Now they who were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.
All Commentaries on Acts 11:19 Go To Acts 11
John Chrysostom
AD 407
The persecution turned out to be no slight benefit as to them that love God all things work together for good. Romans 8:28 If they had made it their express study how best to establish the Church, they would have done no other thing than this— they dispersed the teachers. Mark in what quarters the preaching was extended. They travelled, it says, as far as Phenice and Cyprus and Antioch; to none however did they preach the word but to Jews only. Do you mark with what wise purposes of Providence so much was done in the case of Cornelius? This serves both to justify Christ, and to impeach the Jews. When Stephen was slain, when Paul was twice in danger, when the Apostles were scourged, then the Gentiles received the word, then the Samaritans. Which Paul also declares: To you it was necessary that the Word of God should first be spoken; but since you thrust it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy, lo, we turn unto the Gentiles. Acts 13:46 Accordingly they went about, preaching to Gentiles also. But some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke unto the Greeks, preaching the Lord Jesus:
