Some assume that Christ, by his apostles and disciples, instituted water
baptism as the Christian successor of Jewish circumcision. Scripture
testimony conflicts with this assumption. "The Acts of the Apostles"
indicate that these apostles were mostly tenacious of Jewish customs and
only gradually comprehended the universal and spiritual nature of
Christ's kingdom in its noon-day brightness.
They looked for a Jewish kingdom with Christ as earthly king, and of
course to retain in some way their existing customs.[162] They called
all who were not Jews, uncircumcised Gentiles. But few of the apostles
would sit at table with Gentiles or eat in their houses.[163]
Peter required a vision before preaching the Gospel to Gentiles, and
gave as his reason for hesitation that it was unlawful for Jews to keep
company or come unto those of another nation.[164]
Other apostles censured Peter for making the freedom with Gentiles which
he sometimes did.[165] Some insisted that Gentile converts to
Christianity be circumcised.[166]