1 Thessalonians 2:16

“Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles, that they might be saved, etc.] Speaking or preaching the Gospel is the ordinary means of saving souls, or of acquainting them with the way of salvation, the necessity of it, and of the application of it to them, and with this end and view it is preached: now though the Jews disbelieved the Gospel, and despised the ministry of it, and disavowed any such use and end of it, yet such was their envy at the Gentiles, and their hatred of them, that could they have believed it to be the means of salvation, they would have forbidden the preaching of it to them, as they now did; and it is certain, that even the believing Jews, through ignorance, did at first…”

“Forbidding--Greek, "Hindering us from speaking," &c. to fill up their sins alway--Tending thus "to the filling up (the full measure of, Gen 15:16; Dan 8:23; Mat 23:32) their sins at all times," that is, now as at all former times. Their hindrance of the Gospel preaching to the Gentiles was the last measure added to their continually accumulating iniquity, which made them fully ripe for vengeance. for--Greek, "but." "But," they shall proceed no further, for (Ti2 3:8) "the" divine "wrath has (so the Greek) come upon (overtaken unexpectedly; the past tense expressing the speedy certainty of the divinely destined stroke) them to the uttermost"; not merely partial wrath, but wrath to its full…”

“Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles - see Acts 17:5, Acts 17:13. No particular instance is mentioned in the life of Paul previous to this, when they had formally commanded him not to preach to the pagan, but no one can doubt that this was one of the leading points of difference between him and them. Paul maintained that the Jews and Gentiles were now on a level with regard to salvation; that the wall of partition was broken down; that the Jew had no advantages over the rest of mankind in this respect, and that the pagan might be saved without becoming Jews, or being circumcised; Romans 2:25-29; Romans 3:22-31; notes, Colossians 1:24. The Jews did not hold it unlawful “to speak to the…”

“To fill up - The measure of their sins always, as they have ever done. But the vengeance of God is come upon them - Hath overtaken them unawares, whilst they were seeking to destroy others, and will speedily complete their destruction. 1 Thessalonians 2:17”

“2:16 The mission to the Gentiles was one of the most important issues in the early church (Acts 11:18; 13:46-49; 28:28; Rom 1:16). • Judgment comes when sins pile up to their complete measure (Gen 15:16; Dan 8:23; cp. Matt 23:31-36).”

“Forbidding: Act 11:2, Act 11:3, Act 11:17, Act 11:18, Act 13:50, Act 14:5, Act 14:19, Act 17:5, Act 17:6, Act 17:13, Act 18:12, Act 18:13, Act 19:9, Act 21:27-31; Act 22:21, Act 22:22; Gal 5:11; Eph 3:8, Eph 3:13 that: Isa 45:22; Mar 16:16; Act 4:12; Rom 10:13-15; Th2 2:10; Ti1 2:4 to fill: Gen 15:16; Zac 5:6-8; Mat 23:32 for: Joe 2:30, Joe 2:31; Mal 4:1, Mal 4:5; Mat 3:7-10, Mat 3:12, Mat 12:45, Mat 21:41-44, Mat 22:6, Mat 22:7; Mat 24:6, Mat 24:14, Mat 24:21, Mat 24:22; Luk 11:50, Luk 11:51, Luk 19:42-44, Luk 21:20-24; Heb 6:8; Heb 10:27-30; Jam 5:1-6; Rev 22:11 1 Thessalonians 2:17”