Acts 13:46

“Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, etc.] They were not at all daunted at the opposition they met with, but rather grew more courageous, and used great liberty of speech, and spoke out freely, plainly, and openly: and said, it was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you; as it was by Christ and his apostles, whilst he was on earth; and though, after his resurrection, the commission to his apostles ran, to preach the Gospel to all nations, yet they were ordered to begin at Jerusalem, and preach to the Jews first; and this they hitherto strictly observed: but seeing ye put it from you; with loathing, indignation, and contempt: and judge yourselves unworthy of…”

“Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, &c.--This is in the highest style of a last and solemn protestation. It was necessary that the word should first have been spoken to you--See the direction of Christ in Luk 24:47; also Rom 1:16. since ye judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life--pass sentence upon yourselves.”

“Waxed bold - Became bold; spake boldly and openly. They were not terrified by their strife, or alarmed by their opposition. The contradictions and blasphemies of sinners often show that their consciences are alarmed; that the truth has taken effect; and then is not the time to shrink, but to declare more fearlessly the truth. It was necessary - It was so designed; so commanded. They regarded it as their duty to offer the gospel first to their own countrymen. See the notes on Luke 24:47. Ye put it from you - You reject it. And judge yourselves - By your conduct, by your rejecting it, you declare this. The word “judge” here does not mean they “expressed such an opinion,” or that “they regarded…”

“Then Paul and Barnabas speaking boldly, said - Those who hinder others must be publicly reproved. It was necessary - Though ye are not worthy: he shows that he had not preached to them, from any confidence of their believing, but seeing ye judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life - They indeed judged none but themselves worthy of it. Yet their rejecting of the Gospel was the same as saying, "We are unworthy of eternal life." Behold! - A thing now present! An astonishing revolution! We turn to the Gentiles - Not that they left off preaching to the Jews in other places. But they now determined to lose no more time at Antioch on their ungrateful countrymen, but to employ themselves wholly in…”

“waxed: Act 4:13, Act 4:29-31; Pro 28:1; Rom 10:20; Eph 6:19, Eph 6:20; Phi 1:14; Heb 11:34 It was: Act 13:26, Act 3:26, Act 18:5, Act 26:20; Mat 10:6; Luk 24:47; Joh 4:22; Rom 1:16, Rom 2:10; Rom 9:4, Rom 9:5 seeing: Act 7:51; Exo 32:9, Exo 32:10; Deu 32:21; Isa 49:5-8; Mat 10:13-15, Mat 21:43, Mat 22:6-10; Luk 14:16-24; Joh 1:11; Rom 10:19-21, Rom 11:11-13 turn: Act 18:6, Act 28:28; Isa 55:5 Acts 13:47”