A careful reading of Acts reveals that there are two separate versions of how the gospel message began to spread to the Gentiles. Luke presents both versions rather evenhandedly, letting the stories from each tradition offer their own proof. In chapters 6-8 Luke calls upon the use of a Hellenistic source to provide evidence of Christian expansion. In this version it is the evangelistic efforts of Hellenistic Christians that first extends the gospel beyond the borders of Judaism and offers it to the Gentile world.

A different explanation is given in Acts 10:1-11:18. Here it is the apostles themselves, under Peter's direct leadership, who take credit and responsibility for beginning the witness to the Gentiles. According to the Hellenistic tradition, after opening the doors of expansion a cr…