What role did "men from Cyprus and Cyrene" play in spreading Christianity? Setting the Scene “Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that arose in connection with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word only to Jews. But some of them, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also, proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus.” Who Were These Men? • Diaspora Jewish believers: natives of the Mediterranean islands (Cyprus) and the North-African coastal city (Cyrene, in modern Libya). • First-generation witnesses of Pentecost (Acts 2:10 lists “visitors from Cyrene”). • Ordinary disciples—no apostolic titles—yet Spirit-empowered to pioneer new territory. Their Bold Initiative • They “began speaking to the Greeks also”—the very first explicit, organized outreach to Gentiles apart from Peter’s experience with Cornelius (Acts 10). • They preached “the Lord Jesus,” presenting Him not merely as Israel’s Messiah but as sovereign over all peoples. • “The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord” (Acts 11:21). God’s direct blessing authenticated their message. Strategic Results in Antioch • Formation of the first major multi-ethnic congregation (Acts 11:22-26). • Barnabas (himself “a Levite from Cyprus,” Acts 4:36) was sent from Jerusalem to shepherd the work, underscoring the Cypriot connection. • Saul of Tarsus was recruited, discipled the new believers for a full year, and Antioch became the launchpad for world missions (Acts 13:1-3). • “The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch” (Acts 11:26)—a testimony to the clear identity these believers forged. Continuing Influence • Leadership nucleus: “Lucius of Cyrene” appears among the prophets and teachers at Antioch (Acts 13:1). • Missionary multiplication: from Antioch, Barnabas and Paul carried the gospel back to Cyprus (Acts 13:4-12). • Disciples from Cyrene remained active decades later—e.g., Simon of Cyrene’s sons are noted believers (Mark 15:21; Romans 16:13). Key Takeaways • God delights to use believers from every corner of the map—no spiritual pedigree required. • Cross-cultural evangelism is embedded in the church’s DNA; these men modeled it from the start. • Faithfulness during persecution (Acts 8:1; 11:19) often births breakthrough ministry. • Antioch’s story reminds us that local initiative, grounded in Scripture and empowered by the Spirit, can catalyze global movements. |
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