What caused the believers in Acts 11:19 to be scattered abroad?
The scattering occurred because of the persecution that arose about Stephen, as stated in Acts 11:19. Those Jewish believers, persecuted under Saul of Tarsus’s leadership, were forced abroad. They traveled preaching the Old Testament Word, since no New Testament yet existed, and spoke only to Jews.
Les explains that Acts 11:19 is plain language, not like a government decree. It says those who were scattered abroad were scattered upon the persecution that arose about Stephen, the same persecution just read about in chapter 7. Those Jews came under that persecution, headed up by Saul of Tarsus. They were scattered and traveled as far as Phoenix, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the Word. Les emphasizes the only Word they had was the Old Testament, because no New Testament had yet been written. They preached the Old Testament Word to none but Jews only; no Gentiles were in their listening audience.
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.
Why were the first believers not in Jerusalem?
The first believers were not in Jerusalem because persecution arose around Stephen, causing them to be scattered abroad. They traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but Jews only. This scattering occurred as the Jewish program began slipping away in Acts.
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.
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.
When did the believers in Acts 11:19 get scattered?
The scattering of believers referred to in this verse goes back to Stephen's martyrdom, which happened about seven years after Pentecost.
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.
Who were the scattered believers in Acts 11:19 and where did they go?
The people scattered by the persecution over Stephen, referred to in Acts 11:19, are the same people described in Acts 8:1, and they went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch.