[45] But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul.[46] Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. [47] For so the Lord has commanded us: 'I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.'” [48] Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. [49] And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region. [50] But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. [51] But they shook off the dust from their feet against them, and came to Iconium. [52] And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.1
Today evangelism of the world must include the Jews, but the priority of the Jews has been fulfilled. [J.A. Witmer]2
To claim that the gospel must be preached first to the Jew throughout this dispensation, is utterly to deny God's Word that there is now no distinction between Jew and Greek either as to the fact of sin (Rom. 3:22) or the availability of salvation (Rom. 10:12). Paul's words in Gal. 4:12 are wholly meaningless if the Jews still have a special place.3
nor does he thrust the Jews from their own eminence and dignity, since they were the first partakers of God's promise and calling. He then reserves for them their prerogative;6
Not that the gospel was any more adapted to Jews than to others; but to them had been committed the oracles of God; the Messiah had come through them; they had had the law, the temple, and the service of God, and it was natural that the gospel should be proclaimed to them before it was to the Gentiles.7
. . . who “will render to each one according to his deeds” : eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God.8
To the Jew first - Not only the Jews have the first offer of this Gospel, but they have the greatest need of it; being so deeply fallen, and having sinned against such glorious privileges, they are much more culpable than the Gentiles, who never had the light of a Divine revelation.9
. . . blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;”11
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under [her] wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate; for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, 'Blessed [is] He who comes in the name of the LORD!'12
Endnotes:
1. | NKJV, Acts 13:46-52 |
2. | Ref-0038, 2:441 |
3. | RVBV, Rom. 1:16 |
4. | Ref-1217, Arnold Fruchtenbaum, 103-104 |
5. | “Although the Scriptures are very clear about this procedure, it is nevertheless denied by many. A major argument used to refute this doctrine is based on Acts 28:25-28. Because of these concluding words and Paul’s declaration that the gospel will now go to the Gentiles, the passage is taken to mean that the gospel is no longer to the Jew first and that God has now changed His program of evangelism, superseding Rom. 1:16, which was written before the Book of Acts. . . . The true meaning is to be found by comparing this passage with two other passages where these words had been spoken before: Acts 13:44-48 and Acts 18:5-6. The true interpretation of Acts 28:25-28 is to be seen in these two passages, which indicate a local change and not an overall change in the program of evangelism. . . . There is no shift in the procedure of presenting the gospel. Acts 28 is only a continuation of a procedure already in progress of presenting the gospel to the Jews first and then turning to the Gentiles.”4 |
6. | Ref-0696, Rom. 1:16 |
7. | Ref-0974, Rom. 1:16 |
8. | NKJV, Romans 2:5-11 |
9. | Ref-1330, Rom. 1:16 |
10. | Ref-0334, 810 |
11. | NKJV, Rom. 11:25-26 |
12. | NKJV, Matthew 23:37-39 |
13. | According to opinion polls, half of all Israeli Jews consider themselves secular. — Demographics of Judaismd |
Sources:
NKJV | Unless indicated otherwise, all Scripture references are from the New King James Version, copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. |
RVBV | William R. Newell, Romans: Verse by Verse |
Ref-0038 | John Walvoord and Roy. B. Zuck, The Bible Knowledge Commentary (Wheaton, IL: SP Publications, 1983). |
Ref-0334 | See . Arndt, W., Gingrich, F. W., Danker, F. W., & Bauer, W. (1996, c1979). A Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament and other early Christian literature : A translation and adaption of the fourth revised and augmented edition of Walter Bauer's Griechisch-deutsches Worterbuch zu den Schrift en des Neuen Testaments und der ubrigen urchristlichen Literatur. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. |
Ref-0696 | J. Calvin Calvin's Commentaries (Albany, OR: Ages Software, 1998). |
Ref-0974 | Barnes, Barnes' Notes on the New Testament (n.p.: Word Search Corporation, 2007). |
Ref-1217 | Christopher Cone, ed., Practical Aspects of Pastoral Authority, 1st ed. (Fort Worth, TX: Tyndale Seminary Press, 2009). ISBN:978-0-9814791-5-6e. |
Ref-1330 | Adam Clarke, Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (n.p.: n.p., 1826). |