Logos Bible Study

Acts 8:3

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8:3But Saul was trying to destroy10 the church; entering one house after another, he dragged off11 both men and women and put them in prison.12

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Footnotes

  1. 10 Or “began to harm [the church] severely.” If the nuance of this verb is “destroy,” then the imperfect verb ἐλυμαίνετο (elumaineto) is best translated as a conative imperfect as in the translation above. If instead the verb is taken to mean “injure severely” (as L&N 20.24), it should be translated in context as an ingressive imperfect (“began to harm the church severely”). Either option does not significantly alter the overall meaning, since it is clear from the stated actions of Saul in the second half of the verse that he intended to destroy or ravage the church.
  2. 11 The participle σύρων (surōn) has been translated as an finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
  3. 12 παραδίδωμι 1.b has “εἰς φυλακήν put in prison Ac 8:3.”

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Saul, however, was ravaging the church. He would enter house after house, drag off men and women, and put them in prison.

NLTNew Living Translation

But Saul was going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

But Saul was attempting to destroy the church. Entering house after house, he dragged off both men and women and delivered them to prison.

KJV 1900King James Version

As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.