11:19 Now those who had been scattered because of the persecution that took place over Stephen40 went as far as41 Phoenicia,42 Cyprus,43 and Antioch,44 speaking the message45 to no one but Jews.
sn The phrase over Stephen means in connection with Stephen’s death. See Acts 8:1b–3.
41
tn Or “finally reached.” The translations “went as far as” and “finally reached” for διῆλθον (diēlthon) in this verse are given in L&N 15.17.
42
snPhoenicia was an area along the Mediterranean coast north of Palestine.
43
tnGrk “and Cyprus,” but καί (kai) has not been translated since English normally uses a coordinating conjunction only between the last two elements in a series of three or more.
snCyprus was a large island in the Mediterranean off the south coast of Asia Minor.
44
snAntioch was a city in Syria (not Antioch in Pisidia). This was probably the third largest city in the Greco-Roman world (Alexandria in Egypt was the second largest, and Rome the largest) and was the seat of government in Syria. Five miles away was a major temple to Artemis, Apollo, and Astarte, major pagan deities.