Yes—Acts 11 signifies a major step in the transition of the early church from a Jewish-only gospel to the eventual inclusion of Gentiles, although the scattered believers still preached only to Jews.
In Acts 11, Jewish believers who were scattered after Stephen's death traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, but they still preached only to Jews. At Antioch, God began to generate interest among Gentiles for the first time, prompting the Jerusalem church to send Barnabas. This chapter marks an intensified stage in the transitional book of Acts.
Acts 11:19 — This verse directly shows the scattered believers preaching to Jews only, setting the stage for the transition that begins at Antioch.
Acts 11:20-22 — These verses record the first Gentile response at Antioch and Jerusalem's reaction, highlighting the shift.
Acts 11:19 explains that those who were scattered because of the persecution about Stephen traveled as far as Phenice, Cyprus, and Antioch, but they preached the word to none except Jews. Then verse 20 says that some men from Cyprus and Cyrene came to Antioch and spoke to the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. Verse 21 says the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord. When the church in Jerusalem heard about this, they sent Barnabas to go as far as Antioch (verse 22).
Les Feldick teaches that Acts 11 is part of the transition out of Judaism into God's dealings with the Gentiles. He emphasizes that the scattered believers were not yet going to Gentiles—they preached to Jews only. Antioch was the first place where Gentiles began to show interest, which was new in Acts. When the Jerusalem church heard about it, they sent Barnabas to investigate. This fits the gradual transition: even Peter, after Cornelius, did not go to the Gentiles; his ministry remained with the circumcision. The book of Acts is a transitional book, and Acts 11 moves that transition into higher gear.
Les explains that 'they which were scattered abroad' in Acts 11:19 refers to those mentioned in Acts 8:1 who were scattered upon the persecution that arose about Stephen. They went as far as Phenice, Cyprus, and Antioch, but they still preached to Jews only.
Les says that at Antioch, up in Syria, God began to generate interest among Gentiles for the first time in Acts. Earlier chapters did not show Gentiles coming to ask about the God of Israel. When the Jerusalem church heard about this, they were shaken and sent Barnabas to check it out.
No. Les points out that after Peter witnessed the salvation of Cornelius's household, he returned to Jerusalem and did not indicate that he would go to Gentiles. Twelve years later, in Acts 15, Peter defended Paul's Gentile ministry by recalling that God had used his mouth to take the gospel to the Gentiles. But Peter's own ministry remained with the Jews.
Les teaches that Acts is a transitional book. After Acts 11, Peter is mentioned a little, then never again until the end of Acts. This reflects the fading of the Jewish program and the rise of the Gentiles, leading to the Body of Christ. Acts 11 shows both sides: continued Jewish-only preaching, but the first Gentile interest at Antioch.
Les notes that they had no New Testament yet, so they were preaching from the Old Testament. They preached the Word, but only to Jews, because they had no understanding that they should go to Gentiles.
Why the First Christians Were NOT in Jerusalem (Acts 11)
Hello and welcome to Through the Bible with Les Feldick. An Oklahoma rancher and farmer, Les Feldick has been teaching homestyle Bible classes for 20 years in Iowa, Oklahoma, and Texas. Les Feldick's unique style of Bible teaching has made the books of the Bible come to life. When Les is teaching, it's so interesting that people say time just seems to fly by. And now, here is Les Feldick.
Scattered Believers Preach Only to Jews
Les connects Acts 11:19 to Acts 8:1, showing that those scattered by Stephen's persecution went as far as Antioch but preached only to Jews.
Antioch and First Gentile Interest
Les explains that at Antioch God first generated interest among Gentiles, causing Jerusalem to send Barnabas.
Transition Out of Judaism
Les places Acts 11 in the transition out of Judaism, noting that after this Peter fades from the record.
Peter's Ministry Remained With Jews
Les notes Peter did not go to the Gentiles after Cornelius; he only later defended Paul's Gentile ministry.
Preaching the Old Testament
Les says the scattered believers preached the Old Testament, since the New Testament had not yet been written.
Has God Cast Away Israel? Romans 11:1-2 Finally Explained
Now after we get well into the book of Acts, all of a sudden the apostle Paul is called aside, and God tells him, I'm going to send you far hence to the Gentiles. Now see I've already changed my format, I told Iris to look up Genesis, but I'm going to switch. I want you to look a minute at Acts chapter 28, Acts 28, plus a lot of other verses in Acts.
Why God Chooses the Weak: Lessons from Moses and the Cross
Well, save a Gentile without becoming a proselyte of Israel. So here again, the sign was particularly used to convince these Jews because where are the Jews going to go from Cornelius' house? Right back to Jerusalem. And what should they have done? Why they should have just spread the word that God is now ready to But did they? No.
Acts 11:19: 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.
This verse establishes that the initial scattering did not yet include the Gentiles.
Acts 11:20: 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.
This verse shows the first deliberate preaching to Gentiles at Antioch.
Acts 11:21: And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.
This verse confirms the success of the first Gentile evangelism.
Acts 11:22: 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.
This verse shows the Jerusalem church's response to the Gentile believers.
Les Feldick teaches that they had no concept yet that the gospel was going to the Gentiles. Even though they were scattered, they continued the Jewish program, preaching to Jews only. The transition to Gentile inclusion was gradual.
At Antioch, for the first time in Acts, Gentiles became interested in the God of Israel. This was a new development, and it caused the Jerusalem church to send Barnabas to investigate.
No. Les Feldick says Peter returned to Jerusalem and did not go out to the Gentiles. His ministry remained with the Jews. Even later, in Acts 15, he only defended Paul's Gentile ministry rather than leading it.
Watch the Teaching: Why the First Christians Were NOT in Jerusalem (Acts 11)