who in time past were no people, but now are God's people, who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy: The former state of the Gentiles, and the unconverted, is described as an "unpitied time" or a time when mercy had not been obtained. Now mercy has been obtained through Christ. From darkness to light, the former objects of wrath, through Christ, became the objects of love and mercy (Romans 11:30-31).