Acts 8:3

As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. AS FOR SAUL, HE MADE HAVOC OF THE CHURCH, ENTERING INTO EVERY HOUSE - like an Inquisitor (as Bengel says), AND HALING MEN AND WOMEN, COMMITTED THEM TO PRISON. 'Since he could not (says Baumgarten) discover any public meetings, he goes about entering into every house where he suspects there are Christians dwelling, and casts them into prison. It was perhaps at this time that for the purpose of detesting the confession of Jesus under the outward guise of Judaism, he had recourse to the dreadful means which he himself speaks of in , "compelling them to blaspheme."' Indeed, the best commentary on the historian's description of his procedure hero will be found in his own affecting confessions, many years after this...

3._But Saul. _We must note two things in this place, how great the cruelty of the adversaries was, and how wonderful the goodness of God was, who vouchsafed to make Paul a pastor of so cruel a wolf. For that desire to lay waste the Church wherewith he was incensed did seem to cut away all hope. Therefore his conversion was so much the more excellent afterward. And it is not to be doubted but that this punishment was laid upon him by God, after that he had conspired to put Stephen to death, together with the other wicked men, that he should be the ringleader of cruelty. For God doth oftentimes punish sins more sharply in the elect than in the reprobate....

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....

Verse Acts 8:3. _SAUL MADE HAVOC OF THE CHURCH_] The word ελυμαινετο, from λυμαινω, to _destroy, devastate, ravage_, signifies the act of _ferocious animals_, such as _bears, wolves_, and the like, in seeking and devouring their prey. This shows with what persevering rancour this man pursued the harmless Christians; and thus we see in him what bigotry and false zeal are capable of performing. _ENTERING INTO EVERY HOUSE_] For, however it might be to others, a Christian man's house was not _his_ castle. _HALING MEN AND WOMEN_] Neither sparing age nor sex in the professors of Christianity. The word συρων signifies _dragging_ them before the magistrates, or dragging them _to justice_. _COMMITTED_ THEM _TO PRISON._] For, as the Romans alone had the power of life and

AS FOR SAUL - But Saul. He took no interest or part in the pious attentions shown to Stephen, but engaged with zeal in the work of persecution. HE MADE HAVOC - ἐλυμαίνετο elumaineto. This word is commonly applied to wild beasts, to lions, wolves, etc., and denotes the “devastations” which they commit. Saul raged against the church like a wild beast - a strong expression, denoting the zeal and fury with which he engaged in persecution. ENTERING INTO EVERY HOUSE - To search for those who were suspected of being Christians. HALING - Dragging, or compelling them. COMMITTED THEM TO PRISON - The Sanhedrin had no power to put them to death, John 18

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 is very touching (see Acts 22:2,; 1 Corinthians 15:9; 1 Timothy 1:13). (For the word συνευδοκεῖν_, _to consent, see Acts 22:20; Luke 11:48; Rom 1:32;...

AS FOR SAUL, HE MADE HAVOC OF THE CHURCH,.... Did evil to the saints, destroyed them that called upon the name of Christ, Acts 9:13 and persecuted and wasted the church of God, as he himself says, Galatians 1:13 and now did Benjamin, of which tribe Saul was, ravine as a wolf, Genesis 49:27 ENTERING INTO EVERY HOUSE; where the saints dwelt: AND HALING MEN AND WOMEN: in a violent manner, without any regard to age or sex: COMMITTED THEM TO PRISON; delivered them up into the hands of the chief priests and magistrates, in order to be committed and sent to prison; this he himself confesses, Acts 22:

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 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._ Saul, having tasted blood in the murder of Stephen, became more and more furious in his persecution of the Church of Christ at Jerusalem, and the brethren had to escape for their lives. They all did so, except the apostles, who were specially cared for by divine providence. Acts 8:2. _And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentations over him._ As well they might, for his death was a serious loss

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 believers. Philip in Samaria (Acts 8:4). 3. Events in Samaria (Acts 8:9). 4. The Gospel in many villages of Samaria (Acts 8:25). 5. Philip and the Eunuch (Acts 8:26). The final testimony to the rulers of the people had been given. It was rejected, and the Spirit filled messenger killed. The last offer had therefore been completely rejected

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 the day of Stephen's death, a great persecution arose against the Church at Jerusalem, as if the passion that brought about the death of Stephen had sought further satisfaction. Such a persecution would be aimed specially at the Hellenistic side of the Church, not at those who went to the Temple and upheld the customs. The Jewish side of the Church suffered less; the apostles remained at Jerusalem, where we find them seated and recognised as the central authority (Acts 8:14;...