Acts 11:20 (KJV)

What does Acts 11:20 mean?

Acts 11:20 describes how some followers of Jesus from Cyprus and Cyrene, after arriving in Antioch, began to speak to the "Grecians" (Greek-speaking people), telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. This verse shows that the message about Jesus was being shared beyond just Jewish communities, reaching out to non-Jews as well.

The setting is after the scattering of believers from Jerusalem due to persecution. These men from Cyprus and Cyrene were among those who traveled to Antioch, a major city in the Roman world. Instead of only speaking to fellow Jews, they also shared their message with Greek-speaking people, marking a significant step in the spread of Christianity to a wider audience.

The Greek behind Acts 11:20

• Ἑλληνιστάς (Hellēnistas, "Grecians"): This word is often understood as referring to Greek-speaking people, which could mean either Jews who spoke Greek or non-Jewish Greeks. In this context, it likely points to non-Jewish Greeks, showing the message was crossing cultural boundaries.
• εὐαγγελιζόμενοι (euangelizomenoi, "preaching"): This word means "bringing good news" or "proclaiming the gospel." It emphasizes that what was being shared was not just information, but a joyful announcement about Jesus as Lord.

Why Acts 11:20 matters

• Acts 11:20 marks a turning point where the message about Jesus begins to intentionally reach non-Jews, showing the early Christian movement expanding beyond its original cultural boundaries.
• The verse highlights the role of ordinary believers from places like Cyprus and Cyrene, not just the apostles, in spreading the message.
• This outreach to Greek-speaking people in Antioch sets the stage for the church in Antioch to become a major center for early Christianity and future missionary work.