New International VersionBut Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.
New Living TranslationBut 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.
English Standard VersionBut Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.
Berean Standard BibleBut Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.
Berean Literal BibleBut Saul was destroying the church. Entering houses after houses and dragging off men and women, he was delivering them to prison.
King James BibleAs for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
New King James VersionAs for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.
New American Standard BibleBut Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house; and he would drag away men and women and put them in prison.
NASB 1995But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison.
NASB 1977But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house; and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison.
Legacy Standard BibleBut Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he was delivering them into prison.
Amplified BibleBut Saul began ravaging the church [and assaulting believers]; entering house after house and dragging off men and women, putting them in prison.
Christian Standard BibleSaul, however, was ravaging the church. He would enter house after house, drag off men and women, and put them in prison.
Holman Christian Standard BibleSaul, however, was ravaging the church. He would enter house after house, drag off men and women, and put them in prison.
American Standard VersionBut Saul laid waste the church, entering into every house, and dragging men and women committed them to prison.
Contemporary English VersionSaul started making a lot of trouble for the church. He went from house to house, arresting men and women and putting them in jail.
English Revised VersionBut Saul laid waste the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
GOD'S WORD® TranslationSaul tried to destroy the church. He dragged men and women out of one home after another and threw them into prison.
Good News TranslationBut Saul tried to destroy the church; going from house to house, he dragged out the believers, both men and women, and threw them into jail.
International Standard VersionBut Saul kept trying to destroy the church. Going into one house after another, he began dragging off men and women and throwing them in prison.
NET BibleBut Saul was trying to destroy the church; entering one house after another, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.
New Heart English BibleBut Saul ravaged the church, entering into every house, and dragged both men and women off to prison.
Webster's Bible TranslationAs for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and hauling men and women committed them to prison.
Weymouth New TestamentBut Saul cruelly harassed the Church. He went into house after house, and, dragging off both men and women, threw them into prison. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleBut Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.
World English BibleBut Saul ravaged the assembly, entering into every house and dragged both men and women off to prison. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand Saul was making havoc of the Assembly, entering into every house, and dragging away men and women, giving them up to prison;
Berean Literal BibleBut Saul was destroying the church. Entering houses after houses and dragging off men and women, he was delivering them to prison.
Young's Literal Translation and Saul was making havoc of the assembly, into every house entering, and haling men and women, was giving them up to prison;
Smith's Literal TranslationAnd Saul abused the church, going into houses, and drawing out men and women, delivered to prison. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleBut Saul made havock of the church, entering in from house to house, and dragging away men and women, committed them to prison.
Catholic Public Domain VersionThen Saul was laying waste to the Church by entering throughout the houses, and dragging away men and women, and committing them to prison.
New American BibleSaul, meanwhile, was trying to destroy the church; entering house after house and dragging out men and women, he handed them over for imprisonment.
New Revised Standard VersionBut Saul was ravaging the church by entering house after house; dragging off both men and women, he committed them to prison. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAs for Saul, he continued to persecute the church of God, entering into houses and dragging out men and women and delivering them to prison,
Aramaic Bible in Plain EnglishBut Shaul was persecuting the Church of God, as he was entering houses and dragging men and women and delivering them to prison. NT Translations Anderson New TestamentBut Saul attempted to destroy the church; entering every house, and dragging men and women, he delivered them up to prison.
Godbey New Testament
But Saul was laying waste the church, entering into the houses, and arresting men and women, he committed them to prison.
Haweis New Testament
But Saul ravaged the church, entering into the houses, and dragging men and women, cast them into prison.
Mace New Testament
as for Saul, he made havock of the Church, entring into their houses, whence he dragg'd away both men and women, to throw them into prison.
Weymouth New Testament
But Saul cruelly harassed the Church. He went into house after house, and, dragging off both men and women, threw them into prison.
Worrell New Testament
But Saul was laying waste the assembly, entering house after house; and, dragging men and women, was committing them to prison.
Worsley New Testament
But Saul made havock of the church, entring into the houses, and draggingout men and women, committedthem to prison.
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context Saul Persecutes the Church… 2God-fearing men buried Stephen and mourned deeply over him. 3ButSaulbegan to destroythechurch.Goingfrom house to house,he dragged offmenandwomenand put theminprison.4Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.…
Cross References Acts 9:1-2Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord. He approached the high priest / and requested letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women belonging to the Way, he could bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem.
Acts 22:4-5I persecuted this Way even to the death, detaining both men and women and throwing them into prison, / as the high priest and the whole Council can testify about me. I even obtained letters from them to their brothers in Damascus, and I was on my way to apprehend these people and bring them to Jerusalem to be punished.
Acts 26:9-11So then, I too was convinced that I ought to do all I could to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. / And that is what I did in Jerusalem. With authority from the chief priests I put many of the saints in prison, and when they were condemned to death, I cast my vote against them. / I frequently had them punished in the synagogues, and I tried to make them blaspheme. In my raging fury against them, I even went to foreign cities to persecute them.
Galatians 1:13For you have heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how severely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it.
1 Timothy 1:13I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man; yet because I had acted in ignorance and unbelief, I was shown mercy.
Philippians 3:6as to zeal, persecuting the church; as to righteousness in the law, faultless.
John 15:20Remember the word that I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well; if they kept My word, they will keep yours as well.
Matthew 10:17But beware of men, for they will hand you over to their councils and flog you in their synagogues.
2 Corinthians 11:23-25Are they servants of Christ? (I am speaking as if I were out of my mind.) I am so much more: in harder labor, in more imprisonments, in worse beatings, in frequent danger of death. / Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. / Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked. I spent a night and a day in the open sea.
1 Corinthians 15:9For I am the least of the apostles and am unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
Luke 21:12But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. On account of My name they will deliver you to the synagogues and prisons, and they will bring you before kings and governors.
Matthew 23:34Because of this, I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify, and others you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town.
1 Thessalonians 2:15who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets and drove us out as well. They are displeasing to God and hostile to all men,
Romans 10:2For I testify about them that they are zealous for God, but not on the basis of knowledge.
Jeremiah 20:2he had Jeremiah the prophet beaten and put in the stocks at the Upper Gate of Benjamin, which was by the house of the LORD.
Treasury of Scripture As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. Acts 7:58 And casthim out of the city, and stonedhim: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. Acts 9:1-13,21 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, … Acts 22:3,4 I am verily a manwhich am a Jew, born in Tarsus,a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel,and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day… Jump to Previous AssemblyBurningChurchCommittedCruellyDeliveredDestroyDraggedDraggingEnteringHarassedHateHavocHouseHousesLaidMakingPrisonPuttingRavagedSaulThrewWomenJump to Next AssemblyBurningChurchCommittedCruellyDeliveredDestroyDraggedDraggingEnteringHarassedHateHavocHouseHousesLaidMakingPrisonPuttingRavagedSaulThrewWomenActs 8 1.By occasion of the persecution in Jerusalem, the church being planted in Samaria,4.by Philip the deacon, who preached, did miracles, and baptized many;9.among the rest Simon the sorcerer, a great seducer of the people;14.Peter and John come to confirm and enlarge the church;15.where, by prayer and imposition of hands giving the Holy Spirit;18.when Simon would have bought the like power of them,20.Peter sharply reproving his hypocrisy and covetousness,22.and exhorting him to repentance,25.together with John preaching the word of the Lord, return to Jerusalem;26.but the angel sends Philip to teach and baptize the Ethiopian Eunuch.But Saul began to destroy the church.Saul, later known as the Apostle Paul, was a zealous Pharisee who initially opposed the early Christian movement. His actions against the church were driven by his deep commitment to Jewish law and tradition, viewing the followers of Jesus as a threat to the religious order. The term "destroy" indicates a systematic and aggressive effort to dismantle the Christian community. This persecution was a fulfillment of Jesus' warning to His disciples that they would face opposition ( John 15:20). Saul's actions also reflect the broader Jewish leadership's resistance to the burgeoning Christian faith, which they saw as heretical. Going from house to house,
The early church often met in homes, as there were no dedicated church buildings at this time. Saul's methodical approach of going from house to house suggests a thorough and organized effort to root out Christians. This reflects the intimate and communal nature of early Christian gatherings, which were familial and close-knit. The house-to-house search also indicates the extent of Saul's determination to eradicate the movement, as he sought out believers in their private spaces. he dragged off men and women
The inclusion of both men and women highlights the indiscriminate nature of Saul's persecution. It underscores the active role women played in the early church, as they were significant enough to be targeted alongside men. This phrase also emphasizes the brutality of Saul's actions, as "dragged off" conveys a forceful and violent removal. The persecution of both genders indicates the widespread impact of Saul's campaign against the church. and put them in prison.
Imprisonment was a common consequence for those who were seen as threats to the religious or social order. By imprisoning Christians, Saul aimed to suppress the spread of their teachings and break the spirit of the community. This action reflects the legal authority Saul had, likely sanctioned by the Sanhedrin, to arrest and detain those who followed "the Way" (Acts 9:2). The imprisonment of believers also fulfilled Jesus' prophecy that His followers would face persecution and imprisonment for His name's sake (Luke 21:12). Saul's actions, though initially destructive, set the stage for his dramatic conversion and subsequent role as a pivotal figure in the spread of Christianity. Persons / Places / Events 1. SaulA zealous Pharisee who later becomes the Apostle Paul. At this point in Acts, he is fervently persecuting the early Christian church. 2. The ChurchRefers to the early Christian community in Jerusalem, which was experiencing significant growth and facing persecution. 3. JerusalemThe city where the early church was centered and where Saul's persecution was taking place. 4. PersecutionThe systematic oppression and harassment of Christians, which included imprisonment and sometimes death. 5. House to HouseIndicates the thorough and relentless nature of Saul's persecution, as he sought out Christians in their homes. Teaching Points Zeal Without KnowledgeSaul's actions demonstrate how zeal, when not aligned with God's truth, can lead to destructive behavior. We must ensure our passion is guided by Scripture and the Holy Spirit. The Resilience of the ChurchDespite severe persecution, the early church continued to grow. This reminds us that God's purposes cannot be thwarted by human opposition. Transformation Through ChristSaul's later conversion is a powerful testament to the transformative power of Jesus. No one is beyond the reach of God's grace. Perseverance in TrialsThe early Christians' endurance under persecution encourages us to remain steadfast in our faith, even when facing difficulties. The Importance of CommunityThe early church's communal nature provided strength and support during persecution. We should value and invest in our Christian communities. Lists and Questions Top 10 Lessons from Acts 8
Is missing church considered a sin?
Who was the Gentiles' apostle?
Did God rename Saul as Paul?
What were Apostle Paul's key contributions to Christianity?(3) As for Saul, he made havock of the church.--The tense in the Greek implies continuous action, and so indicates the severity of the persecution. Further details are given by St. Paul himself. He "persecuted this way unto the death" ( Acts 22:4). It does not follow, however, that this points to more than the death of Stephen. Both men and women were imprisoned ( ibid) . The fact that the latter class were included among the sufferers, implies that they had been more or less prominent in the activity of the new society. Such may have been the devout women of Luke 8:2-3. The victims were punished in every synagogue, most probably with the forty stripes save one ( 2Corinthians 11:24) which was the common penalty for minor offences against religious order. They were compelled to blaspheme the "worthy name" of the Master whom they owned as the Christ ( Acts 26:11; Jas. Ii. 7). They were subject to wanton outrages in addition to judicial severity ( 1Timothy 1:13). There was, as the persecutor himself afterwards confessed ( Acts 26:11), a kind of insane ferocity in his violence. Even the very word "haling" implies a brutality which might well have been spared. . . . Verse 3.- But for as for, A.V.; ' laid waste for he made havoc of,' A.V. From the dispersion of the disciples will flow the narrative in this present chapter. It is therefore mentioned first. From the persecution of Saul will flow the narrative in Acts 9 and to the end of the book. Stephen's burial completes the preceding narrative.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek Butδὲ(de)Conjunction
Strong's 1161:A primary particle; but, and, etc.SaulΣαῦλος(Saulos)Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 4569:Saul, the apostle. Of Hebrew origin, the same as Saoul; Saulus, the Jewish name of Paul.began to destroyἐλυμαίνετο(elymaineto)Verb - Imperfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 3075:To outrage, maltreat, corrupt, defile. Middle voice from a probably derivative of luo; properly, to soil, i.e. insult.theτὴν(tēn)Article - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.church.ἐκκλησίαν(ekklēsian)Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1577:From a compound of ek and a derivative of kaleo; a calling out, i.e. a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation.Goingεἰσπορευόμενος(eisporeuomenos)Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1531:To journey in(to), I go in(to), enter, intervene. From eis and poreuomai; to enter.from house to house,κατὰ(kata)Preposition
Strong's 2596:A primary particle; down, in varied relations (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined).he dragged offσύρων(syrōn)Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 4951:To draw, drag, force away. Probably akin to haireomai; to trail.menἄνδρας(andras)Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 435:A male human being; a man, husband. A primary word; a man.andκαὶ(kai)Conjunction
Strong's 2532:And, even, also, namely.womenγυναῖκας(gynaikas)Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 1135:A woman, wife, my lady. Probably from the base of ginomai; a woman; specially, a wife.[and] put [them]παρεδίδου(paredidou)Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 3860:From para and didomi; to surrender, i.e yield up, intrust, transmit.inεἰς(eis)Preposition
Strong's 1519:A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.prison.φυλακήν(phylakēn)Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 5438:From phulasso; a guarding or, the act, the person; figuratively, the place, the condition, or, the time, literally or figuratively.
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NT Apostles: Acts 8:3 But Saul ravaged the assembly entering into (Acts of the Apostles Ac) |
