Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing you put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
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Cyprian of Carthage
AD 258
Of this same thing, in the Acts of the Apostles, Paul says: "It was necessary that the word of God should first be shown to you; but since ye put it from you, and judged yourselves unworthy of eternal life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles: for thus said the Lord by the Scriptures, Behold, I have set Thee a light among the nations, that Thou shouldest be for salvation even to the ends of the earth."
it is not put as affronting (though) it is in fact what they did in the case of the prophets: Talk not to us, said they, with talk— Isaiah 30:10: but since you put it from you— it, he says, not us: for the affront on your part is not to us. For that none may take it as an expression of their piety (that he says,) You judge not yourselves worthy, therefore he first says, You put it from you, and then, We turn unto the Gentiles. The expression is full of gentleness. He does not say, We abandon you, but so that it is possible— he would say— that we may also turn hither again: and this too is not the consequence of the affront from you, for so has (the Lord) commanded us.—
Do you mark how by their contentious behavior they the more extended the preaching, and (how the Apostles here) gave themselves the more to the Gentiles, having (by this very thing) pleaded their justification, and made themselves clear of all blame with their own people (at Jerusalem)? (c) See how by their envy they bring about great things, other (than they looked for): they brought it about that the Apostles spoke out boldly, and came to the Gentiles! For this is why he says, And speaking out boldly, Paul and Barnabas said. They were to go out to the Gentiles: but observe the boldness coming with measure: for if Peter pleaded in his justification, much more these needed a plea, none having called them there. Acts 11:4 But by saying To you first, he showed that to those also it was their duty (to preach), and in saying Necessary, he showed that it was necessary to be preached to them also. But since you turn away from it— he does not say, Woe unto you, and You are punished, but We tu...
Therefore Paul and the apostles themselves, mindful of the precept of the Lord, bear this solemn testimony before Israel, which they had now filled with their doctrine-saying, "It was necessary that the word of God should have been first delivered to you; but seeing ye have rejected it, and have not thought yourselves worthy of eternal life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles."
