Acts 13:46

As the apostles in Jerusalem had done, Paul and Barnabas responded to the opposition with bold words (cf. Acts 4:29). It was necessary for the gospel to go to the Jews before the Gentiles not only because Jewish acceptance of Jesus is a prerequisite to the messianic kingdom (cf. Acts 3:26). It was also necessary because Jesus was the Messiah whom God had promised to deliver the Jews. The gospel was good news to the Jews in a larger sense than it was to the Gentiles. Paul almost always preached the gospel to the Jews first in the towns he visited (cf. Acts 13:50-51; Acts 14:2-6; Acts 17:5; Acts 17:13-15; Acts 18:6; Acts 19:8-9; Acts 28:23-28; Romans 1:16). The Jews’ rejection of the gospel led him to offer it next to the Gentiles.

"Now for the first time Dispersion Jews follow the example of their Jerusalem counterparts in rejecting Christ, and for the first time Paul publicly announces his intention of turning his back on them and concentrating on the purely Gentile mission." [Note: Neil, p. 160. Cf. 18:5-6; and 28:25-28.]

By rejecting Jesus these Jews were really, though not consciously, judging themselves unworthy of salvation. In irony Paul said those who rejected the gospel were really judging themselves to be unworthy of eternal life (i.e., salvation and it benefits). [Note: Witherington, p. 415.] Usually most of the Jews who heard Paul’s preaching rejected it and only a few believed, but many Gentiles accepted the gospel.