Jesus, being God, does not lie. Paul, while being a salesman, does not lie. Once again, we come down to YOPIOS versus the Faith. The same division we have had since we've had the pleasure of chatting to each other on FR. Either add up the time and incidents that Paul spent with the Jews and in synagogues and reconcile it with that statement or else admit that YOPIOS isn't working for you.
Scripture is correct. Private interpretation of Scripture is often wrong.
From Matthew through Acts 8 you will find Israel's prophesied and long awaited Kingdom promised to them and offered to them through Christ's earthly ministry and the day of Pentecost, up until the stoning of Stephen. Acts 8 ends with Stephen looking up into heaven, and seeing the glory of God, and Jesus Christ STANDING on the right hand of God. STANDING, NOT SITTING. WHY? Judgement was about to fall. Standing means judgement. Israel had allowed the murder of John the Baptist, demanded the murder of Jesus Christ, and actually murdered Stephan themselves. Strike three. They're out. Judgement time.
Except for one thing. Instead of judgement falling, God in His grace reached down and saved Saul, the chief sinner, as Paul called himself. Paul was saved and sent with a new commission, whereby Gentiles could be saved WITHOUT Israel. Purely on the finished work of Christ.
So, why did Paul go to the Jews first? And he did, all the way until Israel was finally blinded and set aside, in Acts 28. Until God proclaimed them "lo ammi", not my people. We have from Acts 10 to Acts 28 to find out what was going on with Paul and the Jews and the Gentiles.
Paul was commissioned to a two-fold ministry during the Acts period (Acts 9:15 with Acts 13:3, 47; 26:16-19). FIRST, Paul had a ministry of CONFIRMATION to the JEWS. That Jesus Christ was INDEED the Messiah. Remember, Paul was both Jew and Roman. Paul preached to the Jews concerning Jesus, the promised Messiah (Acts 13:14-41; 18:5; 26:22, 28:23). HENCE, Paul went to the JEW FIRST (Rom. 1:16 with Acts 13:5,24,46).
SECONDLY, Paul had a ministry of REVELATION. Paul preached the UNSEARCHABLE (UNPROPHESIED) riches of Christ (Eph. 3:8); that is, the gospel of the UNCIRCUMCISION (Gal. 2:7), or the ministry of reconciliation by grace alone (2 Cor. 5:18-19; Eph. 2:8-9). This means that Paul preached the dispensation (fellowship) of the mystery (Eph. 3:9).
Paul was sent out to proclaim "the gospel of the grace of God" (Acts 20:24; Eph. 3:1-3). While he CONFIRMED the FACT that Jesus was Israel's Messiah, he NEVER PROCLAIMED THE KINGDOM AT HAND OR OFFERED IT FOR ISRAEL'S ACCEPTANCE. BTW: NOR had the TWELVE UNTIL PAUL was given his commission, EVER PROCLAIMED THE GOSPEL OF THE GRACE OF GOD.
One more thing, for your consideration: The message and commission of the twelve was based on Israel's ACCEPTANCE of Christ. The message and commission of Paul was based on Israel's REJECTION of Christ.
Oh, and one more one more thing. Have you ever read in any of Paul's epistles that he was given authority to remit sins? He was an apostle. Yet you will not find a single Scripture that says Paul remitted sins. Have you ever wondered why?