Acts 11:19
Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.
The persecution that arose about Stephen after his death and martyrdom drove the disciples and believers from Jerusalem and scattered them from their homes. They traveled to nearby cities and the cities round about, and as far as Phenice and Cyprus and Antioch, going beyond Palestine and beyond their own country along major routes. They went in small groups as they moved outward from Jerusalem into other regions. In those places they preached the word, which was Christ, to none but unto the Jews only, usually and at first confining their labors to that people. Those Jewish hearers included both Hebrew-speaking and Greek-speaking Jews. Large communities of Jews lived in cities throughout the world of the ancient East, providing hearers for this preaching.
God used this scattering and persecution to carry the gospel from Jerusalem into other regions. As the travelers went they brought the gospel to new places and raised up churches. The Lord blessed this preaching to the Jews, and many believed and turned to him.
Their going beyond their own country to travel to places along major routes to seek the lost shows that Christian work should be taken to many places rather than confined to a few localities. The work is not to be limited to nearby cities or to a few localities, but is to be carried beyond into many places to seek people and bring them to God.