11:19
The objections having been dealt with, we now move on to more growth of the church, and the scene is being set for Paul embarking on his missionary journeys. The persecution had resulted in believers being scattered "as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch". The Antioch here is Antioch in Syria. Wherever they went they spread the word, but at this point they spoke only to the Jews. So we see that the persecution, which would be painful,was also part of God's plan. We don't always like where we are, or how things are working out in life. But in all circumstances we should seek to serve the Lord. While the believers were doing this, they still had much to learn, for the gospel would soon break out in force to the Gentiles.
11:20,21
As well as the dispersion from Jerusalem, there were other Jews who were from Cyprus and Cyrene, they went to Antioch and they did speak to Greek's (Gentiles) as well. They preached the gospel to them, and a great number came to believe, because God's hand was with them. Luke is at pains to point out that the spread of the gospel to the Gentiles was a God ordained thing.
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