Acts 11:19 - They therefore who were scattered abroad by the oppression that arose about Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews only.
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What does "Acts 11:19" mean?
Acts 11:19 describes the immediate aftermath of the persecution that arose after Stephen's stoning (Acts 7). Let's break down the meaning:
"They therefore who were scattered abroad by the oppression that arose about Stephen..." This refers to Jewish Christians who were forced to leave Jerusalem and Judea because of the intense persecution targeting believers. The persecution was a direct result of Stephen's bold preaching and eventual martyrdom.
"...traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch..." This indicates the geographical spread of the fleeing believers.
Phoenicia: A coastal region north of Palestine (modern-day Lebanon and parts of Syria).
Cyprus: An island in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.
Antioch: A major city in Syria, a significant center of Hellenistic culture and trade. It was a strategically important location.
"...speaking the word to no one except to Jews only." This is the key point of the verse. The early believers who were scattered initially only shared the Gospel with other Jews. They still operated within a Jewish worldview and hadn't yet embraced the idea of actively evangelizing Gentiles (non-Jews). They saw Christianity as a fulfillment of Jewish prophecy, not a separate religion for all people. This was a transitional period for the early Church.
In summary, Acts 11:19 highlights that the persecution following Stephen's death led to the dispersion of Jewish Christians to various regions. However, at this stage, their evangelistic efforts were exclusively focused on sharing their faith with other Jews. This demonstrates the early Church's initial hesitation and cultural constraints in reaching out to non-Jewish populations, a barrier that would soon be broken down, as described later in Acts.
This verse sets the stage for the subsequent events in Acts where the Gospel begins to spread to Gentiles, ultimately changing the course of Christian history.
Acts 11:19 - They therefore who were scattered abroad by the oppression that arose about Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews only.
What does "Acts 11:19" mean?
Acts 11:19 describes the immediate aftermath of the persecution that arose after Stephen's stoning (Acts 7). Let's break down the meaning:
"They therefore who were scattered abroad by the oppression that arose about Stephen..." This refers to Jewish Christians who were forced to leave Jerusalem and Judea because of the intense persecution targeting believers. The persecution was a direct result of Stephen's bold preaching and eventual martyrdom.
"...traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch..." This indicates the geographical spread of the fleeing believers.
Phoenicia: A coastal region north of Palestine (modern-day Lebanon and parts of Syria).
Cyprus: An island in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.
Antioch: A major city in Syria, a significant center of Hellenistic culture and trade. It was a strategically important location.
"...speaking the word to no one except to Jews only." This is the key point of the verse. The early believers who were scattered initially only shared the Gospel with other Jews. They still operated within a Jewish worldview and hadn't yet embraced the idea of actively evangelizing Gentiles (non-Jews). They saw Christianity as a fulfillment of Jewish prophecy, not a separate religion for all people. This was a transitional period for the early Church.
In summary, Acts 11:19 highlights that the persecution following Stephen's death led to the dispersion of Jewish Christians to various regions. However, at this stage, their evangelistic efforts were exclusively focused on sharing their faith with other Jews. This demonstrates the early Church's initial hesitation and cultural constraints in reaching out to non-Jewish populations, a barrier that would soon be broken down, as described later in Acts.
This verse sets the stage for the subsequent events in Acts where the Gospel begins to spread to Gentiles, ultimately changing the course of Christian history.