Acts 8:1

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. 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 allwe 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.