19Those then who had been scattered by the tribulation that arose over Stephen passed through as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews alone. [11:20] But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch were speaking also to the Hellenists, proclaiming the good news of the Lord Jesus. [11:21] The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. [11:22] The report about them reached the ears of the assembly in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. [11:23] When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he was urging all of them to remain with the Lord with resolute purpose of heart — [11:24] for he was a good man and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a considerable crowd was added to the Lord. [11:25] He went out to Tarsus to look for Saul, [11:26] and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the assembly and taught a considerable crowd. And in Antioch the disciples were first divinely called Christians. [11:27] In those days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. [11:28] One of them named Agabus stood up and indicated through the Spirit that a great famine was about to come over the whole inhabited world — which came about in the time of Claudius. [11:29] Each of the disciples, as any of them had means, determined to send ministry to the brothers living in Judea, [11:30] which they also did, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
ACT 11:19-30
The Church at Antioch
In the world it was spoken into
In the aftermath of Stephen’s martyrdom, Jewish followers of Jesus were scattered from Jerusalem, traveling to regions like Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch. These areas were culturally diverse, with significant Jewish diaspora communities. In Antioch, a major urban center of the Roman Empire, Greek-speaking Jews (Hellenists) were distinct from Aramaic-speaking Jews, reflecting linguistic and cultural divides within Judaism. The preaching of Jesus to Hellenists marked a significant shift, as it extended the message beyond traditional Jewish boundaries. The success of this outreach, evidenced by a large number turning to the Lord, caught the attention of the Jerusalem church, which sent Barnabas to investigate. Barnabas’s involvement underscores the Jerusalem church’s role as a central authority in early Christian communities. The term 'Hellenists' highlights the cultural tension between Jewish traditions and the broader Greco-Roman world, while '' suggests divine guidance in naming the disciples 'Christians,' a term likely coined by outsiders to describe this new group.
›See the receipts
How other translations render this
ACT 11:19
- KJV
- 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.
- BSB
- Meanwhile those scattered by the persecution that began with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the message only to Jews.
- Koinōnos
- Those then who had been scattered by the tribulation that arose over Stephen passed through as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews alone.
ACT 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.
- BSB
- But some of them, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks as well, proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus.
- Koinōnos
- But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch were speaking also to the Hellenists, proclaiming the good news of the Lord Jesus.
ACT 11:21
- KJV
- And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.
- BSB
- The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.
- Koinōnos
- The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.
ACT 11:22
- KJV
- 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.
- BSB
- When news of this reached the ears of the church in Jerusalem, they sent Barnabas to Antioch.
- Koinōnos
- The report about them reached the ears of the assembly in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to go as far as Antioch.
ACT 11:23
- KJV
- 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.
- BSB
- When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to abide in the Lord with all their hearts.
- Koinōnos
- When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he was urging all of them to remain with the Lord with resolute purpose of heart —
ACT 11:24
- KJV
- For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.
- BSB
- Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.
- Koinōnos
- for he was a good man and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a considerable crowd was added to the Lord.
ACT 11:25
- KJV
- Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:
- BSB
- Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul,
- Koinōnos
- He went out to Tarsus to look for Saul,
ACT 11:26
- KJV
- And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
- BSB
- and when he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. So for a full year they met together with the church and taught large numbers of people. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.
- Koinōnos
- and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the assembly and taught a considerable crowd. And in Antioch the disciples were first divinely called Christians.
ACT 11:27
- KJV
- And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.
- BSB
- In those days some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.
- Koinōnos
- In those days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.
ACT 11:28
- KJV
- And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.
- BSB
- One of them named Agabus stood up and predicted through the Spirit that a great famine would sweep across the whole world. (This happened under Claudius.)
- Koinōnos
- One of them named Agabus stood up and indicated through the Spirit that a great famine was about to come over the whole inhabited world — which came about in the time of Claudius.
ACT 11:29
- KJV
- Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea:
- BSB
- So the disciples, each according to his ability, decided to send relief to the brothers living in Judea.
- Koinōnos
- Each of the disciples, as any of them had means, determined to send ministry to the brothers living in Judea,
ACT 11:30
- KJV
- Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
- BSB
- This they did, sending their gifts to the elders with Barnabas and Saul.
- Koinōnos
- which they also did, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Where the historical framing draws from
- Josephus, WarsWars 2.9.2
›Josephus, Wars Wars 2.9.2
“Now Pilate, who was sent as procurator into Judea by Tiberius, sent by night those images of Caesar that are called ensigns into Jerusalem.”
Cited to ground: Pilate, who was sent as procurator into Judea by Tiberius
Translator's notes
ACT 11:20
- Hellenists:The word translated 'Hellenists' refers to Greek-speaking Jews, often those who had adopted Greek culture, distinguishing them from Aramaic-speaking Jews.
ACT 11:23
- with resolute purpose:The phrase 'with resolute purpose' implies a deliberate, pre-meditated intention or plan, not just a general resolve.
ACT 11:26
- a crowd:The word translated 'a crowd' here carries the sense of being divinely warned or instructed, suggesting a special, authoritative communication from God.
ACT 11:29
- ministry:The term 'ministry' here broadly refers to practical service or aid, often involving meeting physical needs, rather than exclusively spiritual or preaching duties.