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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Act_8:1-3
1bAnd on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2Some devout men buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him. 3But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison.
▣ "on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem" This probably represents the activity of the Jewish leaders (mostly Sadducees) because of the exploding growth and prominence of the early church in Jerusalem. However, it was also God's way of forcing the church to implement Act_1:8! If not Act_1:8 then Act_8:1!
It is not by accident that Luke uses the term ekklesia (see Special Topic at Act_5:11) for the new body of believers. These men and women did not see themselves as something separate from God's OT promises, but the fulfillment! The term was used in the Septuagint to translate "the congregation" (MT - qahal) of Israel (cf. Act_7:38); now it is used of the fellowship of believers in Jerusalem.
Luke is very fond of the term "great" (megas). He uses it twenty-five times in his Gospel and twenty-nine times in Acts. In Acts 8 he uses it for:
1. great persecution, Act_8:1
2. great lamentation, Act_8:2
3. loud voice, Act_8:7
4. someone great, Act_8:9
5. to the greatest, Act_8:10
6. great miracles, Act_8:13
▣ "they were all scattered throughout the region. . .except the apostles" It is extremely interesting that the persecution bypassed the Apostles and landed squarely on the Hellenistic Jewish Christians. Apparently at this stage the Apostles were still content to remain within Judaism. This event occurred some time after their meeting with Jesus in Galilee (cf. Mat_28:18-20) Pentecost and still the Apostolic leadership was content to remain and preach only to Jews or proselytes and only in the Jerusalem area.
▣ "scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria" This is in fulfillment of Luke's Great Commission mentioned in Act_1:8. It has been some time now since Jesus spoke these words and apparently persecution was the only means of getting the church to go into all the world. The church is still reluctant!
Act_8:2 "Some devout men buried Stephen" The term "devout men" is usually used of spiritually sensitive Jews (cf. Luk_2:25). It is possible that this refers to Jewish Christians or simply Jews who disagreed with the illegal procedures (i.e., mob violence) and execution of Stephen. The Mishnah permits the burial of blasphemers, but not with the loud lamentations made by those who bury them. These devout men grieved openly
1. in defiance of what happened
2. in reference to the fact that what happened was not officially sanctioned
Act_8:3 "Saul began ravaging the church" This verb is an imperfect middle indicative. This can mean the beginning of an action in past time (cf. NASB, NJB) or recurrent action (cf. NKJV, NRSV, TEV).
The term "ravage" meant "the tearing of a body by an animal." It is used in the Septuagint of animals in Exo_22:13; Psa_74:13 and of military defeat in Jer_28:2; Jer_31:18. Paul apparently was struggling with the truth of Stephen's statements, and may have tried to cover up his internal tension by aggressively persecuting the church (cf. Act_9:1; Act_9:13; Act_9:21; Act_22:4; Act_22:19; Act_26:10-11; 1Co_15:9; Gal_1:13; Php_3:6; 1Ti_1:13).
See Special Topic: Church at Act_5:11.
▣ "entering house by house" This phrase could be understood in two ways:
1. Paul found out where the Apostles had visited (cf. Act_5:42)
2. there were several house churches even at this early date in Jerusalem where believers met regularly
The early Christians would meet at
1. the local synagogues every Sabbath
2. the Temple on special days or even most days
3. special locations or numerous homes on Sundays
▣ "dragging off men and women" This is a verb that is used for Satan sweeping a third of the stars from heaven in Rev_12:4. It is used several times in Acts (cf. Act_8:3; Act_14:19; Act_17:6). Saul was vicious in his persecution (cf. Act_26:10). This is evidenced by the phrase "men and women." He tore apart families of sincere believers and had them imprisoned and some even killed (cf. Act_9:1; Act_9:13; Act_9:21; Act_22:4; Act_22:19; Act_26:10-11; Gal_1:13; Gal_1:23; 1Ti_1:13). This is why he later calls himself "the least of the saints" (cf. 1Co_15:9; Eph_3:8).