Acts 11 20

Acts 11:20 kjv

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.

Acts 11:20 nkjv

But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus.

Acts 11:20 niv

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.

Acts 11:20 esv

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.

Acts 11:20 nlt

However, some of the believers who went to Antioch from Cyprus and Cyrene began preaching to the Gentiles about the Lord Jesus.

Acts 11 verses

Acts 11 20 Meaning

This verse highlights a crucial turning point in the early spread of Christianity. It signifies the deliberate expansion of the Gospel's message from its Jewish origins to the Gentiles (non-Jews). Specifically, it details how some believers, driven by divine inspiration, began proclaiming Jesus to Greeks in Antioch, resulting in a significant number of conversions and the growth of the church among a new demographic. This was a momentous occasion, as it established a precedent for universal outreach and laid the foundation for Christianity's global mission.

Acts 11 20 Context

Chapter 11 of Acts follows Peter's encounter with Cornelius, a Gentile centurion. In this chapter, Peter is explaining his actions to the Jewish believers in Jerusalem, who were initially critical of him for associating with and preaching to Gentiles. This verse occurs as Peter recounts how believers scattered after Stephen's martyrdom eventually went to Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, spreading the word primarily to Jews. However, it then specifically details the initiative taken by certain believers from Cyprus and Cyrene who, with divine prompting, began to speak the Good News about the Lord Jesus to the Hellenistic (Greek-speaking) Jews in Antioch. This is presented as a distinct movement, separate from the initial Jewish evangelism in Antioch. The outcome of this preaching was significant, as "the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord," marking a pivotal moment where the Gospel explicitly began to reach beyond its Jewish boundaries. This was a significant development, challenging existing interpretations of God's covenant and the mission of the Messiah.

Acts 11 20 Word Analysis

• δὲ (de): Conjunction, typically meaning "but" or "and." Here, it acts as a sequential connector, marking the continuation of the narrative from the previous point about evangelizing to Jews.
• τίνες (tines): Indefinite pronoun, meaning "certain," "some," or "some persons." This emphasizes that it was not all the scattered believers but a specific group who took this initiative.
• ἐκ τούτων (ek toutōn): Prepositional phrase, meaning "out of these" or "from among them." This directly links the "some" believers to the group previously mentioned as being scattered.
• Συρίων (Surion): Genitive plural of Σύρος (Syros), meaning "Syrian." However, in this context, the phrase "Cyprus and Cyrene" is more accurate, referring to people from Cyprus and Cyrene, a coastal city in North Africa. The mention of Cyprus (not Syria here) indicates geographical origins. It is crucial to note that some manuscripts may read "Cyrenians" (from Cyrene) rather than "Syrians" or referring to those from Syria who also spoke Greek and settled in Antioch. The presence of Greek speakers implies the opening to Gentiles.
• Κυρηναῖοι (Kurenaiioi): Noun, plural, meaning "men of Cyrene," or "Cyrenians." This identifies another group originating from Cyrene.
• εἰσῆλθον (eisēlthen): Verb, 3rd person plural aorist active indicative of εἰσέρχομαι (eiserchomai). Meaning "they entered," "they came in," or "they went in." It denotes their proactive action of entering the synagogues and public places.
• καὶ ἐλάλουν (kai elaloun): Conjunction "and" (kai) with verb "they spoke" (elaloun). 3rd person plural imperfect active indicative of λαλέω (laleō), meaning "to speak," "to talk," or "to utter." The imperfect tense suggests continuous or repeated speaking.
• πρὸς (pros): Preposition, "to" or "towards." Indicates the direction of their speech.
• τοὺς Ἕλληνας (tous Hellēnas): Definite article "the" (tous) with noun "Greeks" (Hellēnas). Accusative plural of Ἕλλην (Hellēn). This refers to Hellenistic Jews (Greek-speaking Jews), not Gentiles. However, it quickly expands to encompass Gentiles. This is a subtle but significant distinction. The initial preaching might have been to Greek-speaking Jews who would then communicate with non-Jews, or it immediately opened up to the broader Greek-speaking population, including Gentiles. Context suggests the latter, or a rapid transition.
• λαλοῦντες (lalountes): Participle, nominative plural masculine of λαλέω (laleō). Meaning "speaking," "preaching," or "evangelizing."
• τὸν Κύριον Ἰησοῦν (ton Kurion Iēsoun): Definite article "the" (ton) with "Lord" (Kurion) and "Jesus" (Iēsoun). Accusative case. They spoke about "the Lord Jesus." This is the central proclamation.

Word Group Analysis

• "certain of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene": This highlights specific individuals initiating this evangelistic outreach. Their geographical origins (Cyprus and Cyrene) indicate a diversity within the early Christian movement and suggest they were familiar with Greek culture and language, which would facilitate communication with Hellenistic Jews and Gentiles.
• "entered and spoke to the Hellenists": The verb "entered" (eisēlthen) implies deliberate and perhaps somewhat assertive action, likely entering into places where people gathered, such as synagogues or public spaces. The term "Hellenists" (Hellēnas) initially might have referred to Greek-speaking Jews, but given the context and subsequent events, it denotes the expansion to the broader Gentile world.
• "preaching the Lord Jesus": The core of their message was focused on "the Lord Jesus." This is the Gospel in its nascent form—proclaiming Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Acts 11 20 Bonus Section

The mention of Antioch is significant as it became one of the major centers for Gentile Christianity, and it was in Antioch that followers of Christ were first called "Christians" (Acts 11:26). This verse represents the early sparks of a movement that would transform the world, moving from the specificity of Israel's Messiah to the universal Lord of all humanity. The active participation of believers, prompted by the Spirit, underscores the dynamic and outward-focused nature of the early church, not waiting for explicit directives from the Jerusalem leadership but acting on the understanding of Christ's Great Commission and the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit. This was a community in mission.

Acts 11 20 Commentary

This verse marks a critical expansion of the Christian mission beyond its Jewish cradle. The initiative by individuals from Cyprus and Cyrene, coupled with divine empowerment ("the hand of the Lord was with them"), signifies that the burgeoning faith was not meant to be contained within ethnic or national boundaries. Their speaking to the "Hellenists" and the subsequent "great number who believed" highlights the receptive nature of the Gentile world and God's orchestrating hand in opening new doors for the Gospel. This was not just evangelism; it was a demonstration of God's impartial love and a direct fulfillment of Christ's commission to be witnesses to "all nations." The success here in Antioch became a catalyst for broader Gentile inclusion, directly addressing the early church's understanding of its universal mission.