Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
They therefore that were scattered abroad (oi men oun diasparentev). Precisely the same words used in Acts 8:4 about those scattered by Saul (which see) and a direct reference to it is made by the next words, "upon the tribulation that arose about Stephen" (apo thv qliyewv thv genomenhv epi Stefanw). As a result of (apo), in the case of (epi) Stephen. From that event Luke followed Saul through his conversion and back to Jerusalem and to Tarsus. Then he showed the activity of Peter outside of Jerusalem as a result of the cessation of the persecution from the conversion of Saul with the Gentile Pentecost in Caesarea and the outcome in Jerusalem. Now Luke starts over again from the same persecution by Saul and runs a new line of events up to Antioch parallel to the other, probably partly following.
Except to Jews only (ei mh monon Ioudaioiv). Clearly these disciples did not know anything about the events in Caesarea and at first their flight preceded that time. But it was a wonderful episode, the eager and loyal preaching of the fleeing disciples. The culmination in Antioch was probably after the report of Peter about Caesarea. This Antioch by the Orontes was founded 300 B.C. by Seleucus Nicator and was one of five cities so named by the Seleucides. It became the metropolis of Syria though the Arabs held Damascus first. Antioch ranked next to Rome and Alexandria in size, wealth, power, and vice. There were many Jews in the cosmopolitan population of half a million. It was destined to supplant Jerusalem as the centre of Christian activity.
Other commentary entries containing this verse:
Acts 2:41
Acts 8:1
Acts 8:4
Acts 11:20
Acts 11:22
Acts 15:3
Acts 21:4
Acts 21:7
Acts 26:12
Acts 27:3
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