Romans 11:19

Thou wilt say then, Branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in.

This was the Gentile's way of saying, "God prefers me to the Jews; he broke them off and put me in their place." Oddly enough, that is exactly what some would make Paul say in Romans 11:17; but the Gentile boast was an arrogant lie, as proved by Paul's reply. Barrett discerned that in Paul's reply (Romans 11:20), the apostle,

While admitting that branches were broken off, refused to admit that any preference was involved.[24]