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Saul Persecutes the Church
1And Saul was there, giving approval to Stephen’s death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.2God-fearingmenburiedStephenandmourned deeplyoverhim.3But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.…

Treasury of Scripture

And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.

devout.

Acts 2:5
And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.

Acts 10:2
A devoutman, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.

Luke 2:25
And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose namewas Simeon; and the same manwas just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.

made.

Genesis 23:2
And Sarah died in Kirjatharba; the sameis Hebron in the land of Canaan: and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her.

Genesis 50:10,11
And they came to the threshingfloor of Atad, whichis beyond Jordan, and there they mourned with a great and very sore lamentation: and he made a mourning for his father seven days…

Numbers 20:29
And when all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they mourned for Aaron thirty days,even all the house of Israel.

AceBodyBurialBuriedCarriedDeeplyDevoutGod-FearingGodlyGreatGreatlyHoweverLamentedLastMakingMournedPartyResting-PlaceStephenAceBodyBurialBuriedCarriedDeeplyDevoutGod-FearingGodlyGreatGreatlyHoweverLamentedLastMakingMournedPartyResting-PlaceStephen1.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.

God-fearing men
This phrase refers to devout Jewish believers who were committed to following God's laws and commandments. In the context of the early church, these men were likely part of the Jewish community in Jerusalem who had come to faith in Jesus as the Messiah. Their reverence for God is evident in their actions, showing respect for Stephen, a fellow believer. The term "God-fearing" is used throughout the New Testament to describe those who were pious and devout, such as Cornelius inActs 10:2.

buried Stephen
Stephen was the first Christian martyr, stoned to death for his bold proclamation of the gospel and his accusations against the Jewish leaders (Acts 7:54-60). The act of burial was significant in Jewish culture, as it was a way to honor the deceased. Despite the potential danger from the authorities, these men took the risk to give Stephen a proper burial, demonstrating their respect and love for him. This act of burial also fulfilled Jewish customs, which required the dead to be buried promptly, usually within 24 hours.

and mourned deeply over him
The deep mourning indicates the profound impact Stephen's death had on the early Christian community. Mourning was an important cultural practice in Jewish society, often involving loud lamentation and expressions of grief. This public display of sorrow highlights the loss felt by the community and the high regard in which Stephen was held. It also reflects the early church's understanding of the cost of discipleship, as Jesus had warned that following Him could lead to persecution and death (Matthew 16:24-25). The mourning over Stephen can be seen as a type of Christ, as Jesus Himself was mourned by His followers after His crucifixion.

1.Stephen
A deacon in the early church, known for his faith and filled with the Holy Spirit. He was the first Christian martyr, stoned to death for his bold proclamation of the Gospel.

2.God-fearing men
These were devout Jewish believers who respected and honored God. They took the responsibility to give Stephen a proper burial, showing their respect and love for him despite the risk of persecution.

3.Burial of Stephen
This event marks a significant moment in the early church, highlighting the persecution faced by believers and the courage of those who continued to honor God and His servants.

4.Mourning
The deep mourning over Stephen's death reflects the love and respect the early Christians had for one another, as well as the sorrow over the loss of a faithful servant of God.

5.Persecution of the Church
This event occurs in the context of increasing persecution against the early church, which led to the scattering of believers and the spread of the Gospel.The Cost of Discipleship
Stephen's death reminds us that following Christ may lead to persecution and sacrifice. Believers are called to remain faithful even in the face of adversity.

Community Support
The God-fearing men who buried Stephen exemplify the importance of community support and honoring those who have served faithfully. We are called to support and care for one another in times of loss.

Courage in Faith
The early Christians' willingness to mourn and bury Stephen despite the risk of persecution demonstrates courage. We are encouraged to stand firm in our faith and support others, even when it is difficult.

Hope in Mourning
While mourning is a natural response to loss, believers have hope in the resurrection and eternal life. This hope should comfort us and motivate us to live faithfully.1.What is the meaning of Acts 8:2?

2.How can we emulate the devout men who buried Stephen in Acts 8:2?

3.What does Acts 8:2 teach about honoring those who serve Christ faithfully?

4.How does Acts 8:2 connect with Jesus' teachings on mourning in Matthew 5:4?

5.Why is it important to express grief for the righteous, as in Acts 8:2?

6.How can we support grieving believers, following the example in Acts 8:2?

7.Why did devout men bury Stephen and mourn deeply for him in Acts 8:2?

8.How does Acts 8:2 reflect early Christian attitudes towards martyrdom?

9.What significance does Stephen's burial hold in the context of early Christian history?

10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Acts 8?

11.What defines a eulogy?

12.What are the key events in the Book of Acts?

13.Job 34:10 - If God never does wrong, why do the innocent still suffer without clear divine intervention?

14.In Job 16:11, why would a just God 'deliver' the innocent to the ungodly, contradicting passages that promise divine protection?God-fearing men

• Luke highlights their character first. They were “devout” believers who honored God in daily life (Acts 2:5;Acts 10:2).

• Their reverence moved them to action even when identifying with Stephen could attract Saul’s hostility (Acts 8:1, 3).

• Scripture consistently links the fear of the Lord with obedience; these men obeyed the command to treat a fallen brother with dignity (Deuteronomy 21:23;Proverbs 14:27).

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buried Stephen

• Burial was immediate and respectful, following the pattern set throughout Scripture—from Abraham securing a tomb for Sarah (Genesis 23) to disciples placing Jesus in Joseph’s new tomb (John 19:38-42).

• By handling Stephen’s body themselves, they affirmed the value of every believer’s physical life and death (Acts 5:6;1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

• The act also publicly declared their unity with the first Christian martyr, displaying courage that foreshadowed the church’s bold witness under pressure (Philippians 1:14).

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and mourned deeply

• Grief is neither forbidden nor faithless. Joseph’s family lamented for seven days (Genesis 50:10), and the Lord Jesus Himself wept at Lazarus’s tomb (John 11:35).

• “Brothers, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who are without hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13). Believers sorrow, yet hope tempers tears.

• Their “great lamentation” underscored love within the body (Romans 12:15) and testified that persecution could not quench genuine affection.

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over him

• The focus of their sorrow was Stephen—an ordinary man filled with the Spirit who had just delivered a fearless defense of the faith (Acts 7:55-60).

• “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints” (Psalm 116:15). God notes every martyr’s sacrifice, and His people rightly honor it as well.

• Mourning “over him” also conveyed assurance that Stephen, though absent from the body, was present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8), reinforcing early Christian teaching on immediate conscious fellowship with Christ after death.

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summary

Acts 8:2 shows that God-revering believers courageously gave Stephen a proper burial and openly lamented his death. Their actions model respect for the body, unity in suffering, heartfelt grief balanced by hope, and unwavering honor for a faithful witness whose life—and death—advanced the gospel.

(2)And devout men carried Stephen to his burial.--It has sometimes been asserted, ase.g. by Renan (Les Apotres,p. 145), that these were proselytes. St. Luke, however, always uses a different word to describe that class (comp.Acts 13:43;Acts 13:50;Acts 16:14;Acts 17:4;Acts 17:17), and the word used here is applied by him to Simeon (Luke 2:25), to the multitude of Jews present on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:5), to Ananias as devout according to the Law (Acts 22:12). This notion must accordingly be rejected as against evidence. On the other hand, had they been members of the Church they would naturally, though perhaps not necessarily, have been described as "brethren" or "disciples." We are left therefore to the conclusion that they were Jews who had been kindled into admiration and half-conviction by the calm heroism of the martyr, and who, without committing themselves to more than that admiration, acted in his case as Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathaea had acted after the Crucifixion. They would show honour to the memory of the dead, though they had not had the courage to defend the preacher of the truth while he was yet with them. In the legend or tradition as to the death of Stephen, reported and accepted by Augustine (De Civ:Dei. xvii. 8;Serm. 318, 319;Tract. In Joann.,120), Gamaliel and Nicodemus are named as actually taking part in the entombment, and as afterwards laid in the same sepulchre, on which his name appeared in Aramaic characters asChaliel (= garland), the equivalent in that language of the GreekStephanos. The translation of the martyr's relics to Ancona, Minorca, and to Uzalis, and other towns in Africa, made a deep impression on Augustine, and gave occasion to some of his most eloquent sermons. Oratories were dedicated to his memory, and miraculous cures effected by prayers addressed to him. (See Butler'sLives of the Saints,Aug. 3rd.) . . .Verse 2.- Buried forcarried to his burial (the last three words in italics), A.V.Devout men;ἀνδρες αὐλαβεῖς. This word is applied to Simeon (Luke 2:25), and to the Jews who were assembled at Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:5), and, according to the R.T., to Ananias (Acts 22:12); but occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. It is not certain, therefore, that these men were Christians, though they might be. If not, they were pious Jews, men who feared God, and still loved Stephen as being himself a devout Jew though he was a disciple.Buried.Συγκομίζω occurs only here in the New Testament; but its common use for carrying corn to a barn or granary seems to indicate that "carrying to his burial" of the A.V. is the most exact rendering. The word is said also to be applied to the acts preparatory to burial - closing the eyes, washing, anointing the body, and so on; but this meaning is less certain than that of "carrying."

Parallel Commentaries ...


God-fearing
εὐλαβεῖς(eulabeis)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 2126:From eu and lambano; taking well, i.e. Circumspect.

men
ἄνδρες(andres)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 435:A male human being; a man, husband. A primary word; a man.

buried
συνεκόμισαν(synekomisan)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 4792:From sun and komizo; to convey together, i.e. Collect or bear away in company with others.

Stephen
Στέφανον(Stephanon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 4736:The same as stephanos; Stephanus, a Christian.

and
καὶ(kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532:And, even, also, namely.

mourned deeply
κοπετὸν(kopeton)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2870:Beating of the breast or head in lamentation, lamentation. From kopto; mourning.

over
ἐπ’(ep’)
Preposition
Strong's 1909:On, to, against, on the basis of, at.

him.
αὐτῷ(autō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846:He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.


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NT Apostles: Acts 8:2 Devout men buried Stephen and lamented greatly (Acts of the Apostles Ac)