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Selected Verse: Acts 11:20 - Strong Concordance
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Ac 11:20 |
Strong Concordance |
And [1161] some [5100] of [1537] them [846] were [2258] men [435] of Cyprus [2953] and [2532] Cyrene [2956], which [3748], when they were come [1525] to [1519] Antioch [490], spake [2980] unto [4314] the Grecians [1675], preaching [2097] the Lord [2962] Jesus [2424]. |
| |
King James |
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. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene--(see on Luk 23:26); as Lucius, mentioned in Act 13:1.
spake unto the Grecians--rather, "the Greeks," that is, uncircumcised Gentiles (as the true reading beyond doubt is). The Gospel had, from the first, been preached to "the Grecians" or Greek-speaking Jews, and these "men of Cyprus and Cyrene" were themselves "Grecians." How, then, can we suppose that the historian would note, as something new and singular (Act 11:22), that some of the dispersed Christians preached to them? |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
Were men of Cyprus and Cyrene - Were natives of Cyprus and Cyrene. Cyrene was a province and city of Libya in Africa. It is at present called Cairoan, and is situated in the kingdom of Barca. In Cyprus the Greek language was spoken; and from the vicinity of Cyrene to Alexandria, it is probable that the Greek language was spoken there also. From this circumstance it might have happened that they were led more particularly to address the Grecians who were in Antioch. It is possible, however, that they might have heard of the vision which Peter saw, and felt themselves called on to preach the gospel to the Gentiles.
Spake unto the Grecians - πρὸς τοὺς Ἑλληνιστὰς pros tous Hellēnistas. To the Hellenists. This word usually denotes in the New Testament "those Jews residing in foreign lands, who spoke the Greek language." See the notes on Act 6:1. But to them the gospel had been already preached; and yet in this place it is evidently the intention of Luke to affirm that the people of Cyprus and Cyrene preached to those who were not Jews, and that thus their conduct was distinguished from those (Act 11:19) who preached to the Jews only. It is thus manifest that we are here required to understand the Gentiles as those who were addressed by the people of Cyprus and Cyrene. In many mss. the word used here is Ἕλληνας Hellēnas, "Greeks," instead of "Hellenists." This reading has been adopted by Griesbach, and is found in the Syriac, the Arabic, the Vulgate, and in many of the early fathers. The Aethiopic version reads "to the Gentiles." There is no doubt that this is the true reading; and that the sacred writer means to say that the gospel was here preached to. Those who were not Jews, for all were called "Greeks" by them who were not Jews, Rom 1:16. The connection would lead us to suppose that they had heard of what had been done by Peter, and that, imitating his example, they preached the gospel now to the Gentiles also. |
| The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917] |
Grecians
Hellenists, that is, Grecian Jews. |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
The Greeks (Ἕλληνας)
Some, however, read Ἑλληνιστὰς, the Grecian Jews. See on Act 6:1. The express object of the narrative has been to describe the admission of Gentiles into the church. There would have been nothing remarkable in these men preaching to Hellenists who had long before been received into the church, and formed a large part of the church at Jerusalem. It is better to follow the rendering of A. V. and Rev., though the other reading has the stronger MS. evidence. Note, also, the contrast with the statement in Act 11:19, to the Jews only. There is no contrast between Jews and Hellenists, since Hellenists are included in the general term Jews. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| Some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene - Who were more accustomed to converse with the Gentiles. Who coming into Antioch - Then the capital of Syria, and, next to Rome and Alexandria, the most considerable city of the empire. Spake to the Greeks - As the Greeks were the most celebrated of the Gentile nations near Judea, the Jews called all the Gentiles by that name. Here we have the first account of the preaching the Gospel to the idolatrous Gentiles. All those to whom it had been preached before, did at least worship one God, the God of Israel. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
Men of - Cyrene - The metropolis of the Cyrenaica; a country of Africa, bounded on the east by Marmarica, on the west by the Regio Syrtica, on the north by the Mediterranean, and on the south by the Sahara. Cyrene is now called Cairoan. This city, according to Eusebius, was built in the 37th Olympiad, about 630 years before Christ. In consequence of a revolt of its inhabitants, it was destroyed by the Romans; but they afterwards rebuilt it. It was for a long time subject to the Arabs, but is now in the hands of the Turks.
Spake unto the Grecians - ἙλληνιϚας, The Hellenists. Who these were, we have already seen Act 6:1-15 and Act 9:29, viz. Jews living in Greek cities and speaking the Greek language. But, instead of ἙλληνιϚας, Grecians, Ἑλληνας, Greeks, is the reading of AD*, Syriac, all the Arabic, Coptic, Ethiopic, Vulgate, some copies of the Itala, Eusebius, Chrysostom, Theophylact, and Oecumenius. On this evidence, Griesbach has admitted it into the text; and few critics entertain any doubt of the genuineness of the reading. This intimates that, besides preaching the Gospel to the Hellenistic Jews, some of them preached it to heathen Greeks; for, were we to adopt the common reading, it would be a sort of actum agere; for it is certain that the Hellenistic Jews had already received the Gospel. See Act 6:1. And it is likely that these Cyprians and Cyrenians had heard of Peter's mission to Caesarea, and they followed his example by offering the Christian faith to the heathen. It is worthy of remark that the Jews generally called all nations of the world Greeks; as the Asiatics, to the present day, call all the nations of Europe Franks. |
22 Then [1161] tidings [3056] of [4012] these things [846] came [191] unto [1519] the ears [3775] of the church [1577] which [3588] was in [1722] Jerusalem [2414]: and [2532] they sent forth [1821] Barnabas [921], that he should go [1330] as far as [2193] Antioch [490].
1 Now [1161] there were [2258] in [2596] the church [1577] that was [5607] at [1722] Antioch [490] certain [5100] prophets [4396] and [2532] teachers [1320]; as [5037] Barnabas [921], and [2532] Simeon [4826] that was called [2564] Niger [3526], and [2532] Lucius [3066] of Cyrene [2956], and [5037] Manaen [3127], which had been brought up [4939] with Herod [2264] the tetrarch [5076], and [2532] Saul [4569].
26 And [2532] as [5613] they led [520] him [846] away [520], they laid hold upon [1949] one [5100] Simon [4613], a Cyrenian [2956], coming [2064] out of [575] the country [68], and on [2007] him [846] they laid [2007] the cross [4716], that he might bear [5342] it after [3693] Jesus [2424].
16 For [1063] I am [1870] not [3756] ashamed [1870] of the gospel [2098] of Christ [5547]: for [1063] it is [2076] the power [1411] of God [2316] unto [1519] salvation [4991] to every one [3956] that believeth [4100]; to the Jew [2453] first [4412], and [5037] also [2532] to the Greek [1672].
19 Now [3767] [3303] they which were scattered abroad [1289] upon [575] the persecution [2347] that arose [1096] about [1909] Stephen [4736] travelled [1330] as far as [2193] Phenice [5403], and [2532] Cyprus [2954], and [2532] Antioch [490], preaching [2980] the word [3056] to none [3367] but [1508] unto the Jews [2453] only [3440].
1 And [1161] in [1722] those [5025] days [2250], when the number [4129] of the disciples [3101] was multiplied [4129], there arose [1096] a murmuring [1112] of the Grecians [1675] against [4314] the Hebrews [1445], because [3754] their [846] widows [5503] were neglected [3865] in [1722] the daily [2522] ministration [1248].
19 Now [3767] [3303] they which were scattered abroad [1289] upon [575] the persecution [2347] that arose [1096] about [1909] Stephen [4736] travelled [1330] as far as [2193] Phenice [5403], and [2532] Cyprus [2954], and [2532] Antioch [490], preaching [2980] the word [3056] to none [3367] but [1508] unto the Jews [2453] only [3440].
1 And [1161] in [1722] those [5025] days [2250], when the number [4129] of the disciples [3101] was multiplied [4129], there arose [1096] a murmuring [1112] of the Grecians [1675] against [4314] the Hebrews [1445], because [3754] their [846] widows [5503] were neglected [3865] in [1722] the daily [2522] ministration [1248].
1 And [1161] in [1722] those [5025] days [2250], when the number [4129] of the disciples [3101] was multiplied [4129], there arose [1096] a murmuring [1112] of the Grecians [1675] against [4314] the Hebrews [1445], because [3754] their [846] widows [5503] were neglected [3865] in [1722] the daily [2522] ministration [1248].
29 And [2532] he spake [2980] boldly [3955] in [1722] the name [3686] of the Lord [2962] Jesus [2424], and [5037] [2532] disputed [4802] against [4314] the Grecians [1675]: but [1161] they went about [2021] to slay [337] him [846].
1 And [1161] in [1722] those [5025] days [2250], when the number [4129] of the disciples [3101] was multiplied [4129], there arose [1096] a murmuring [1112] of the Grecians [1675] against [4314] the Hebrews [1445], because [3754] their [846] widows [5503] were neglected [3865] in [1722] the daily [2522] ministration [1248].
2 Then [1161] the twelve [1427] called [4341] the multitude [4128] of the disciples [3101] unto them, and said [2036], It is [2076] not [3756] reason [701] that we [2248] should leave [2641] the word [3056] of God [2316], and serve [1247] tables [5132].
3 Wherefore [3767], brethren [80], look ye out [1980] among [1537] you [5216] seven [2033] men [435] of honest report [3140], full [4134] of the Holy [40] Ghost [4151] and [2532] wisdom [4678], whom [3739] we may appoint [2525] over [1909] this [5026] business [5532].
4 But [1161] we [2249] will give ourselves continually [4342] to prayer [4335], and [2532] to the ministry [1248] of the word [3056].
5 And [2532] the saying [3056] pleased [700] [1799] the whole [3956] multitude [4128]: and [2532] they chose [1586] Stephen [4736], a man [435] full [4134] of faith [4102] and [2532] of the Holy [40] Ghost [4151], and [2532] Philip [5376], and [2532] Prochorus [4402], and [2532] Nicanor [3527], and [2532] Timon [5096], and [2532] Parmenas [3937], and [2532] Nicolas [3532] a proselyte [4339] of Antioch [491]:
6 Whom [3739] they set [2476] before [1799] the apostles [652]: and [2532] when they had prayed [4336], they laid [2007] their hands [5495] on [2007] them [846].
7 And [2532] the word [3056] of God [2316] increased [837]; and [2532] the number [706] of the disciples [3101] multiplied [4129] in [1722] Jerusalem [2419] greatly [4970]; and [5037] a great [4183] company [3793] of the priests [2409] were obedient [5219] to the faith [4102].
8 And [1161] Stephen [4736], full [4134] of faith [4102] and [2532] power [1411], did [4160] great [3173] wonders [5059] and [2532] miracles [4592] among [1722] the people [2992].
9 Then [1161] there arose [450] certain [5100] of [1537] the synagogue [4864], which [3588] is called [3004] the synagogue of the Libertines [3032], and [2532] Cyrenians [2956], and [2532] Alexandrians [221], and [2532] of them of [575] Cilicia [2791] and [2532] of Asia [773], disputing [4802] with Stephen [4736].
10 And [2532] they were [2480] not [3756] able [2480] to resist [436] the wisdom [4678] and [2532] the spirit [4151] by which [3739] he spake [2980].
11 Then [5119] they suborned [5260] men [435], which said [3004], [3754] We have heard [191] him [846] speak [2980] blasphemous [989] words [4487] against [1519] Moses [3475], and [2532] against God [2316].
12 And [5037] they stirred up [4787] the people [2992], and [2532] the elders [4245], and [2532] the scribes [1122], and [2532] came upon [2186] him, and caught [4884] him [846], and [2532] brought [71] him to [1519] the council [4892],
13 And [5037] set up [2476] false [5571] witnesses [3144], which said [3004], This [5127] man [444] ceaseth [3973] not [3756] to speak [2980] blasphemous [989] words [4487] against [2596] this [3778] holy [40] place [5117], and [2532] the law [3551]:
14 For [1063] we have heard [191] him [846] say [3004], that [3754] this [5126] Jesus [2424] of Nazareth [3480] shall destroy [2647] this [3778] place [5117], and [2532] shall change [236] the customs [1485] which [3739] Moses [3475] delivered [3860] us [2254].
15 And [2532] all [537] that sat [2516] in [1722] the council [4892], looking stedfastly [816] on [1519] him [846], saw [1492] his [846] face [4383] as it had been [5616] the face [4383] of an angel [32].