Acts 11:20

20 But there were some of them, men of 1Cyprus and 2Cyrene, who came to 3Antioch and began speaking to the 4Greeks also, 5preaching the Lord Jesus.

Acts 11:20 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 11:20

And some of them were men of Cyprus
That is, some of the preachers, that were scattered abroad, were Jews born at Cyprus: such was Barnabas particularly, ( Acts 4:36 ) though he was not among these, as appears from ( Acts 11:22 ) "and Cyrene"; such were Simon that carried the cross after Christ, and his sons Alexander and Rufus, ( Mark 15:21 ) and others that heard the apostles speak with tongues on the day of Pentecost, ( Acts 2:10 )

which when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians;
or Hellenist Jews, who were born and brought up in Greece, and spoke the Greek language; though the Alexandrian copy, and the Syriac version, read "Greeks", as if they were native Greeks, and properly Gentiles, to whom these ministers spoke the word of the Lord; but the former seems most likely.

Preaching the Lord Jesus;
the dignity of his person, as the Son of God; what he did and suffered to obtain salvation for lost sinners; his resurrection from the dead, ascension to heaven, and intercession; the virtue of his blood for peace and pardon of his sacrifice for atonement of sin, and of his righteousness for justification.

Acts 11:20 In-Context

18 When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, "Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life."
19 So then those who were scattered because of the persecution that occurred in connection with Stephen made their way to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews alone.
20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus.
21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord .
22 The news about them reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas off to Antioch.

Cross References 5

  • 1. Acts 4:36
  • 2. Matthew 27:32; Acts 2:10; Acts 6:9; Acts 13:1
  • 3. Acts 6:5; Acts 11:19, 22, 27; Acts 13:1; Acts 14:26; Acts 15:22f, 30, 35; Acts 18:22; Galatians 2:11
  • 4. John 7:35; Acts 6:1
  • 5. Acts 5:42

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Lit "Hellenists;" people who lived by Greek customs and culture
  • [b]. Or "bringing the good news of"
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