Acts 8:1 - Saul Persecutes the Church

And Saul was there, giving approval to Stephen’s death.
Saul, later known as the Apostle Paul, was a Pharisee and a zealous persecutor of the early Christian church. His presence at Stephen's stoning signifies his active role in opposing the followers of Jesus. This event marks a pivotal moment in Saul's life, setting the stage for his dramatic conversion in Acts 9. Saul's approval of Stephen's death highlights the intense opposition faced by early Christians from Jewish religious leaders. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, was stoned for his bold proclamation of Jesus as the Messiah, as recorded in Acts 7. Saul's involvement underscores the deep-seated hostility towards the nascent Christian movement.

On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem,
The persecution that erupted following Stephen's martyrdom was a significant turning point for the early church. It was spearheaded by Jewish authorities who viewed the growing Christian movement as a threat to their religious and social order. This persecution was not merely a series of isolated incidents but a widespread and organized effort to suppress the followers of Jesus. The church in Jerusalem, which had been the center of Christian activity since Pentecost, faced severe trials as believers were targeted for their faith. This persecution fulfilled Jesus' prophecy that His followers would face opposition (John 15:20).

and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.
The scattering of believers was a catalyst for the spread of the Gospel beyond Jerusalem, in line with Jesus' command in Acts 1:8 to be His witnesses "in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." This dispersion, known as the Diaspora, led to the establishment of new Christian communities and the furtherance of the Gospel message. The apostles remained in Jerusalem, likely to maintain a leadership presence and continue their ministry among the Jewish population. The regions of Judea and Samaria, mentioned here, were significant as they represented the initial expansion of the church's mission beyond its Jewish roots, reaching out to Samaritans who were historically at odds with the Jews, thus breaking down long-standing ethnic and religious barriers.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Saul
Later known as the Apostle Paul, Saul was a zealous Pharisee who initially persecuted Christians. His approval of Stephen's death marks a significant moment in his early life before his conversion.

2. Stephen's Death
Stephen, the first Christian martyr, was stoned to death, and Saul approved of this act. His death marked the beginning of widespread persecution against the early church.

3. Persecution of the Church
This event marks the first major persecution of Christians, leading to their scattering. It was a pivotal moment that led to the spread of the Gospel beyond Jerusalem.

4. Jerusalem
The city where the early church was centered and where the persecution began. It was the starting point for the spread of Christianity.

5. Judea and Samaria
Regions to which the early Christians were scattered. This scattering fulfilled Jesus' command to be His witnesses in these areas (Acts 1:8).

Teaching Points

The Sovereignty of God in Persecution
God can use persecution to fulfill His purposes, such as spreading the Gospel. Believers can trust that God is in control, even in difficult circumstances.

The Cost of Discipleship
Following Christ may lead to persecution and suffering. Christians should be prepared to stand firm in their faith, even when facing opposition.

The Role of Suffering in Spiritual Growth
Suffering can lead to spiritual growth and a deeper reliance on God. It can also be a powerful testimony to others.

The Importance of Evangelism
The scattering of believers led to the spread of the Gospel. Christians are called to share their faith, regardless of their circumstances.

Transformation through Christ
Saul's transformation from persecutor to apostle demonstrates the power of Christ to change lives. No one is beyond the reach of God's grace.

VIII.

(1) And Saul was consenting unto his death.--The word seems carefully chosen to convey the fact that he did not himself take part in stoning, but contented himself with guiding and directing the murder. He "kept the garments" of the witnesses who flung the stones (Acts 22:20). The statement came, we can scarcely doubt, from St. Paul's own lips, and in his use of the same word in the passage just referred to, and in Romans 1:32, we may see an indication that he had learnt to see that his guilt in so doing was greater, and not less, than that of the actual murderers.

There was a great persecution against the church.--It is clear that this involved much suffering, imprisonment, as in Acts 8:3, perhaps the spoiling of men's goods, the being made "a gazing stock by reproaches and afflictions" (Hebrews 10:33-34). In St. James's description of the sufferings of the brethren (James 2:6-7), we may see at once the measure of the violence of the persecution, and the prominence in it (though Saul, the Pharisee, was for the time the chief leader) of the priesthood and the rich Sadducean aristocracy. . . . Parallel Commentaries ...

Greek

And
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

Saul
Σαῦλος (Saulos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 4569: Saul, the apostle. Of Hebrew origin, the same as Saoul; Saulus, the Jewish name of Paul.

was there,
ἦν (ēn)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

giving approval
συνευδοκῶν (syneudokōn)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 4909: From sun and eudokeo; to think well of in common, i.e. Assent to, feel gratified with.

to
τῇ (tē)
Article - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

[Stephen’s]
αὐτοῦ (autou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

death.
ἀναιρέσει (anairesei)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 336: Taking away (of life), killing, slaying, murder. From anaireo; killing.

On
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

that
ἐκείνῃ (ekeinē)
Demonstrative Pronoun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1565: That, that one there, yonder. From ekei; that one (neuter) thing); often intensified by the article prefixed.

day
ἡμέρᾳ (hēmera)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2250: A day, the period from sunrise to sunset.

a great
μέγας (megas)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3173: Large, great, in the widest sense.

persecution
διωγμὸς (diōgmos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1375: Chase, pursuit; persecution. From dioko; persecution.

broke out
Ἐγένετο (Egeneto)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1096: A prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be, i.e. to become, used with great latitude.

against
ἐπὶ (epi)
Preposition
Strong's 1909: On, to, against, on the basis of, at.

the
τὴν (tēn)
Article - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

church
ἐκκλησίαν (ekklēsian)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1577: From a compound of ek and a derivative of kaleo; a calling out, i.e. a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation.

in
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

Jerusalem,
Ἱεροσολύμοις (Hierosolymois)
Noun - Dative Neuter Plural
Strong's 2414: The Greek form of the Hebrew name: Jerusalem. Of Hebrew origin; Hierosolyma

and
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

all
πάντες (pantes)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3956: All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.

except
πλὴν (plēn)
Preposition
Strong's 4133: However, nevertheless, but, except that, yet. From pleion; moreover, i.e. Albeit, save that, rather, yet.

the
τῶν (tōn)
Article - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

apostles
ἀποστόλων (apostolōn)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 652: From apostello; a delegate; specially, an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ.

were scattered
διεσπάρησαν (diesparēsan)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1289: To scatter (like seed), disperse. From dia and speiro; to sow throughout, i.e. distribute in foreign lands.

throughout
κατὰ (kata)
Preposition
Strong's 2596: A primary particle; down, in varied relations (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined).

Judea
Ἰουδαίας (Ioudaias)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 2449: Judea, a Roman province, capital Jerusalem. Feminine of Ioudaios; the Judaean land, a region of Palestine.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

Samaria.
Σαμαρείας (Samareias)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 4540: Of Hebrew origin; Samaria, a city and region of Palestine.

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