| Previous Verse |
Acts 11:19 |
Next Verse |
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.
Note 1 at Acts 11:19: Phenice is the same land as Phoenicia. It is narrow strip of land between the Mediterranean Sea and the crest of the Lebanon mountain range. It extended southward to about 14 miles south of Tyre (just north of Mt. Carmel) and northward to around Arvad. Its principle cities were Tyre and Sidon. Jesus visited this area during His earthly ministry (Mt.
25:21; Mk. 7:24, 31). Phoenicia was never conquered by the Israelites (see note 3 at Mk. 7:26, p. 252).
Note 2 at Acts 11:19: Cyprus is an island in the northeastern part of the Mediterranean Sea, about 60 miles from the coasts of Syria and 40 miles south of the coasts of Cilicia. In the days of Herod the Great (see note 1 at Lk. 1:5, p. 36) Cyprus was renown for its copper mines. The apostle Barnabas was from Cyprus (Acts 4:36).
Paul and Barnabas later traveled to Cyprus on their first missionary journey (Acts 13:4). The gospel had already been brought to Cyprus by these believers but they had not shared it with any one except the Jews. Paul was able to convert Sergius Paulus, the Roman deputy of the island, through the judgment that came on a sorcerer named Elymas (Acts 13:12).
Note 3 at Acts 11:19: Antioch was a major city located in Syria. It was the third largest city in the Roman empire only behind Rome and Aexandria. Nicolas, one of the seven deacons (Acts 6:5) was from Antioch. These believers who traveled to Antioch because of persecution preached the gospel to the Gentiles there and saw large numbers of Gentiles converted.
Barnabas was sent from the church at Jerusalem to investigate reports that Gentiles were being converted to faith in Jesus and he traveled as far as to Antioch. After going to Tarsus to find Paul, Barnabas and Paul headquartered in Antioch for many years (Acts 11:26; 12:25; 13:1; 14:26-28; 15:35) and departed from there on their first two missionary tours. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch (v. 26). When Peter visited Antioch, Paul rebuked him openly in front of the church for being a hypocrite (Gal. 2:11-14).
