29.

But now the final use of Isaiah 6 is leveled against the nation of Israel and this is the final word of the book of Acts:
Act 28:31 proclaiming the kingdom of God, and teaching those things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ, with all freedom, and without hindrance.

A close attention to detail will show some differences in this last verse and verse 23 but the important thing is to note that there is no further witness to unrepentant Israel and the teaching of Paul after Israel were let go has no reference to the Old Testament.

The student of the Word might like to consider these statements of Paul found in those epistles we believe by internal evidence were written after Acts 28;
Eph 3:1 For this cause, I, Paul, am the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you nations.... Cp Acts 28:20 above.

Eph 3:8 This grace is given to me (who am less than the least of all saints) to preach the gospel of the unsearchable riches of Christ among the nations,
Eph 3:9 and to bring to light what is the fellowship of the mystery which from eternity has been hidden in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ;

Please notice the words "unsearchable" and "hidden in God" then compare Acts 28:23 above and Acts 26:22.

The Salvation of God sent to the gentiles is found in the dispensation of the grace of God given to Paul alone.

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