Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Ephesians 2:17

"and he came and preached peace to you that were far off, and peace to them that were nigh:" — Ephesians 2:17 (ASV)

Another factor in the reconciliation is now added: the preaching of peace. When did Christ come to bring the good news of peace, so that Gentiles far away as well as Jews near at hand could hear it? Clearly it was not during his earthly ministry prior to the cross. Was it after the resurrection and before his ascension? No, it was by the Spirit and through the apostles, as the missionary program of the infant church was inaugurated in obedience to the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19–20). Paul suggests that the once-alienated Gentiles are now accorded priority, even though the gospel was taken first to the Jews (cf. Romans 1:16).