And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.

ACTS 11:27KJV
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Acts 11:27 (KJV)

What does Acts 11:27 mean?

Acts 11:27 says that during this time period, some prophets traveled from Jerusalem to Antioch. This verse marks the arrival of these prophets, who played a role in guiding and encouraging the early Christian community in Antioch.

The book of Acts is describing events in the early church, and here, Luke notes that prophets—people recognized for speaking messages from God—came from Jerusalem, the center of the early Christian movement. Their arrival in Antioch, a major city where many non-Jewish believers lived, sets the stage for important interactions and messages that follow in the next verses.

The Greek behind Acts 11:27

  • προφῆται (prophētai): This word means "prophets," referring to people believed to receive and share messages from God. In the early church, prophets were respected leaders who helped guide communities, not just predict the future.
  • Ἀντιόχειαν (Antiocheian): This is "Antioch," a significant city where believers were first called Christians. The mention of Antioch highlights the spread of the movement beyond Jerusalem and into the wider Greco-Roman world.

Why Acts 11:27 matters

  • Acts 11:27 shows that the early Christian movement was not limited to Jerusalem but was spreading to other major cities, with leaders traveling to support new believers.
  • The mention of prophets coming from Jerusalem to Antioch prepares the reader for the important prophecy and events that unfold in the following verses, especially concerning a coming famine.
  • This verse highlights the connectedness and communication between different Christian communities, showing that guidance and encouragement were shared across distances.

Where else these words appear

“came” Greek G2718 · used in 13 verses

  • Luke 4:31 And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days.
  • Acts 12:19 And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea, and there abode.
  • Acts 18:22 And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up, and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch.

“Antioch” Greek G490 · used in 17 verses

  • 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.
  • Acts 13:14 But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.
  • Acts 15:23 And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:

“these” Greek G5025 · used in 21 verses

  • Matthew 13:53 And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence.
  • Luke 13:14 And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day.
  • Acts 6:1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.

“Jerusalem” Greek G2414 · used in 59 verses

  • Matthew 2:1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
  • Mark 15:41 (Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem.
  • Acts 8:1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.