Bible Strands
Acts 11:21
The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Luke records the outcome of Greek-speaking missionaries preaching in Antioch, marking the moment before the Jerusalem church learns of the expansion and dispatches Barnabas.
The words — χεὶρ κυρίου (cheir kyriou) literally translates to "hand of the Lord." The phrase functions as a Semitic idiom denoting God's active power and presence behind the missionary effort.
The thread — The same idiom and growth pattern recur in Luke 1:66, Acts 2:47, and Acts 5:14, consistently linking divine initiative with widespread belief.
Why it lands — The verse states that a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord following the preaching. It requires readers to acknowledge that successful witness depends on God's prior action rather than human strategy alone.
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
And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.
Cross-references
- Luke 1:66 And all who heard this wondered in their hearts and asked, “What then will this child become?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.
- Acts 2:47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
- Acts 5:14 Yet more and more believers were brought to the Lord—large numbers of both men and women.
- Isaiah 59:1 Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor His ear too dull to hear.
- Acts 6:7 So the word of God continued to spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem grew rapidly, and a great number of priests became obedient to the faith.
- Acts 9:35 and all who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.
- 1 Corinthians 3:6 I planted the seed and Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.
- 1 Thessalonians 1:5 because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power, in the Holy Spirit, and with great conviction—just as you know we lived among you for your sake.
- 2 Chronicles 30:12 Moreover, the power of God was on the people in Judah to give them one heart to obey the command of the king and his officials according to the word of the LORD.
- Ezra 7:9 He had begun the journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month, and he arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, for the gracious hand of his God was upon him.