Acts 11:19
in Acts 11Meanwhile those scattered by the persecution that began with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the message only to Jews.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
They therefore that were scattered abroad upon the tribulation that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phoenicia, and Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to none save only to Jews.
KJV
Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.
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This verse in Acts 11
Commentary
12 notes on this verseNow they which were scattered abroad,.... These were not the apostles, but the other ministers of the word; see Act 8:1 who were dispersed upon the persecution that arose about Stephen; his preaching and miracles, his oration in defence of himself, and his death: these travelled as far as Phenice; a country near to Syria and Galilee; its chief towns and cities were Tripolis, Botrys, Biblus, Berytus, Tyre, Sidon, Ecdippa, Ptolemais, and Dora. It was famous, as Pliny says (x), for the invention of letters, and of the constellations, and of naval and warlike arts.
This site's exposition
travelled as far as Phenice
on Acts 11:19-21
Luke now doubles back in time to those scattered by the persecution that arose about Stephen, near the start of chapter eight, and traces where that scattering carried the word, as far as Phenice, Cyprus, and Antioch, but at first to Jews only. Some Cypriot and Cyrenian believers broke that pattern at Antioch, speaking to the Grecians, the Greek-speaking population of the city, and preaching the Lord Jesus to them directly. The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord, an unplanned mission that becomes the seedbed of the Gentile church at Antioch.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
"Now they who had been dispersed by the persecution that arose," etc. They who had been dispersed after Stephen's passion went about as far as Phenice and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to none but the Jews only. But there were nonetheless some among …
The persecution turned out to be no slight benefit as "to them that love God all things work together for good." If they had made it their express study how best to establish the Church, they would have done no other thing than this - they dispersed the teachers. Mark in what quarters the preaching was extended. "They travelled," it says, "as far as Phenice and Cyprus and Antioch; to none however did they preach the word but to Jews only." Dost thou mark with what wise purposes of Providence so much was done in the case of Cornelius? This serves both to justify Christ, and to impeach the Jews. When Stephen was slain, when Paul was twice in danger, when the Apostles were scourged, then the Gentiles received the word, then the Samaritans. Which Paul also declares: "To you it was necessary that the Word of God should first be spoken; but since ye thrust it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy, lo, we turn unto the Gentiles." Accordingly they went about, preaching to Gentiles also.
"Now they which were scattered abroad," etc. and not as we who pass our time in lamentations and tears, in our calamities; but with more fearlessness they passed their time, as having got to a distance from those hindering them, and as being among men not afraid of the Jews: which also helped. And they came to Cyprus, where they had the sea between them, and greater freedom from anxiety: so they made no account of the fear of men, but still they gave the precedence to the regard of the Law: "they spake to Jews only."
The Medieval Church2 voices
They traveled as far as Phoenicia, and Cyprus, and Antioch, etc. Here already, after the revelation of the Gospel sheet, in which the holy animals rested softly in hope from above, the affairs of the Church began to increase, with the Gospel being preached through …
No small service to Christianity was rendered by the persecution against Christians, because "all things work together for good to them that love God" (Rom. 8:28). For when Stephen was being killed, when Paul was twice in danger, when the apostles were scourged, then the …
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
The carrying on of the good work that was begun at Antioch, by the ministry of Barnabas first, and afterwards of Paul in conjunction with him, and the lasting name of Christian first given to the disciples there,
To them they preached the Lord Jesus. This was the constant subject of their preaching; what else should the ministers of Christ preach, but Christ--Christ, and him crucified--Christ, and him glorified?
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Now they ... - This verse introduces a new train of historical remark; and from this point the course of the history of the Acts of the Apostles takes a new direction. Thus far, the history had recorded chiefly the preaching of the gospel to the Jews. From this point the history records the efforts made to convert the Gentiles.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
"It was almost an Oriental Rome, in which all the forms of the civilized life of the empire found some representative; and through the two first centuries of the Christian era it was what Constantinople became afterwards, 'the Gate of the East'" [HOWSON].
The persecution that arose about Stephen - That is, those who were obliged to flee from Jerusalem at the time of that persecution in which Stephen lost his life. See Act 8:1. Phoenice - Phoenicia, a country between Galilee and Syria, along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, including Tyre, Sidon, etc. It is often mentioned as a part of Syria. See Act 21:2, Act 21:3. Cyprus - An island of the Mediterranean Sea, over against Syria. See on Act 4:30 (note). Antioch - A city of Syria, built by Antiochus Seleucus, near the river Orontes; at that time one of the most celebrated cities of the east. For the situation of all these, see the map accompanying this book. Unto the Jews only - For they knew nothing of the vision of St. Peter; and did not believe that God would open the door of faith to the Gentiles. The next verse informs us that there were others who were better instructed. See below.
The words behind it
26 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Οἱ | hoi | Those | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| μὲν | men | indeed | G3303 → | 176 times |
| οὖν | oun | therefore | G3767 → | 497 times |
| διασπαρέντες | diasparentes | having been scattered | G1289 → | 3 times |
| ἀπὸ | apo | by | G575 → | 640 times |
| τῆς | tes | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θλίψεως | thlipseos | tribulation | G2347 → | 44 times |
| τῆς | tes | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| γενομένης | genomenes | having taken place | G1096 → | 667 times |
| ἐπὶ | epi | over | G1909 → | 883 times |
| Στεφάνῳ | stephano | Stephen | G4736 → | 7 times |
| διῆλθον | dielthon | passed through | G1330 → | 43 times |
| ἕως | he'os | until | G2193 → | 146 times |
| Φοινίκης | phoinikes | Phoenicia | G5403 → | 3 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| Κύπρου | kuprou | Cyprus | G2954 → | 5 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| Ἀντιοχείας | antiocheias | Antioch | G490 → | 18 times |
| μηδενὶ | medeni | to no one | G3367 → | 90 times |
| λαλοῦντες | lalountes | speaking | G2980 → | 294 times |
| τὸν | ton | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| λόγον | logon | word | G3056 → | 329 times |
| εἰ | ei | only | G1487 → | 508 times |
| μὴ | me | except | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| μόνον | monon | solely | G3441 → | 110 times |
| Ἰουδαίοις.¶ | ioudaiois | to Jews. | G2453 → | 192 times |
ΟἱThose
hoiG3588 →19766 times
μὲνindeed
menG3303 →176 times
οὖνtherefore
ounG3767 →497 times
διασπαρέντεςhaving been scattered
diasparentesG1289 →3 times
ἀπὸby
apoG575 →640 times
τῆςthe
tesG3588 →19766 times
θλίψεωςtribulation
thlipseosG2347 →44 times
τῆς<the>
tesG3588 →19766 times
γενομένηςhaving taken place
genomenesG1096 →667 times
ἐπὶover
epiG1909 →883 times
ΣτεφάνῳStephen
stephanoG4736 →7 times
διῆλθονpassed through
dielthonG1330 →43 times
ἕωςuntil
he'osG2193 →146 times
ΦοινίκηςPhoenicia
phoinikesG5403 →3 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ΚύπρουCyprus
kuprouG2954 →5 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἈντιοχείαςAntioch
antiocheiasG490 →18 times
μηδενὶto no one
medeniG3367 →90 times
λαλοῦντεςspeaking
lalountesG2980 →294 times
τὸνthe
tonG3588 →19766 times
λόγονword
logonG3056 →329 times
εἰonly
eiG1487 →508 times
μὴexcept
meG3361 →1066 times
μόνονsolely
mononG3441 →110 times
Ἰουδαίοις.¶to Jews.
ioudaioisG2453 →192 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Acts 15:22Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to select men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas called Barsabbas and Silas, two leaders among…
it leads to
- Acts 15:27
Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to tell you in person the same things we are writing.
- Acts 15:40
but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.
- Acts 18:5
And when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself fully to the word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.
- Acts 1:23
So they proposed two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias.
- Acts 15:27
Through
Acts 15:3Sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, recounting the conversion of the Gentiles and bringing great joy to all the brothers.
it leads to
- Acts 14:27
When they arrived, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them, and how He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.
- Acts 14:27
Through
Acts 4:36Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (meaning Son of Encouragement),
it leads to
- Galatians 2:9
And recognizing the grace that I had been given, James, Cephas, and John—those reputed to be pillars—gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we should go to the Gentiles, and…
- Galatians 2:1
Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem, accompanied by Barnabas. I took Titus along also.
- Galatians 2:13
The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.
- Galatians 2:9
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About Acts
Who and where
2 names in this verse with a page on the site.
- PersonNew TestamentStephenOne of the Seven, full of grace and power; his Acts 7 defense retold Israel's story and its resisted prophets; the church's first…
- PlaceMediterraneanCyprusBarnabas's home island and the first stop of the first missionary journey, from Salamis to Paphos, where the proconsul Sergius Pau…
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Commentary on Acts; Cassiodorus, Complexiones on the Acts of the Apostles; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 25; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts and William Ramsay, The Church in the Roman Empire.