Acts 8:1-3
Only three verses today, but an information-packed three verses, with Saul as a major player. …they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. (v. 1b) My Study Bible made two points here. First, this verse is the fulfillment of Jesus’ prediction/charge from Acts 1:8, “…you will be My witnesses…, and second, that the apostles remained behind in Jerusalem so as to offer comfort and encouragement to those in prison. They also provided the necessary leadership for other believers in Jerusalem.
I’m trying to understand the “great persecution” that arose following Stephen’s death. Was it the “smell of blood” that turned normal men into savages? (Please forgive the overstatement.) Or was it the fear of the new Christian “sect” upsetting the Jewish status with the Roman authorities? And how could they simply imprison men and women? On what charge? And whose prison? And were the Romans compliant in all this? All in all, sad events – but the beginning of worldwide evangelism…!
Slava Bohu!