Who were the scattered believers preaching to in Acts 11:19?
The scattered believers, driven out by the persecution that arose about Stephen, traveled as far as Phoenix, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the Word—the Old Testament—exclusively to Jews only. Scripture specifies they spoke to none but Jews, not Gentiles.
Les teaches that Acts 11:19 describes Jewish believers scattered by the persecution that arose about Stephen, which Saul of Tarsus led. They traveled as far as Phoenix, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the Word—but since no New Testament was yet written, that Word was the Old Testament. Les emphasizes the text says they preached to none but Jews only, so no Gentiles were in their audience. This fits the pattern he notes, that God had been dealing with Israel, with exceptions.
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.
In Acts 11:19, to whom did the believers scattered by Stephen's persecution preach?
The believers scattered by the persecution that arose after Stephen's death preached the word to none but Jews only, as Acts 11:19 states.