Acts 11:19
Now they which were scattered abroad vpon the persecution that arose about Steuen, trauailed as farre as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none, but vnto the Iewes onely. Acts 11:19 (KJV)
The book of Acts, authored by Luke, records the early years of the Christian church after Jesus’ ascension. Acts 11:19 follows the account of Peter’s vision and the conversion of Cornelius, a Gentile, which had opened the door for the gospel to be proclaimed beyond the Jewish community. The verse describes a new wave of persecution that erupted after Stephen, one of the first deacons, was stoned to death for his faithful testimony (Acts 7:54‑60). That persecution forced many believers to flee Jerusalem and become scattered to distant regions.
As a result of this scattering, believers traveled to Phoenicia (identified in the KJV as Phenice), the island of Cyprus, and the Syrian city of Antioch. Each of these locations possessed a substantial Jewish population, and the displaced Christians primarily preached the Word of God to their fellow Jews. Their message centered on Jesus Christ as the promised Messiah, and despite the hardships of exile, they remained faithful to their mission of sharing the gospel.
At this stage the gospel’s audience was limited to the Jews, reflecting the early church’s initial focus on God’s chosen people who had long awaited the Messiah. The verse notes that they preached “to none but unto the Jews only.” This limited scope, however, was not permanent. Subsequent chapters of Acts record the expansion of the gospel to Gentiles, beginning with the ministry in Antioch and the continued work of Peter and Paul.
Acts 11:19 therefore highlights a pivotal transitional moment: the persecution that scattered the believers also sowed the seeds for the church’s geographic expansion. The scattering led to the establishment of Christian communities in new regions, set the stage for the inclusion of Gentiles, and demonstrated the resilience and faithfulness of the early disciples in the face of adversity.
