Bible verses about "gentiles" | AUV

²² Then Paul stood up in the Areopagus and said, "You men of Athens, I noticed that you are an extremely religious people in all your ways. [See verse 16] ²³ For as I traveled along [your streets] and observed what you are worshiping, I saw an altar with the inscription: [DEDICATED] TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. So, what you are worshiping ignorantly is what I am telling you about. ²⁴ The God who made the world and everything in it, who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in hand-made temples. ²⁵ Neither is He waited on by men's hands as though He needed anything, since it is He who gives to all people their life and breath and everything [they need]. ²⁶ He made every race of people living throughout the earth from one [family] and determined when [they would rise in history] and where they would live. ²⁷ He wanted these people to search for God in hope that, by groping for Him, they might [eventually] find Him, even though He is not [really] very far from [any of] us.

³ For the time you have [already] spent in the past [i.e., as Gentile unbelievers] was long enough to have practiced unrestrained, indecent conduct, improper sexual cravings, riotous living, wild parties, drunken orgies and disgusting idol worship.

²² What if God [did] patiently put up with people who deserved His wrath and [who were] ready for destruction, even though He was willing to demonstrate His wrath and power? ²³ [What if He did this] in order to demonstrate His wealth of glory toward people who deserved His mercy, whom He had previously determined should receive [such special] honor? ²⁴ We were these people, whom He called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles. ²⁵ God said this also, in Hosea [2:23], “I [i.e., God] will call those people mine who were not [previously] my people. And [I will call] her ‘dearly loved’ who was not [previously] loved.” ²⁶ [Hosea 1:10 says], “And it will happen that in the very place where people were told, ‘You people do not belong to me [i.e., God],’ they will be called children of the living God.” ²⁷ And Isaiah declares about [the nation of] Israel [Isa. 10:22-23], “[Even] if the number of Israelites were [as many] as the grains of sand in the ocean, [still only] a small minority will be saved. ²⁸ For the Lord will carry out His word in the world [i.e., He will require an accounting from the people] quickly and decisively.” ²⁹ And, as Isaiah had said in a previous passage [1:9], “If the Lord of the [heavenly] armies [i.e., Almighty God] had not left us some descendants [i.e., a small minority], we would have become like Sodom; He would have made us like Gomorrah [i.e., destroyed].” ³⁰ What shall we say then? [Simply this]: That the Gentiles, who did not attempt to become right with God [by how they lived] were made right with God, and this was the result of their faith [in Christ].

¹⁷ So, I tell you this, and insist [on it] by [the authority of] the Lord: Do not continue to live with worthless thoughts as [unconverted] Gentiles do. ¹⁸ Their understanding [of spiritual things] is darkened and excluded from the [spiritual] life that God gives, because of the ignorance in their minds and the stubbornness in their hearts. ¹⁹ They have stopped caring [i.e., about morality], so God has abandoned them to lives of unrestrained indecency and to engage in all kinds of [moral] impurity, with a constant desire for more.

¹⁴ [This happened] so that the blessing [promised] to Abraham might be received by the Gentiles through [the person and work of] Christ, so that we might receive the promised [gift of the] Holy Spirit through [our] faith [in Jesus].

¹⁶ I have other sheep [also] which are not [presently] in this corral; I must lead them, too. They will hear my voice and become one flock [i.e., with the others], having one shepherd. [Note: This probably refers to believing Gentiles becoming God’s people, along with the Jews].

²⁸ Then let it be known to you that salvation from God is [now] being announced to the Gentiles. They will listen [to it]." {{Some ancient manuscripts insert verse

¹¹ [In this state] there cannot be [such distinctions as] Greek [i.e., Gentile] and Jew; circumcised people and non-circumcised people; barbarian and Scythian [Note: These last two words refer to foreigners whose language was unintelligible and who were uncivilized heathens], or slave and free person; but Christ is all [that is important] and [He is] in all [of His people].

⁷ And after many questions were asked [about it] Peter stood up and addressed the assembly [including the former Pharisees who were now brothers]: "Brothers, you are aware that some time ago God decided that, from among your number, it would be through my ministry that the Gentiles would hear and believe the Gospel message. ⁸ And God, who knows [all people's] hearts, gave His testimony [to their acceptance] by giving them the Holy Spirit just as He did to us [See 11:15-17]. ⁹ And He did not discriminate between us [i.e., Jews] and them [i.e., Gentiles], cleansing their hearts [also] by faith [in Jesus].