John Calvin Commentary Luke 24:47

"and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name unto all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem." — Luke 24:47 (ASV)

To all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. Christ now clearly reveals what He had formerly concealed—that the grace of the redemption He brought extends equally to all nations. For though the prophets had frequently predicted the calling of the Gentiles, it was still not revealed in such a manner that the Jews could willingly admit the Gentiles to share with them in the hope of salvation.

Until His resurrection, therefore, Christ was not acknowledged to be anything more than the Redeemer of the chosen people alone. Then, for the first time, the wall of partition (Ephesians 2:14) was thrown down, so that those who had been strangers, (Ephesians 2:19) and who had formerly been scattered, might be gathered into the fold of the Lord.

Meanwhile, however, so that the covenant of God might not seem to be made void, Christ assigned the Jews the first rank, instructing the apostles to begin at Jerusalem. For since God had uniquely adopted the descendants of Abraham, they were to be preferred to the rest of the world.

This is the privilege of the firstborn which Jeremiah ascribes to them, when Jehovah says, I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is first-born, (Jeremiah 30:9). This order, too, Paul everywhere observes with the greatest care, telling us that Christ came and proclaimed peace to those who were near, and afterwards to strangers who were at a distance, (Ephesians 2:17).