Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 Peter 2:10

10 Which in time past were not a people , but are now the people of God , which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy .

Either were not a People, i. e. a formed State, or Commonwealth, being dispersed in several Countries among other People, and not worth the Name of a People: Or, were not the People of God (supplying God out of the opposite clause) since he had given them a Bill of Divorce, and said, lo Ammi, and lo Ruhamah to them, Hos. 2. These were the Iews of the Dispersion, and such as had not returned out of the Babylonish Captivity, together with many of other Tribes mixed with them, who, before their Conversion to Christ, seemed cut off from the Body of that People, had no solemn Worship of God among them, and were tainted with the Corruptions of the Heathen, with whom they conversed.

Really God's People restored to their old Covenant-state, and Church-Priviledges, by their believing in Christ.

The Mercy of being God's People, and enjoying their Priviledges, being justified, at peace with God, &c. Lest they might any way abuse what he had said in the former Verse concerning their great Dignity and Priviledges, so as to ascribe any thing to themselves, the Apostle intimates here, that all they enjoyed, was meerly out of God's Mercy.

Marginal references: Hos. 1.9, 10. and 2.23. Rom. 9.25.