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Matthew Henry Commentary on the Bible

Acts 8:1-4

1-4 Though persecution must not drive us from our work, yet it may send us to work elsewhere. Wherever the established believer is driven, he carries the knowledge of the gospel, and makes known the preciousness of Christ in every place. Where a simple desire of doing good influences the heart, it will be found impossible to shut a man out from all opportunities of usefulness.

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See also Acts 8:1-4 in other biblical comments:

  • A Textual Commentary On The Greek New Testament by Bruce M. Metzger

    ACTS 8:1 Once again Western witnesses expand the text with additions that underline the obvious. If “a great persecution arose against the church in Jerusalem,” one would expect, without being told,...

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    CHAPTER VIII. _A general persecution is raised against the Church_, 1. _Stephen's burial_, 2. _Saul greatly oppresses the followers of Christ_, 3, 4. _Philip the deacon goes to Samaria, preaches,...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    AND SAUL WAS CONSENTING ... - Was pleased with his being put to death and approved it. Compare Acts 22:20. This part of the verse should have been connected with the previous chapter. AND AT THAT TIME...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    PART II The Witness to Samaria. Saul's Conversion and Peter's Witness in Caesarea. Chapter s 8-12 CHAPTER 8 _ 1. The first great persecution (Acts 8:1)._ 2. The preaching of the scattered believ...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    ACTS 8:1_ B_ - ACTS 8:4. PERSECUTION AND DISPERSION. There has been no great persecution of the believers as yet. A night's imprisonment and beating was all they had to suffer. Now we are told that on...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    At that time a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem. They were all scattered abroad throughout the districts of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. Pious men carried Stephe...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    THE FIRST OF THE MARTYRS (Acts 7:54-60 ; Acts 8:1) 8:1 As they listened to this their very hearts were torn with vexation and they gnashed their teeth at him. But he was full of the Holy Spirit and h...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    CONSENTING UNTO. approving of. Greek. _suneu-dokeo._ Only here, Acts 22:20; Luke 11:48; Romans 1:32. 1Co 7:12, 1 Corinthians 7:13. Compare...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    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 sa...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ἘΓΈΝΕΤΟ ΔῈ ἘΝ ἘΚΕΊΝΗΙ ΤΗ͂Ι ἩΜΈΡΑΙ, _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 peopl...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    Acts 8:1-4. PERSECUTION AFTER THE DEATH OF STEPHEN...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _THE THIRD JEWISH PERSECUTION ACTS 8:1-4:_ Saul consented to Stephen's death. He led a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem. The persecution that followed the death of Stephen caused the...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΣΥΝΕΎΔΟΚΏΝ _praes. act. part. от_ ΣΥΝΕΥΔΟΚΈΩ (G4909) соглашаться, одобрять, получать удовольствие от чего-л.; используется с _dat. part._ в перифр. обороте, описывающем состояние, а не разовое впечатл...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    AND SAUL WAS CONSENTING UNTO HIS DEATH— Dr. Heylin renders this, _And Saul was accessary to his death;_ and he joins it to the last verse of the foregoing chapter. The circumstances relative to St. Pa...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    THE CHURCH IN JUDEA AND SAMARIA Acts 8:1, Acts 12:25 THE DISPERSION THE WORK OF PHILIP THE WORK OF PETER AND JOHN 8:1-40. A. THE DISPERSION....

  • Combined Bible Commentary

    VIII: 1–4. The enemies of the disciples had now tried and exhausted all the ordinary methods of opposing the truth. Under the leadership of the Sadducees they had tried, first threatening, then impris...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    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 a...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    41 Idolatry is, etymologically, the offering of divine service to that which can be perceived by the senses. In this way, all objects of worship, even if they are supposed to be representations of the...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    PHILIP IN SAMARIA. SIMON MAGUS The graphic details of the ministry of Philip which follow, were doubtless obtained from Philip himself. St. Luke stayed at his house at Cæsarea, and made the acquaintan...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE ESTABLISHMENT AND PROGRESS OF THE CHURCH AT JERUSALEM (ACTS 1:1 TO ACTS 8:3) The Acts of the Apostles] A more adequate title would be 'The Acts of Peter and Paul,' the Acts of Peter extending fro...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    GOOD NEWS FOR EVERYONE ACTS _MARION ADAMS_ CHAPTER 8 SAUL *PERSECUTES THE CHRISTIANS, 8:1-4 V1 Saul approved of Stephen’s murder. That same day, the Christians in *Jerusalem suffered very much....

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    VIII. (1) AND SAUL WAS CONSENTING UNTO HIS DEATH. — The word seems carefully chosen to convey the fact that he did not himself take part in stoning, but contented himself with guiding and directing th...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    8-60 CHAPTER 16 THE FIRST CHRISTIAN MARTYRDOM. Acts 7:58; Acts 8:1 THE apology of Stephen struck the keynote of Christian freedom, traced out the fair proportions of the Catholic Church, while the...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    Σαῦλος δὲ κ. τ. λ., R.V. joins these words to the conclusion of the previous chapter, and thus brings them into a close and fitting connection with Acts 7:58. So too Wendt, Blass, Nösgen, Zöckler. ἦν...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    FRUITS OF THE SCATTERED SEED Acts 8:1-13 Evidently Stephen was beloved outside the precincts of the Church, for it would seem that the devout men who lamented his early death and carried his poor bod...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    The popular outburst against Christianity evidenced in the martyrdom of Stephen was general. Members of the Church at Jerusalem were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. How dark the day seemed to...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    The Church Persecuted by Saul Luke told Theophilus that Saul, by holding the coats of those who stoned Stephen, had given consent to his death. Immediately following this violent act, an intense perio...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    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 Judae...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    Were dispersed. During this great persecution of the Church, those who could not conceal themselves, were dispersed into different countries. Thus did the Almighty make use of the malice of his enemie...

  • Godbey's Commentary on the New Testament

    Pursuant to the time-honored custom of the Jews, to mourn over the dead seven days, _“devout men buried Stephen and made great mourning over him.”_...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    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 Judea and...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    CONTENTS The Church under Persecution; which affords Occasion to Philip to preach Christ in Samaria. Peter and John visit Samaria. The awful History of Simon Magus. Philip preacheth to an Ethiopian,...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    We are now arrived at a turning-point in the history, not merely of the church, but of the unfolding of the truth of God, and the manifestation of His ways. The death of Stephen, therefore, has in var...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    1._At that day_. The persecution began at Stephen, after that, when their madness was thereby set on fire, it waxed hot against all, both one and other. For the wicked are like brute beasts, for when...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    Saul was present at Stephen's death, and consenting to it. [14] This is the end of the first phase of the assembly of God its history in immediate connection with Jerusalem and the Jews, as the centre...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND SAUL WAS CONSENTING UNTO HIS DEATH,.... This clause, in the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Arabic and Ethiopic versions, stands at the close of the preceding chapter, and which seems to be its proper plac...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. 1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there w...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _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...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    WAS CONSENTING; concurred in putting Stephen to death....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    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 JUDEA AND...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    THE GOSPEL PLANTED IN SAMARIA. The burial of Stephen and the hatred of Saul:...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    As a wild beast tasting blood, the Jews were the more inflamed by the martyrdom of Stephen to greatly persecute the Church of God at Jerusalem. For this reason believers were scattered through Judea a...

  • Manly Luscombe Commentary on New Testament

    NOW SAUL WAS CONSENTING TO HIS DEATH. AT THAT TIME A GREAT PERSECUTION AROSE AGAINST THE CHURCH WHICH WAS AT JERUSALEM; AND THEY WERE ALL SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE REGIONS OF JUDEA AND SAMARIA, EXCEPT...

  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    And Saul was consenting unto his death. And there arose on that day. great persecution against the church which was in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea an...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    OLBGrk; ACTS CHAPTER 8 ACTS 8:1 The disciples being dispersed by reason of a great persecution at Jerusalem, a church is planted by Philip in Samaria. ACTS 8:9 Simon the sorcerer is baptized, with man...

  • McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries

    VIII: 1 4. The enemies of the disciples had now tried and exhausted all the ordinary methods of opposing the truth. Under the leadership of the Sadducees they had tried, first threatening, then impris...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Acts 8:1 Now G1161 Saul G4569 was G2258 (G5713) consenting G4909 (G5723) his G846 death G336 G

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    THE CONTINUING MINISTRY OF PETER (9:32-11:18). In preparing for the Gentile ministry of Paul, a preparation which has included what we have just considered concerning his conversion and ministry to Je...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘And Saul was consenting to his death.' What a chill this brings on our hearts. He stood there silent and seemingly impassive, but his heart was filled with hate and anger. And as he watched he nodded...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    _General Persecution of the Church by Saul,_ 1-4. Acts 8:1. AND SAUL WAS CONSENTING UNTO HIS DEATH. These words were no doubt often heard by Luke from the Paul of later days, for we find them repeated...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    WAS CONSENTING (ην συνευδοκων). Periphrastic imperfect of συνευδοκεω, a late double compound (συν, ευ, δοκεω) that well describes Saul's pleasure in the death (αναιρεσις, taking off, only here in th...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Stephen had been stoned to death; but with his latest breath he prayed for his murderers. Then this chapter begins: Acts 8:1. _And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a gre...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Saul persecuting Christians. The first missionaries. The case of Simon, the sorcerer. Philip and the Ethiopian. CHARACTERS: God, Christ, Holy Spirit, Saul, Stephen, Philip, Simon, apostles,...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Acts 8:1. _At that time there was a great persecution against the church._ With regard to this very tremendous storm which suddenly burst on the infant church, Cardinal Baronius, in his Ecclesiastical...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    AND SAUL APPROVED OF HIS MURDER. He did not throw a stone, but he agreed in spirit with what they did. See the description of Saul in notes on Acts 9:1. THAT VERY DAY. Murdering Stephen was not enough...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _And Saul was consenting to his death._ THREE GREAT FIGURES IN THE CHURCH I. The persecuting Saul. In this part of the narrative the name of Saul occurs three times (Acts 7:58; Acts 8:1; Acts 8:3). H...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 8:1 THEY WERE ALL SCATTERED. See note on John 7:35. This “dispersion” led to the fulfillment of the promise in Acts 1:8 (see...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL REMARKS_ Acts 8:1. CONSENTING.—Compare Acts 22:20; Luke 11:48; Romans 1:32. Luke had probably often heard this remark from Paul. At that time

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION ACTS 8:1 _There arose on that day _for _at that time there was, _A.V._; in _for _at, _A.V. SAUL WAS CONSENTING TO HIS DEATH. St. Paul's repeated reference to this sad episode in his life i...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    We are introduced now to one of the chief persecutors. A zealous young Jew, a Pharisee of the Pharisees, whose name is Saul. And he was standing by, consenting to the death of Stephen, holding the coa...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    Acts 11:22; Acts 13:1; Acts 2:47; Acts 22:20; Acts 5:18;...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    Death [α ν α ι ρ ε σ ε ι]. Lit., taking off. See on Luke 23:32....

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    THE GREAT PERSECUTION Acts 8:1 INTRODUCTORY WORDS We approach today the scenes that immediately followed Stephen's death. Satan, encouraged by Stephen's martyrdom, thinks to press on with fire and...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    At that time there was great persecution against the Church — Their adversaries having tasted blood, were the more eager. And they were all dispersed — Not all the Church: if so, who would have remain...

  • William Burkitt's Expository Notes

    That is, St. Stephen's, mentioned in the close of the last chapter; how far he consented to his death, the text tells us, HE KEPT THE GARMENTS OF THEM THAT STONED HIM, THEY LAID DOWN THEIR CLOTHES AT...

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