Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, "This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ." Acts 17:1-3

Paul’s first stop in virtually every town he entered was the local synagogue. Why?

First, because as one of the most brilliant Jewish rabbis, having been saved, he longed for others of his religious heritage to know the joy of being saved as well.

Second, by going to the synagogues, he knew he was going to people who were likely to be open to hear about the Jewish Messiah—who Paul knew to be Jesus of Nazareth. And in the providence of God, some did receive Christ. Alas, many did not and it was from these anti-Christian Jews that Paul experienced no small amount of persecution.

Third, Paul was following the example of His Savior, who “came to His own [the Israel]” (John 1:11). And as in Jesus’ earthly ministry, while some did receive Christ, most did not.

Should Christians in our context (ethnically, religiously, and on the timeline) make Jewish evangelism our first priority? While a few insist this is so, I do not think so. The New Testament makes it clear than when it comes to salvation, ethnicity (including Jewish ethnicity) is irrelevant (Galatians 3:28). Should we want to see Jewish people saved? Absolutely! But no more than we should long to see any people come to Christ. The fact is, Jesus came first to the Jews, and Paul went first to the Jews, but now we take the gospel to whoever will listen, that the Lord may save His people “out of every tribe, tongue, and nation!” (Revelation 5:9-10; 7:9-17)