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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Act_11:19-26
19So 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. 20But 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. 21And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord. 22The news about them reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas off to Antioch. 23Then when he arrived and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord; 24for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And considerable numbers were brought to the Lord. 25And he left for Tarsus to look for Saul; 26and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
Act_11:19-30 These verses seem to be a historical flashback and a theological summary. They connect to Act_8:4.
Act_11:19 "those who were scattered because of the persecution" We have several early examples of these persecutions in Acts (cf. Act_5:17 ff; Act_6:8-15; Act_8:1-3; Act_9:1-2). Stephen's understanding of the radical implication of the gospel forced all the Jewish believers in Palestine to reassess their faith and the purpose of the gospel.
▣ "Antioch" Antioch was the third largest city of the Roman Empire after Rome and Alexandria. It was the capital of Syria and it had a large Jewish population. It was well known for its university life and its sexual immorality. It was also famous worldwide for its chariot racing. It will become a major center of Christianity!
▣ "speaking the word to no one except to Jews alone" This shows that the early church was not certain whether preaching to the Gentiles was appropriate. The conservatives would quote the words of Jesus in Mat_10:5, while the visionaries would quote Mat_28:18-20 or Act_1:8. This theological issue will resurface in Acts 15.
Act_11:20 "men of Cyprus and Cyrene" These are the same Greek-speaking Jewish believers as in Acts 6-8, who began to preach the universal implications of the Christian gospel in Jerusalem. Barnabas was also from this geographical area.
▣ "to Greeks" This word (Hellçn) normally refers to Gentiles (cf. Act_14:1; Act_16:1; Act_16:3; Act_18:4; Act_19:10; Act_19:17; Act_20:21; Act_21:28). However, in Act_17:4 it refers to Gentiles who were connected to the synagogues (God-fearers), but not members (i.e., proselytes).
The question is, "Who is Luke referring to as being preached to."
1. Greek-speaking Jews as in Act_6:1; Act_9:29 (Hellçnists)
2. Gentiles related to the synagogue (Hellçn)
3. full Gentiles (cf. TEV, NJB)?
With all the commotion this caused, possibly the term refers to those who spoke Greek; some might be Jews of the Diaspora, and others full Gentiles.
▣ "preaching the Lord Jesus" This is a present middle participle of the verb from which we get the English term "evangel" and evangelism." Their message was not about OT laws and procedures, but about Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah (see Special Topic at Act_2:31)!
Act_11:21 "the hand of the Lord was with them and a large number who believed turned to the Lord" This is another summary statement of the great movement of God through evangelistic preaching. Finally Act_1:8 was being fulfilled (cf. Act_11:24 b).
This is an OT idiom for the acknowledgment of YHWH's presence and power for the accomplishing of His purpose in human activity (cf. 2Sa_3:12).
It is interesting to note that the term "Lord" (Kurios) is used in the first of this verse to refer to YHWH (cf. LXX Exo_3:14; 2Sa_3:12; Isa_59:1, see Special Topic at Act_1:6). However, in the latter part of the verse it is used to refer to Jesus Christ. This transference of titles is a common literary technique of the NT authors to assert the deity of Jesus. Notice where Paul quotes Ot texts referring to YHWH and applies them to Jesus (i.e., Rom_10:13; 1Co_2:16; Php_2:10-11).
The "hand of the Lord" is an OT anthropomorphic idiom (see special Topic at Act_2:33). YHWH is an eternal spirit present through time and creation. He does not have a physical body. However, the only vocabulary humans have to speak of anything personal is physical, human terms. We must remember the limits of fallen, temporal, earth-bound human language. It speaks of the spiritual realm in metaphors, analogies, and negations. It expresses truth, but in non-exhaustive ways. God is far greater than our ability to know and express. He communicates truly to us, but not exhaustively. We can trust the Bible as God's self-revelation, but we must realize God is greater still! Human language both reveals and limits!
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Act_11:22 "Barnabas" Barnabas is a major figure in the book of Acts (cf. Act_4:36-37; Act_9:27). His name is used in the sense of encourager, which is obvious in Act_11:23. The church in Jerusalem was still uncomfortable about Gentile inclusion! See Special Topic at Act_4:36.
Act_11:23 It is interesting to notice that when Barnabas saw the active presence of God's grace through the Spirit, he encouraged all of them to remain in faith (cf. Act_14:22). This clearly shows the need for diligence on the part of God's people for purposeful perseverance (see Special Topic at Act_14:22). The Jews and the church were very concerned about the immoral cultural context of paganism. The gospel was not only a free gift of salvation, but a call to godliness (cf. Mat_5:48; Rom_8:28-29; 2Co_3:18; Gal_4:19; Eph_4:1; 1Th_3:13; 1Th_4:3; 1Pe_1:15). God wants a people who reflect His character to a lost world. The goal of Christianity is not only heaven when we die, but Christlikeness now so that others may come to faith in Christ!
Act_11:24 "he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith" This description is very similar to the Greek-speaking Jewish believers (the seven) of Act_6:3; Act_6:5. The early church was full of men like this! Oh that it may be true of our day, our culture, our church!
Act_11:25 "And he left for Tarsus to look for Saul" This verb in the Egyptian Koine papyri (but not the LXX) implies that Saul was not easy to find. Only Luke uses this term in the NT (cf. Luk_2:44-45; Act_11:25).These silent years are apparently referred to in Gal_1:21. The exact time frame is uncertain, but it was approximately ten years.
Act_11:26 "church" See Special Topic at Act_5:11.
▣ "he brought him to Antioch. . .the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch" At first "Christian" was a derogatory reference to believers coined by pagans. Surprisingly this is a rare term in the NT. The word's formation (ending ianos) follows the pattern of the formation of a term for those who support and follow; Herod (and his family) are called "Herodians" (cf. Mar_3:6; Mar_12:13; Mat_22:16). Its use in this Hellenistic environment shows how the title for Messiah (Hebrew) translated Christ in Greek has become a name for Jesus' followers (Christians).
In this Hellenistic setting, it is possible that the term was given by governmental officials to differentiate Jews from believers.