Acts 8:1

Acts 8:1-2 . And Saul was consenting — Ην συνευδοκων τη αναιρεσει αυτου , was consenting with delight; to his death — Or, more literally, was well pleased with his slaughter; for he was so full of rage and malice against the Christian name, that he thought no severities were too great to be exercised on those who thus zealously endeavoured to propagate it. And at that time — Εν εκεινη τη ημερα , in that day, in the very day in which this inhuman murder was committed on Stephen, who leads the van in the glorious army of martyrs; there was a great persecution — Which continued to rage for some time; against the church at Jerusalem — Which was no sooner planted than it was persecuted, as Christ had often intimated, signifying that tribulation and persecution would arise, because of the word, particularly at Jerusalem, that city having been formerly famous for killing the prophets, and stoning them that were sent to it, Matthew 23:37 . And now the adversaries of the Christians, having tasted blood, were the more eager to shed it. And they were all scattered abroad — Not all the church, for if so, who would have remained for the apostles to teach, or Saul to persecute? but all the teachers, except the apostles, who, though in the most danger, stayed with the flock.

And devout men — Who feared God more than persecution; carried Stephen to his burial — Having the courage to show themselves openly as the friends of that holy man, whose blood had been so unrighteously shed; and made great lamentation over him — Mourning that the church had lost so excellent an instrument of usefulness, though he himself was so much a gainer by it, as to be the object of congratulation, rather than condolence.

Acts 8:1 . Σαῦλος , Saul ) This is closely connected with what goes before. Is Stephen stoned? It is with Saul’s consent. Is there a persecution of the Church taking place? He, the same, is assisting in it: Acts 8:3 .— ἡμέρᾳ on that day ) The adversaries did not put it off a day.— διωγμὸς , persecution ) The one wave is followed by more.— πάντες , all ) the teachers: Acts 8:4-5 . For others, and, for their sakes, the apostles, remained: Acts 8:2-3 .— διεσπάρησαν , were scattered ) So the Gospel was more widely propagated. The wind increases the flame: Acts 8:4 .— πλὴν , except ) On that account the apostles were in the greater danger; and yet they did not consider that they ought to consult for their safety above the rest. They ought to withstand (endure) dangers, who have attained a greater degree and measure of faith than the others: although much seems to depend on them (on their lives). Acts 8:1

And {1} 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 Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. (1) Christ uses the rage of his enemies in the spreading forth and enlarging of his kingdom.

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 to cherish it.Acts 8:1-8 The disciples being dispersed by reason of a greatpersecution at Jerusalem, a church is planted byPhilip in Samaria.Acts 8:9-13 Simon the sorcerer is baptized, with many others.Acts 8:14-17 Peter and John are sent thither, who by prayer andimposition of hands give the Holy Ghost.Acts 8:18-25 Simon offereth money for the like power, is sharplyreproved by Peter for his wickedness and hypocrisy,and admonished to repent: the apostles return toJerusalem, having preached the word.Acts 8:26-40 Philip is sent by an angel to convert and baptize anEthiopian eunuch.Consenting unto his death; well pleased with it, (as the word implies), and did approve it in thought, word, and deed, Acts 22:4,20; which is here noted in the beginning of the narrative concerning this great apostle, that we might consider oiov ex oiou, what a great change the grace of God did make; which was by him, and is by us the more to be acknowledged and magnified.

Acts 8:1 . And Saul was consenting unto his death ] i.e. approving of all that was done. We have the same word, Luke 11:48 , “Ye allow (i.e. praise and approve of) the deeds of your fathers.” St Paul says of himself ( Acts 22:20 ), “When the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed I also was standing by and consenting unto his death.” Acts 8:1-4 . Persecution after Stephen’s Death 1 . And at that time there was a great persecution ] Better, And there arose on that day , &c. The persecution was in immediate succession to the death of Stephen. Having once proceeded to such a length, the rage of the people turned upon the whole Christian body. against the church which was at Jerusalem ] i.e. the congregation which had grown up since the day of Pentecost. and they were all scattered abroad ] Thus the rage of their enemies brought about the dispersion which Christ had foretold ( Acts 1:8 ). By the word all we need not understand every member of the Christian body, but only those who had been most active and so were in special danger from the persecution. We find ( Acts 8:3 ) that there were many left, both men and women, in the city, whom Saul seized upon as “disciples of the Lord” and carried to prison. Perhaps Ananias who visited Paul at Damascus ( Acts 9:19 ; Acts 9:25 ) may have been among those now scattered abroad, but see Acts 9:2 note. throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria ] According to the order of extension indicated by Jesus.

The teaching of the Apostles must have been with great power to break through the long-standing prejudices of their Jewish converts against the Samaritans. except the apostles ] Jerusalem would of necessity be looked upon as the headquarters of the Christian band. Thither all the wanderers would refer for guidance and help. The twelve therefore must remain at their post, in spite of all the persecution.

Acts 8:1 . The observation Σαῦλος … αὐτοῦ [216] forms the significant transition to the further narrative of the persecution which is annexed. ἦν συνευδοκῶν ] he was jointly assenting , in concert, namely, with the originators and promoters of the ἀναίρεσις ; comp. Luke 11:48 , and on Romans 1:32 . On ἈΝΑΊΡΕΣΙς , in the sense of caedes, supplicium , comp. Numbers 11:15 ; Jdt 15:4 ; 2Ma 5:13 ; Herodian. ii. 6. 1, iii. 2. 10. Here, also, the continuance and duration are more strongly denoted by ἦν with the participle than by the mere finite tense. ἘΝ ἘΚΕΊΝῌ Τῇ ἩΜΈΡᾼ ] is not, as is usually quite arbitrarily done, to be explained indefinitely illo tempore , but (comp. Acts 2:41 ): on that day , when Stephen was stoned, the persecution arose, for the outbreak of which this tumultuary stoning served as signal. τὴν ἐν Ἱεροσ .] added, because now the dispersion (comp. Acts 11:19 ) set in. ΠΆΝΤΕς ] a hyperbolical expression of the popular mode of narration, Matthew 3:5 ; Mark 3:33 , al. At the same time, however, the general expression τὴν ἐκκλησίαν does not permit us to limit ΠΆΝΤΕς especially to the Hellenistic part of the church (Baur, I. p. 46, ed. 2; comp. de Wette).

But if the hyperbolical πάντες is not to be used against the historical character of the narrative (Schneckenburger, Zeller), neither are we to read withal between the lines that the church had been formally assembled and broken up, but that to dispersion into the regions of Judaea and Samaria (which is yet so clearly affirmed of the πάντες !), a great part of those broken up, including the apostles, had not allowed themselves to be induced (so Baumgarten). Κ. ΣΑΜΑΡΕΊΑς ] This country only is here mentioned as introductory to the history which follows, Acts 8:5 ff.