Acts 11:19

Activity in the Church at Antioch

11:19 Now those who had been scattered because of the persecution that took place over Stephen ¹  went as far as ²  Phoenicia, ³  Cyprus, ⁴  and Antioch, ⁵  speaking the message ⁶  to no one but Jews.

Acts 15:3

15:3 So they were sent on their way by the church, and as they passed through both Phoenicia ⁷  and Samaria, they were relating at length ⁸  the conversion of the Gentiles and bringing great joy ⁹  to all the brothers.

Acts 15:22

15:22 Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided ¹⁰  to send men chosen from among them, Judas called Barsabbas and Silas, ¹¹  leaders among the brothers, to Antioch ¹²  with Paul and Barnabas.

Acts 21:21

21:21 They have been informed about you – that you teach all the Jews now living ¹³  among the Gentiles to abandon ¹⁴  Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children ¹⁵  or live ¹⁶  according to our customs.

¹ sn The phrase over Stephen means in connection with Stephen’s death. See Acts 8:1b-3.

² tn Or “finally reached.” The translations “went as far as” and “finally reached” for διῆλθον (dihlqon) in this verse are given in L&N 15.17.

³ sn Phoenicia was an area along the Mediterranean coast north of Palestine.

⁴ tn Grk “and Cyprus,” but καί (kai) has not been translated since English normally uses a coordinating conjunction only between the last two elements in a series of three or more.

⁵ sn Antioch was a city in Syria (not Antioch in Pisidia). This was probably the third largest city in the Greco-Roman world (Alexandria in Egypt was the second largest, and Rome the largest) and was the seat of government in Syria. Five miles away was a major temple to Artemis, Apollo, and Astarte, major pagan deities.

⁶ tn Grk “word.”

⁷ sn Phoenicia was an area along the Mediterranean coast north of Palestine in ancient Syria.

⁸ tn L&N 33.201 indicates that ἐκδιηγέομαι (ekdihgeomai) means to provide detailed information in a systematic manner, “to inform, to relate, to tell fully.” “Relating at length” conveys this effectively in the present context.

⁹ tn For ἐποίουν (epoioun) in this verse BDAG 839 s.v. ποιέω 2.c has “they brought joy to the members.”

¹³ tn BDAG 255 s.v. δοκέω 2.b.β lists this verse under the meaning “it seems best to me, I decide, I resolve.”

¹⁴ sn Silas. See 2 Cor 1:19; 1 Thess 1:1; 2 Thess 1:1 (= Silvanus).

¹⁵ sn Antioch was a city in Syria (not Antioch in Pisidia).

¹⁹ tn BDAG 511 s.v. κατά B.1.a has “τοὺς κ. τὰ ἔθνη ᾿Ιουδαίους the Judeans (dispersed) throughout the nations 21:21.” The Jews in view are not those in Palestine, but those who are scattered throughout the Gentile world.

²⁰ tn Or “to forsake,” “to rebel against.” BDAG 120 s.v. ἀποστασία has “ἀποστασίαν διδάσκεις ἀπὸ Μωϋσέως you teach (Judeans) to abandon Moses Ac 21:21.”

²¹ sn That is, not to circumcise their male children. Biblical references to circumcision always refer to male circumcision.

²² tn Grk “or walk.”