“¶ Now they which were scattered abroad vpon the persecution that arose about Steuen, trauailed as farre as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none, but vnto the Iewes onely.”
1611 King James Version (KJV)
11:19 They who had been dispersed - St. Luke here resumes the thread of his narration, in the very words wherewith he broke it off, #Acts 8:6|. As far as Phenicia to the north, Cyprus to the west, and Antioch to the east.
Ac 11:19 Now they which were scattered abroad. See Ac 8:5. Phenice. Phoenicia. A long, fertile plain between the Lebanon mountains and the sea containing the famous cities of Tyre and Sidon. These preachers, perhaps, founded churches here, as we find them existing later (Ac 21:4 27:3). Cyprus. The famous island in the Mediterranean. Antioch. The capital of the whole province of Syria, including Palestine, situated on the Orontes a short distance from the sea, at this time next after Rome and Alexandria of the cities of the world in greatness, commerce and wealth. It was cultured, luxurious and corrupt, a Greek civilization corrupted by the wealth and luxury of Asia; a sort of oriental Rome. Preaching . . . unto the Jews only. They departed before the Gentiles at Caesarea were called to Christ.