Paul went to the Jews first because God's revealed order for the gospel is 'to the Jew first, and also to the Greek' (Romans 1:16).
Romans 1:16 states the gospel is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes, with the order explicitly 'to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.' Les Feldick explains that Paul followed this order in the book of Acts by always beginning at the synagogue and only turning to the Gentiles after Jewish rejection. This was not Paul's personal preference but the divine order for proclaiming the gospel.
Romans 1:16 — This verse is Paul's own stated basis for the gospel going to the Jew first and then to the Greek, which directly answers why Paul preached to Jews first.
The Bible's direct answer comes in Romans 1:16: 'For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.' This explicit order shows that the gospel's power is for everyone who believes, but the divinely appointed order of presentation is the Jew first, then the Greek. The verse thus establishes Paul's practice as more than a cultural preference—it is the scriptural pattern for the gospel's advance.
Les teaches that Paul went to the Jews first because God Himself revealed that order in Romans 1:16. Throughout Paul's early ministry, he consistently began at the synagogue in every city he visited; when the Jews rejected the message, he went out to the Gentiles. This pattern continued through the Acts period, with Paul going first to the Jew and then to the Gentile, until Israel's continued rejection finally led him to turn to the Gentiles.
Romans 1:16 says the gospel is 'the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.' Les Feldick points out that Paul himself cites this verse as the reason he always started at the synagogue in every city where he ministered. The verse lays down an order: the Jew first, then the Greek. Paul followed that order throughout the earlier years of his ministry, going to the Gentiles only after the Jews rejected the message.
Les explains that in the early chapters of Acts, God continued to deal with the nation of Israel even though salvation was now available to the whole human race. God did not immediately go to the Gentiles. He kept dealing with Israel until the Body of Christ—the Church—was introduced through the Apostle Paul. This shows that Israel was still first in God's program during that period.
As Israel under Peter and the eleven continued to reject the offers of the kingdom, God did something unexpected: He saved another Jew, Saul of Tarsus, and told him from day one that He would send him to the Gentiles. Paul still went to the Jew first during the Acts period, but as Israel continued in unbelief, Paul turned fully to the Gentiles. Les teaches that this opened up the Age of Grace and the Church Age.
Even though Paul was sent to the non-Jewish world with a message that was totally different from Judaism, Les clarifies that Paul still went first to the Jew and then to the Gentile. The order was not reversed. Throughout the Acts period, the pattern remained 'the Jew first, and also to the Greek,' exactly as Romans 1:16 states.
What Does "Salvation" Really Mean? Romans 1:16 Explained
one Gospel, and that is that Christ died for our sins, was buried and rose again. He said, �I�m not ashamed of that, for it is the power of God unto salvation, to everyone that repents and is baptized and joins the Church hardly, to everyone that does good, to everyone who keeps the commandments.
Paul's Synagogue Pattern
Les explains that Romans 1:16 is why Paul always began at the synagogue in every city, going to the Jew first and later to the Greek when the Jews rejected it.
Why Paul Is THE Apostle to the Gentiles — Romans 1 Explained
They were directed only to the nation of Israel, and throughout His three years of earthly ministry, He Himself confined His ministry only to Israel, with two exceptions. That was the Roman centurion, and the Canaanite woman, who at first He even ignored, and the 12 said, Send her away. Why? Because she's a Gentile.
Israel's Rejection and Paul's Calling
Les shows that after Israel rejected the offers under Peter and the eleven, God saved Paul and told him from day one he would be sent to the Gentiles.
Israel's Priestly Role Passed to Paul
Les teaches that Israel was supposed to bring the Gentiles to God, but they missed it, so God raised up Paul as the apostle to the Gentiles—though Paul still went to the Jew too.
Jew First Then Gentile in Acts
Les explains that during the Acts period Paul immediately went to the Jew and then to the Gentile; when Israel finally rejected, he turned to the Gentiles and the Age of Grace began.
Israel First in Early Acts
Les points out that in the early chapters of Acts God continued to deal with Israel rather than immediately turning to the Gentiles, because Israel was still first until the Body of Christ was introduced.
Order Held Even With Gentiles
Les clarifies that even when Paul went to the non-Jewish world with a message different from Judaism, he still went first to the Jew and then to the Gentile.
Romans 1:16: For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
This verse is the foundational scriptural statement of the gospel's order—Jew first, then Greek—and the evidence Paul gives for why he preached to Jews first.
Yes. In his early ministry, Paul consistently started at the synagogue in every city he visited, because the gospel is 'to the Jew first, and also to the Greek' according to Romans 1:16. When the Jews rejected the message, he then went out to the Gentiles.
Les Feldick teaches that after Israel continually rejected the gospel, Paul finally turned to the Gentiles. Throughout the Acts period he went to the Jew first and then to the Gentile, but when Israel's rejection became clear, the message went primarily to the Gentiles, opening the Age of Grace.
Because God continued to deal with Israel in the early chapters of Acts. Les explains that God did not immediately go to the Gentiles; He continued dealing with the nation of Israel until the Body of Christ was introduced through the Apostle Paul. Israel was still first in that stage of God's program.
Watch the Teaching: What Does "Salvation" Really Mean? Romans 1:16 Explained