^11:19Now 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. ^11:20But there were some men from Cyprus⁴⁶ and Cyrene⁴⁷ among them who came⁴⁸ to Antioch⁴⁹ and began to speak to the Greeks⁵⁰ too, proclaiming the good news of the Lord Jesus. ^11:21The⁵¹ hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed⁵² turned⁵³ to the Lord. ^11:22A report⁵⁴ about them came to the attention⁵⁵ of the church in Jerusalem,⁵⁶ and they sent Barnabas⁵⁷ to Antioch.⁵⁸^11:23When⁵⁹ he came and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to remain true⁶⁰ to the Lord with devoted hearts,⁶¹

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Footnotes

40 The phrase over Stephen means in connection with Stephen’s death. See Acts 8:1b–3.
41 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 Phoenicia was an area along the Mediterranean coast north of Palestine.
43 Grk “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. Cyprus was a large island in the Mediterranean off the south coast of Asia Minor.
44 Antioch 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. For location see ; ; ; .
45 Grk “word.”
46 Cyprus was a large island in the Mediterranean off the south coast of Asia Minor.
47 Cyrene was a city on the northern African coast west of Egypt.
48 Grk “among them, coming to Antioch began to speak.” The participle ἐλθόντες (elthontes) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
49 Antioch was a city in Syria (not Antioch in Pisidia). See the note in .
50 The statement that some men from Cyprus and Cyrene … began to speak to the Greeks shows that Peter’s experience of reaching out to the Gentiles was not unique.
51 Grk “And the.” Because of the difference between Greek style, which often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” and English style, which generally does not, καί (kai) has not been translated here.
52 The participle πιστεύσας (pisteusas) is articular and thus cannot be adverbial. It is adjectival, modifying ἀριθμός (arithmos), but has been translated into English as a relative clause (“who believed”).
53 Again, the expression turned is a summary term for responding to the gospel.
54 Grk “Word.”
55 Grk “was heard in the ears,” an idiom. L&N 24.67 states that the idiom means “to hear in secret” (which it certainly does in Matt 10:27), but secrecy does not seem to be part of the context here, and there is no particular reason to suggest the report was made in secret.
56 For location see ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; .
57 Most read the infinitive “to travel” after “Barnabas.” διελθεῖν (dielthein) is found before ἕως (heōs) in D E Ψ 33 𝔐 and some versional . It is lacking in 𝔓74 א A B 81 1739 and some versional . Although the infinitive with ἕως fits Lukan style, it has the appearance of a scribal clarification. The infinitive has the earmarks of a Western expansion on the text and thus is unlikely to be original. has the infinitive in brackets, indicating doubt as to its authenticity.
58 Antioch was a city in Syria (not Antioch in Pisidia). See the note in . Again the Jerusalem church exercised an oversight role.
59 Grk “Antioch, who when.” The relative pronoun was omitted and a new sentence was begun in the translation at this point to improve the English style, due to the length of the sentence in Greek.
60 προσμένω 1.a.β has “remain true to the Lord” for προσμένειν (prosmenein) in this verse. He … encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord. The call to faithfulness is frequent in Acts (2:40; 14:22; 15:32; 16:39; 20:1–2).
61 Grk “with purpose of heart”; πρόθεσις 2.a translates this phrase “purpose of heart, i.e. devotion” here.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose,

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews. Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.

News of this reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Now those who had been scattered as a result of the persecution that started because of Stephen made their way as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. But there were some of them, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also, proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus. The Lord’s hand was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord. News about them reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to travel as far as Antioch. When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged all of them to remain true to the Lord with devoted hearts,

NLTNew Living Translation

Meanwhile, the believers who had been scattered during the persecution after Stephen’s death traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch of Syria. They preached the word of God, but only to Jews. However, some of the believers who went to Antioch from Cyprus and Cyrene began preaching to the Gentiles about the Lord Jesus. The power of the Lord was with them, and a large number of these Gentiles believed and turned to the Lord.

When the church at Jerusalem heard what had happened, they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw this evidence of God’s blessing, he was filled with joy, and he encouraged the believers to stay true to the Lord.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Now those who had been scattered because of the persecution that took place over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, proclaiming the message to no one except Jews alone. But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they came to Antioch, began to speak to the Hellenists also, proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord. And the report came to the attention of the church that was in Jerusalem about them, and they sent out Barnabas as far as Antioch, who, when he arrived and saw the grace of God, rejoiced and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with devoted hearts,

KJV 1900King James Version

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. And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord. Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.

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