Acts 8:1-3·~1 min
Saul Persecutes the Church
Saul approves Stephen's death, and that same day a great persecution breaks out against the church in Jerusalem. While devout men bury Stephen and mourn over him, Saul begins destroying the church by entering houses and carrying off men and women to prison.
A1nd Saul was there, giving approval to Stephen’s death. 2On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. God-fearing men buried Stephen and mourned deeply over him. 3But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.
Section summaryStephen's death is followed at once by a great persecution that scatters the Jerusalem church through Judea and Samaria, though the apostles remain. Devout men bury Stephen with deep mourning, and Saul begins ravaging the church from house to house, dragging off men and women to prison.
Role in the chapterThis opening movement turns martyrdom into dispersal. The attack meant to crush the church becomes the means by which the word starts moving outward.