Did God still deal only with the Jews at the time of Acts 11:19?
Yes. The context of Acts 11:19 shows that up to Saul’s conversion and as late as Stephen’s stoning—seven years after Pentecost—the scattered Jewish believers preached the Word, which was then the Old Testament, to none but Jews only. God was dealing only with the Jew.
Les explains that Acts 11:19 confirms what he has been saying: all the way up to Saul’s conversion, and as late as Stephen’s stoning seven years after Pentecost, the Jewish believers who were scattered by Saul’s persecution went throughout that area preaching the Word. Because they did not yet have the New Testament, they preached the Old Testament to none but Jews only. Les calls this “Jew only,” with exceptions, and stresses that God was dealing only with the Jew. He also points to Ephesians chapter 2 as he moves into territory most people are unaware of.
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.
More Questions
Why were the believers scattered abroad in Acts 11:19?
The believers were scattered abroad because of the persecution that arose around Stephen.
Who were the people 'scattered abroad' in Acts 11:19?
The believers described in Acts 11:19 as 'scattered abroad' are the same ones scattered by the persecution mentioned in Acts 8:1.
What event is Acts 11:19 referring back to when it says they were scattered abroad?
The verse about those scattered preaching to none but Jews refers back to the time of Stephen's martyrdom, which took place about seven years after Pentecost.