Acts 11 · Verse 20

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.

Acts 11:20, King James Version

Acts 11:20 in other translations

BSB	But some of them, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks as well, proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus.
WEB	But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus.
ASV	But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus.
YLT	and there were certain of them men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who having entered into Antioch, were speaking unto the Hellenists, proclaiming good news--the Lord Jesus,
DARBY	But there were certain of them, Cyprians and Cyrenians, who entering into Antioch spoke to the Greeks also, announcing the glad tidings of the Lord Jesus.
BBE	But some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, when they came to Antioch, gave the good news about the Lord Jesus to the Greeks.
Webster	And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus.

What does Acts 11:20 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

20. some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene--(see on Lu 23:26); as Lucius, mentioned in Ac 13:1. spake unto the Grecians--rather, "the Greeks," that is, uncircumcised Gentiles (as the true reading beyond doubt is). The Gospel had, from the first, been preached to "the Grecians" or Greek-speaking Jews, and these "men of Cyprus and Cyrene" were themselves "Grecians." How, then, can we suppose that the historian would note, as something new and singular (Ac 11:22), that some of the dispersed Christians preached to them?

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 20. Were men of Cyprus and Cyrene. Were natives of Cyprus and Cyrene. Cyrene was a province and city of Libya in Africa. It is at present called Cairoan, and is situated in the kingdom of Barca. In Cyprus, the Greek language was spoken; and from the vicinity of Cyrene to Alexandria, it is probable that the Greek language was spoken there also. From this circumstance it might have happened that they were led more particularly to address the Grecians who were in Antioch. It is possible, however, that they might have heard of the vision which Peter saw, and felt themselves called on to preach the gospel to the Gentiles.

Spake unto the Grecian. προςτουςελληνιστας To the Hellenists. This word usually denotes, in the New Testament, those Jews residing in foreign lands who spoke the Greek language. Acts 6:1. But to them the gospel had been already preached; and yet in this place it is evidently the intention of Luke to affirm, that the men of Cyprus and Cyrene preached to those who were not Jews, and that thus their conduct was distinguished from those Acts 11:19 who preached to the Jews only. It is thus manifest that we are here required to understand the Gentiles, as those who were addressed by the men of Cyprus and Cyrene. In many Mss. the word used here is ελληνας, Greeks, instead of Hellenists. This reading has been adopted by Griesbach, and is found in the Syriac, the Arabic, the Vulgate, and in many of the Fathers. The AEthiopic version reads, "to the Gentiles." There is no doubt that this is the true reading; and that the sacred writer means to say that the gospel was here preached to those who were not Jews, for all were called Greeks by them who were not Jews, Rom 1:16. The connexion would lead us to suppose that they had heard of what had been done by Peter, and that, imitating his example, they preached the gospel now to the Gentiles also.

(*) "Grecians" "Hellenists" (a) "preaching" Acts 6:1, 9:29

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 20 Men of - Cyrene - The metropolis of the Cyrenaica; a country of Africa, bounded on the east by Marmarica, on the west by the Regio Syrtica, on the north by the Mediterranean, and on the south by the Sahara. Cyrene is now called Cairoan. This city, according to Eusebius, was built in the 37th Olympiad, about 630 years before Christ. In consequence of a revolt of its inhabitants, it was destroyed by the Romans; but they afterwards rebuilt it. It was for a long time subject to the Arabs, but is now in the hands of the Turks. Spake unto the Grecians - ἙλληνιϚας, The Hellenists. Who these were, we have already seen Act 6:1-15 and Act 9:29, viz. Jews living in Greek cities and speaking the Greek language. But, instead of ἙλληνιϚας, Grecians, Ἑλληνας, Greeks, is the reading of AD*, Syriac, all the Arabic, Coptic, Ethiopic, Vulgate, some copies of the Itala, Eusebius, Chrysostom, Theophylact, and Oecumenius. On this evidence, Griesbach has admitted it into the text; and few critics entertain any doubt of the genuineness of the reading. This intimates that, besides preaching the Gospel to the Hellenistic Jews, some of them preached it to heathen Greeks; for, were we to adopt the common reading, it would be a sort of actum agere; for it is certain that the Hellenistic Jews had already received the Gospel. See Act 6:1. And it is likely that these Cyprians and Cyrenians had heard of Peter's mission to Caesarea, and they followed his example by offering the Christian faith to the heathen. It is worthy of remark that the Jews generally called all nations of the world Greeks; as the Asiatics, to the present day, call all the nations of Europe Franks.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 11:19-24

The first preachers of the gospel at Antioch, were dispersed from Jerusalem by persecution; thus what was meant to hurt the church, was made to work for its good. The wrath of man is made to praise God. What should the ministers of Christ preach, but Christ? Christ, and him crucified? Christ, and him glorified? And their preaching was accompanied with the Divine power. The hand of the Lord was with them, to bring…

Read the full comment on Acts 11:19-24 →

Acts 11:20 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἮσανĒsanWereG1510

δέdehoweverG1161

τινεςtinessomeG5100

ἐξexofG1537

αὐτῶνautōnthemG846

ἄνδρεςandresmenG435

ΚύπριοιKuprioiof CyprusG2953

καὶkaiandG2532

Κυρηναῖοι,Kurēnaioiof Cyrene,G2956

οἵτινεςoitineswhoG3748

ἐλθόντεςelthonteshaving comeG2064

εἰςeisintoG1519

ἈντιόχειανAntiocheianAntiochG490

ἐλάλουνelalounwere speakingG2980

πρὸςprostoG4314

τοὺςtoustheG3588

ἙλληνιστὰςHellēnistasHellenistsG1675

εὐαγγελιζόμενοιeuangelizomenoievangelising [about]G2097

τὸνtontheG3588

κύριονkurionLordG2962

Ἰησοῦν.IēsounJesus.G2424

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Acts 11:20

Acts 13:1
Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
Matthew 27:32
And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.
Ephesians 3:8
Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
Acts 6:9
Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.
Acts 2:10
Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
1 Corinthians 1:23-24
But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
Acts 9:20
And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
Acts 8:35
Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
John 7:35
Then said the Jews among themselves, Whither will he go, that we shall not find him? will he go unto the dispersed among the Gentiles, and teach the Gentiles?
Acts 8:5
Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
Acts 5:42-6:1
And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ. 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.
Acts 9:29
And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Cyrene.
2:10; 6:9; 13:1; Mt 27:32
the Grecians.
6:1; 9:29
preaching.
8:5,35; 9:20; 17:18; 1Co 1:23,24; 2:2; Eph 3:8

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

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 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.
Acts 11:21
And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.

Read all of Acts 11

Acts 11:20 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Y de ellos había unos varones Ciprios y Cirenenses, los cuales como entraron en Antioquía, hablaron á los Griegos, anunciando el evangelio del Señor Jesús.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Mais quelques-uns d’entre eux étaient des Cypriotes et des Cyrénéens, qui, étant venus à Antioche, parlaient aussi aux Grecs, annonçant le seigneur Jésus;
German Elberfelder 1871	Es waren aber unter ihnen etliche Männer von Cypern und Kyrene, welche, als sie nach Antiochien kamen, auch zu den Griechen redeten, indem sie das Evangelium von dem Herrn Jesus verkündigten.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Erant autem quidam ex eis viri Cyprii et Cyrenæi, qui cum introissent Antiochiam, loquebantur et ad Græcos, annuntiantes Dominum Jesum.