Acts 8:1

8:1 And Saul agreed completely with killing1 him.

Saul Begins to Persecute the Church

Now on that day a great2 persecution began3 against the church in Jerusalem,4 and all5 except the apostles were forced to scatter throughout the regions6 of Judea and Samaria.

Sign up for the Verse of the Day

Get beautiful Bible art delivered to your inbox. We’ll send you a new verse every day to download or share.

1	tn The term ἀναίρεσις (anairesis) can refer to murder (BDAG 64 s.v.; 2 Macc 5:13; Josephus, Ant. 5.2.12 [5.165]).
2	tn Or “severe.”
3	tn Grk “Now there happened on that day a great persecution.” It is less awkward to say in English “Now on that day a great persecution began.”
4	map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.
5	sn All. Given that the Jerusalem church is still active after this and that the Hellenists are the focus of Acts 6–8, it is possible to argue that only the Hellenistic Christians were forced to scatter.
6	tn Or “countryside.”