Acts 8:1

Authorized King James Version

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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.

Original Language Analysis

Σαῦλος Saul G4569
Σαῦλος Saul
Strong's: G4569
Word #: 1 of 34
saulus (i.e., shaul), the jewish name of paul
δὲ And G1161
δὲ And
Strong's: G1161
Word #: 2 of 34
but, and, etc
ἦν was G2258
ἦν was
Strong's: G2258
Word #: 3 of 34
i (thou, etc.) was (wast or were)
συνευδοκῶν consenting G4909
συνευδοκῶν consenting
Strong's: G4909
Word #: 4 of 34
to think well of in common, i.e., assent to, feel gratified with
τῶν which G3588
τῶν which
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 5 of 34
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἀναιρέσει death G336
ἀναιρέσει death
Strong's: G336
Word #: 6 of 34
(the act of) killing
αὐτοῦ unto his G846
αὐτοῦ unto his
Strong's: G846
Word #: 7 of 34
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
Ἐγένετο there was G1096
Ἐγένετο there was
Strong's: G1096
Word #: 8 of 34
to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e., (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.)
δὲ And G1161
δὲ And
Strong's: G1161
Word #: 9 of 34
but, and, etc
ἐν at G1722
ἐν at
Strong's: G1722
Word #: 10 of 34
"in," at, (up-)on, by, etc
ἐκείνῃ that G1565
ἐκείνῃ that
Strong's: G1565
Word #: 11 of 34
that one (or (neuter) thing); often intensified by the article prefixed
τῶν which G3588
τῶν which
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 12 of 34
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἡμέρᾳ time G2250
ἡμέρᾳ time
Strong's: G2250
Word #: 13 of 34
day, i.e., (literally) the time space between dawn and dark, or the whole 24 hours (but several days were usually reckoned by the jews as inclusive of
διωγμὸς persecution G1375
διωγμὸς persecution
Strong's: G1375
Word #: 14 of 34
persecution
μέγας a great G3173
μέγας a great
Strong's: G3173
Word #: 15 of 34
big (literally or figuratively, in a very wide application)
ἐπὶ against G1909
ἐπὶ against
Strong's: G1909
Word #: 16 of 34
properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e., over, upon, etc.; of re
τῶν which G3588
τῶν which
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 17 of 34
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἐκκλησίαν the church G1577
ἐκκλησίαν the church
Strong's: G1577
Word #: 18 of 34
a calling out, i.e., (concretely) a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation (jewish synagogue, or christian community of members on earth
τῶν which G3588
τῶν which
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 19 of 34
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἐν at G1722
ἐν at
Strong's: G1722
Word #: 20 of 34
"in," at, (up-)on, by, etc
Ἱεροσολύμοις Jerusalem G2414
Ἱεροσολύμοις Jerusalem
Strong's: G2414
Word #: 21 of 34
hierosolyma (i.e., jerushalaim), the capitol of palestine
πάντες all G3956
πάντες all
Strong's: G3956
Word #: 22 of 34
all, any, every, the whole
τε and G5037
τε and
Strong's: G5037
Word #: 23 of 34
both or also (properly, as correlation of g2532)
διεσπάρησαν scattered abroad G1289
διεσπάρησαν scattered abroad
Strong's: G1289
Word #: 24 of 34
to sow throughout, i.e., (figuratively) distribute in foreign lands
κατὰ throughout G2596
κατὰ throughout
Strong's: G2596
Word #: 25 of 34
(prepositionally) down (in place or time), in varied relations (according to the case (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined)
τῶν which G3588
τῶν which
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 26 of 34
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
χώρας the regions G5561
χώρας the regions
Strong's: G5561
Word #: 27 of 34
room, i.e., a space of territory (more or less extensive; often including its inhabitants)
τῶν which G3588
τῶν which
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 28 of 34
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Ἰουδαίας of Judaea G2449
Ἰουδαίας of Judaea
Strong's: G2449
Word #: 29 of 34
the judaean land (i.e., judaea), a region of palestine
καὶ and G2532
καὶ and
Strong's: G2532
Word #: 30 of 34
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
Σαμαρείας Samaria G4540
Σαμαρείας Samaria
Strong's: G4540
Word #: 31 of 34
samaria (i.e., shomeron), a city and region of palestine
πλὴν except G4133
πλὴν except
Strong's: G4133
Word #: 32 of 34
moreover (besides), i.e., albeit, save that, rather, yet
τῶν which G3588
τῶν which
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 33 of 34
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἀποστόλων the apostles G652
ἀποστόλων the apostles
Strong's: G652
Word #: 34 of 34
a delegate; specially, an ambassador of the gospel; officially a commissioner of christ ("apostle") (with miraculous powers)

Analysis & Commentary

Saul's consenting to Stephen's death reveals his complicity in the first Christian martyrdom, setting the stage for his dramatic conversion. The 'great persecution' scattered believers 'except the apostles' - showing God's providence in spreading the gospel beyond Jerusalem. What Satan meant for evil (persecution), God used for good (gospel advancement). Reformed theology sees God's sovereignty over human evil: persecution accomplishes God's purposes despite persecutors' intentions. The church's scattering fulfilled Jesus' commission to be witnesses 'in Judaea, and in Samaria' (Acts 1:8).

Historical Context

This persecution began circa AD 33-35, shortly after Pentecost. The scattering into Judea and Samaria was the first major geographical expansion of the church beyond Jerusalem's 3,000-5,000 believers.

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