There is some question regarding the meaning of the word translated Gentiles (most translations have “Greeks”; Zürcher Bibel “those who spoke Greek”; New English Bible “Gentiles”), but in the context these persons are apparently contrasted with the Jews in verse 19 (see Dios Habla Hoy “those who were not Jews”). For this reason Gentiles seems to be the most adequate term for the context. It is perhaps worthy of note that the message preached to the Gentiles is about the Lord Jesus (rather than “about Jesus the Messiah”). This would have had much more meaning and much more effect in the Gentile environment than the message for Jews that Jesus was the Messiah.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Acts of the Apostles. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .