Bible Strands
Acts 11:19
Meanwhile those scattered by the persecution that began with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the message only to Jews.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator records displaced believers moving through Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch immediately after the Jerusalem church accepts Gentile repentance. At this moment, these scattered individuals restrict their preaching exclusively to Jewish audiences before later groups begin addressing Greeks.
The words — διασπαρέντες (diasparentes) translates literally as "having been scattered," denoting the completed dispersion caused by the persecution. The participle functions as a causal marker, explaining why the believers relocated to those specific regions.
The thread — The geographic route reappears in Acts 15:3 as the church passes through Phoenicia and Samaria while recounting Gentile conversions. The regional focus connects to Acts 4:36, which introduces a Cyprian leader, and Acts 15:22, which documents a delegation sent to Antioch.
Why it lands — The text states that early evangelism was initially confined to Jews despite widespread displacement. It requires the reader to acknowledge that persecution drove geographic expansion while the church gradually adjusted its mission parameters.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- Acts 4:36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (meaning Son of Encouragement),
- Acts 15:3 Sent 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.
- Acts 15:22 Then 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 the brothers,
- Acts 15:35 But Paul and Barnabas remained at Antioch, along with many others, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord.
- Acts 21:2 Finding a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, we boarded it and set sail.
- Matthew 10:6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.
- John 7:35 At this, the Jews said to one another, “Where does He intend to go that we will not find Him? Will He go where the Jews are dispersed among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks?
- Acts 3:26 When God raised up His Servant, He sent Him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”
- Acts 8:1 And Saul was there, giving approval to Stephen’s death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.
- Acts 11:26 and when he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. So for a full year they met together with the church and taught large numbers of people. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.