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Acts 8

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 Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.

And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.

As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.

Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.

And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.

And there was great joy in that city.

But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:

To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.

And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.

But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:

Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:

(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,

Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.

Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.

Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.

And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.

And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.

And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,

Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.

Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.

And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?

And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.

The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:

In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.

And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?

Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.

And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.

But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.

What does Acts 8:1 mean?

Explanation

Acts 8:1 describes the aftermath of the martyrdom of Stephen, who was stoned for his faith as recorded at the end of Acts chapter 7. Saul, who later becomes the Apostle Paul, is introduced as approving Stephen's execution.

This verse marks a turning point in the early Christian church in Jerusalem. What began as a local religious movement is forced to disperse due to intense persecution, led in part by Saul.

While the scattering was a result of harsh and violent opposition, it inadvertently led to the spread of Christianity beyond Jerusalem into Judea and Samaria, fulfilling a part of Jesus’ commission in Acts 1:8.

The apostles staying in Jerusalem despite the widespread persecution signals their leadership and dedication to the church's birthplace.

The dispersion of the Christians can be seen as a forced missionary movement, taking the message of Christ out to other regions as the early Christians fled from persecution.

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Historical Context

This verse is set in the context of the early Jewish Christian community in Jerusalem during the first-century Roman empire.

The church at that time was largely made up of Jewish converts who were beginning to attract negative attention from Jewish religious authorities because of their claim that Jesus was the Messiah and their growing influence among the people.

The stoning of Stephen, referenced in this verse, denotes the first recorded martyrdom of a Christian and represents the beginning of a significant period of persecution that forced the early church to disperse.

Saul, mentioned here, is a key figure; he was a zealous Pharisee who initially persecuted Christians but later converted and became a critical proponent of Christianity.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, Acts 8:1 demonstrates that God can bring good out of evil. The severe persecution, which intended to extinguish the fledgling Christian movement, actually served to spread the Gospel further as believers took their faith to new areas.

Another insight is the sovereignty of God in the midst of suffering. Though this time was deeply traumatic for the early Christians, God used it to fulfill Christ's mission for the church to witness "in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

In addition, the steadfastness of the apostles in staying in Jerusalem shows a commitment to their mission and displays the foundational role Jerusalem had in early Christianity, despite the risk of persecution.

Practical Applications

Acts 8:1 shows that adversity can strengthen and spread one's faith.

Christians might draw from this narrative the encouragement to remain steadfast in times of trial and to look for ways that God may be using difficult situations for a greater good.

This verse can also remind believers of the value of witnessing and sharing their faith, even in the face of opposition.

The concept of being a "light" in dark times can be a powerful motivator for Christians to live out their beliefs courageously.

Cross-References

Acts 1:8 - "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."
Acts 7:58-60 - "[...] the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.

And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."

Acts 9:1-4 - "And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest [...]"

Language Study

The key terms in the original Greek text of this verse include:

"Saul" - (Greek: Σαῦλος, Saulos) referring to the Hebrew figure who would become known as Paul.
"Consenting" - (Greek: συνευδοκέω, syneudokeō) meaning to agree with, approve of, or consent to.
"Persecution" - (Greek: διωγμός, diōgmos) a systematic campaign to exterminate, drive away, or subjugate people based on their religious beliefs.
"Scattered abroad" - (Greek: διασπείρω, diaspeirō) meaning to disperse or spread widely.

Understanding the original wording helps clarify that Saul was not a passive observer but actively in agreement with the execution of Stephen.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The scattering of the early Christians in Acts 8:1 bears resemblance to the Diaspora in Jewish history, where Jews were scattered throughout different parts of the world due to exile or other socio-political reasons.

Similarly, the spreading of Christianity due to persecution can be seen as a "Diaspora" which facilitated the growth and establishment of the Church globally.

In other ancient cultures and religions, the theme of dispersion often comes with the notion of exile due to defeat or punishment. For early Christians, however, the dispersion came as a consequence of adherence to their beliefs and was pivotal to the religion's growth.

Scientific Perspectives

While the verse itself does not directly intersect with scientific discussions, the study of the early church's growth patterns through Acts 8:1 can contribute to the field of sociology, particularly the sociology of religion.

Understanding the dynamics of how religious movements spread and adapt in response to external pressures can be of interest in sociological studies.

Additionally, the psychological resilience displayed by the early Christians facing persecution can be considered through the lens of psychological studies on religious commitment and coping mechanisms.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and commentators highlight different aspects of Acts 8:1:

John Stott, an Anglican cleric and theologian, noted that this verse highlights a paradox: the church was rooted in Jerusalem, yet it needed to be scattered to fulfill its universal mission.
F.F.

Bruce, a biblical scholar, suggests that the Christians fleeing persecution were fulfilling Jesus’ instruction to move on when persecuted (as in Matthew 10:23).

William Barclay, a Scottish author and theologian, emphasized that the unintentional consequence of the persecution was to take Christianity to the wider world, which laid the foundation for Christian mission work.

These commentators generally concur that while the persecution was tragic, it was used by God providentially to spread the Gospel beyond the confines of Jerusalem.

Acts 8

Acts 8

What does Acts 8:1 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Acts 8:1 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?