Passage of the Day - December 7, 2010

Acts 11:19-24

 ¹⁹So then those who were scattered because of the persecution that occurred in connection with Stephen made their way to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews alone.

 ²⁰But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus.

 ²¹And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord.

 ²²The news about them reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas off to Antioch.

 ²³Then when he arrived and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord;

 ²⁴for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith And considerable numbers were brought to the Lord.

Verse 21 is interesting.  It ends “and a large number who believed” (already believed) “turned to the Lord”.  There is a difference between “believing” and “following”.