Acts 8:1

Acts 8:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.
• New International Version (NIV)And Saul approved of their killing him. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

Context of Acts 8:1

Now Saul approved of putting Stephen to death. And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles. 2Some devout men buried Stephen, and mourned loudly for him. 3But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house; and he would drag away men and women and put them in prison.

Acts 8:1 word by word

Σαῦλος δὲ ἦν συνευδοκῶν τῇ ἀναιρέσει αὐτοῦ.¶ Ἐγένετο δὲ ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ διωγμὸς μέγας ἐπὶ τὴν ἐκκλησίαν τὴν ἐν Ἱεροσολύμοις· πάντες δὲ διεσπάρησαν κατὰ τὰς χώρας τῆς Ἰουδαίας καὶ Σαμαρείας πλὴν τῶν ἀποστόλων.¶Read the interlinear

• Nowδέde · thenG1161
• SaulΣαῦλοςSaulos · SaulG4569
• approvedσυνευδοκέωsuneudokeō · to agree toG4909
• of puttingἀναίρεσιςanairesis · murderG336
• And on that dayἡμέραhēmera · dayG2250
• a greatμέγαςmegas · greatG3173
• persecutionδιωγμόςdiōgmos · persecutionG1375
• beganγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
• againstἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
• the churchἐκκλησίαekklēsia · assemblyG1577
• in JerusalemἹεροσόλυμαHierosoluma · JerusalemG2414
• and they were allπᾶςpas · allG3956
• scatteredδιασπείρωdiaspeirō · to scatterG1289
• throughoutκατάkata · according toG2596
• the regionsχώραchōra · countryG5561
• of JudeaἸουδαίαIoudaia · JudeaG2449
• SamariaΣαμάρειαSamareia · SamariaG4540
• exceptπλήνplēn · but/howeverG4133
• for the apostlesἀπόστολοςapostolos · apostleG652

Cross-references for Acts 8:1

• Acts 7:58When they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him; and the witnesses laid aside their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul.
• Acts 22:20And when the blood of Your witness Stephen was being shed, I also was standing nearby and approving, and watching over the cloaks of those who were killing him.’
• Acts 5:33But when they heard this, they became infuriated and nearly decided to execute them.
• Acts 7:54Now when they heard this, they were infuriated, and they began gnashing their teeth at him.
• Matthew 10:25It is enough for the disciple that he may become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they insult the members of his household!
• Matthew 22:6and the rest seized his slaves and treated them abusively, and then killed them.
• Matthew 23:34“Therefore, behold, I am sending you prophets and wise men and scribes; some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will flog in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city,
• Luke 11:49For this reason also, the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill, and some they will persecute,
• John 15:20Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well; if they followed My word, they will follow yours also.
• John 16:2They will ban you from the synagogue, yet an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering a service to God.
• Acts 2:47praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
• Acts 7:38This is the one who was in the assembly in the wilderness together with the angel who spoke to him at length on Mount Sinai, and who was with our fathers; and he received living words to pass on to you.
• Acts 11:22The news about them reached the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas off to Antioch.
• Acts 13:1Now there were prophets and teachers at Antioch, in the church that was there: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
• Acts 8:4Therefore, those who had been scattered went through places preaching the word.
• Acts 11:19So then those who were scattered because of the persecution that occurred in connection with Stephen made their way to Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews alone.

Commentaries on Acts 8:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Saul was consenting unto his death - So inveterate was the hatred that this man bore to Christ and his followers that he delighted in their destruction. So blind was his heart with superstitious zeal that he thought he did God service by offering him the blood of a fellow creature, whose creed he supposed to be erroneous. The word signifies gladly consenting, being pleased with his murderous work! How dangerous is a party spirit; and how destructive may…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1And Saul was consenting … - Was pleased with his being put to death and approved it. Compare Acts 22:20. This part of the verse should have been connected with the previous chapter. And at that time. - That is, immediately following the death of Stephen. The persecution arose on account of Stephen, Acts 11:19. The tumult did not subside when Stephen was killed. The anger of his persecutors continued to be excited against all Christians. They had become so…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1Saul persecutes the church. (1-4) Philip's success at Samaria. Simon the sorcerer baptized. (5-13) The hypocrisy of Simon detected. (14-25) Philip and the Ethiopian. (26-40) Verses 1-4 Though persecution must not drive us from our work, yet it may send us to work elsewhere. Wherever the established believer is driven, he carries the knowledge of the gospel, and makes known the preciousness of Christ in every place. Where a simple desire of doing good…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-4Saul was there: Compare 9:1–2; 22:4; 26:9–11; Galatians 1:13–14. This major attack against the church caused all believers except the apostles to flee. Instead of losing enthusiasm, they preached the good news about Jesus wherever they went.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-41. Saul was consenting unto his death--The word expresses hearty approval. they were all scattered abroad--all the leading Christians, particularly the preachers, agreeably to their Lord's injunctions (Mt 10:23), though many doubtless remained, and others (as appears by Ac 9:26-30) soon returned. except the apostles--who remained, not certainly as being less exposed to danger, but, at whatever risk, to watch over the infant cause where it was most needful…Read the comment

Topics related to Acts 8:1

• Church
• Intolerance, Religious
• Jerusalem
• Paul
• Persecution
• Stephen

In the dictionaries

• Jerusalem
• Judea
• Samaria
• Saul
• Judaea, or Judea
• Judea, Judah
• Paul, Saul
• Samaria, Samaritan
• Scattered Abroad
• Believe

Commentaries on Acts 8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings