Albert Barnes Commentary Acts 11:20

"But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus." — Acts 11:20 (ASV)

Were men of Cyprus and Cyrene. They were natives of Cyprus and Cyrene. Cyrene was a province and city of Libya in Africa. It is presently called Cairoan and is situated in the kingdom of Barca.

In Cyprus, the Greek language was spoken; and from the vicinity of Cyrene to Alexandria, it is probable that the Greek language was spoken there also. This circumstance might explain why they were led more particularly to address the Grecians who were in Antioch. It is possible, however, that they might have heard of the vision Peter saw and felt themselves called to preach the gospel to the Gentiles.

Spake unto the Grecian. prov touv ellhnistav: to the Hellenists. This word usually denotes, in the New Testament, those Jews residing in foreign lands who spoke the Greek language. See the notes on Acts 6:1.

But to them the gospel had already been preached; and yet, in this place, it is evidently Luke's intention to affirm that the men of Cyprus and Cyrene preached to those who were not Jews, and that thus their conduct was distinguished from those (Acts 11:19) who preached to the Jews only.

Thus, it is clear that we should understand the Gentiles as those who were addressed by the men of Cyprus and Cyrene. In many manuscripts, the word used here is ellhnav, Greeks, instead of Hellenists. This reading has been adopted by Griesbach and is found in the Syriac, the Arabic, the Vulgate, and in many of the Fathers.

The Ethiopic version reads, "to the Gentiles." There is no doubt that this is the true reading, and that the sacred writer means to say that the gospel was preached here to those who were not Jews; for all who were not Jews were called Greeks by non-Jews (Romans 1:16). The connection would lead us to suppose that they had heard of what had been done by Peter and that, imitating his example, they now preached the gospel to the Gentiles also.

The term "Grecians" is also rendered "Hellenists." For "preaching," compare Acts 6:1 and Acts 9:29.