Paul and Barnabas saw it as their duty to bring the good news of Jesus Christ first to the Jew and then to the Gentile (Romans 1:16–17). The people of promise must be the first to hear of God’s fulfillment of the promise.1 Having shared the message of Jesus Christ with the Jews in Antioch, and since those Jews are now rejecting the message, Paul and Barnabas will focus on sharing the message more proactively with Gentiles living in the city.2 They will look for opportunities to preach elsewhere.3
46 And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles.