4 Therefore G3767 G3303 they that were scattered abroad G1289 went every where G1330 preaching G2097 the word. G3056
And G1161 Saul G4569 was G2258 consenting G4909 unto his G846 death. G336 And G1161 at G1722 that G1565 time G2250 there was G1096 a great G3173 persecution G1375 against G1909 the church G1577 which G3588 was at G1722 Jerusalem; G2414 and G5037 they were G1289 all G3956 scattered abroad G1289 throughout G2596 the regions G5561 of Judaea G2449 and G2532 Samaria, G4540 except G4133 the apostles. G652
But G1161 when G3752 they persecute G1377 you G5209 in G1722 this G5026 city, G4172 flee ye G5343 into G1519 another: G243 for G1063 verily G281 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 Ye shall G5055 not G3364 have gone over G5055 the cities G4172 of Israel, G2474 till G2193 the Son G5207 of man G444 be G302 come. G2064
Now G3767 G3303 they which were scattered abroad G1289 upon G575 the persecution G2347 that arose G1096 about G1909 Stephen G4736 travelled G1330 as far as G2193 Phenice, G5403 and G2532 Cyprus, G2954 and G2532 Antioch, G490 preaching G2980 the word G3056 to none G3367 but G1508 unto the Jews G2453 only. G3440
But G1161 the unbelieving G544 Jews G2453 stirred up G1892 the Gentiles, G1484 and G2532 made G2559 their minds G5590 evil affected G2559 against G2596 the brethren. G80 Long G2425 time G5550 therefore G3303 G3767 abode they G1304 speaking boldly G3955 in G1909 the Lord, G2962 which G3588 gave testimony G3140 unto the word G3056 of his G846 grace, G5485 and G2532 granted G1325 signs G4592 and G2532 wonders G5059 to be done G1096 by G1223 their G846 hands. G5495 But G1161 the multitude G4128 of the city G4172 was divided: G4977 and G2532 part G3303 held G2258 with G4862 the Jews, G2453 and G1161 part with G4862 the apostles. G652 And G1161 when G5613 there was G1096 an assault G3730 made G1096 both G5037 of the Gentiles, G1484 and also G2532 of the Jews G2453 with G4862 their G846 rulers, G758 to use them despitefully, G5195 and G2532 to stone G3036 them, G846 They were ware G4894 of it, and fled G2703 unto G1519 Lystra G3082 and G2532 Derbe, G1191 cities G4172 of Lycaonia, G3071 and G2532 unto the region that lieth round about: G4066 And there G2546 they preached the gospel. G2258 G2097
Paul G3972 also G1161 and G2532 Barnabas G921 continued G1304 in G1722 Antioch, G490 teaching G1321 and G2532 preaching G2097 the word G3056 of the Lord, G2962 with G3326 many G4183 others G2087 also. G2532
But G235 even G2532 after that we had suffered before, G4310 and G2532 were shamefully entreated, G5195 as G2531 ye know, G1492 at G1722 Philippi, G5375 we were bold G3955 in G1722 our G2257 God G2316 to speak G2980 unto G4314 you G5209 the gospel G2098 of God G2316 with G1722 much G4183 contention. G73
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Acts 8
Commentary on Acts 8 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 8
In this chapter we have an account of the persecutions of the Christians, and the propagating of Christianity thereby. It was strange, but very true, that the disciples of Christ the more they were afflicted the more they multiplied.
Act 8:1-3
In these verses we have,
Act 8:4-13
Samson's riddle is here again unriddled: Out of the eater comes forth meat, and out of the strong sweetness. The persecution that was designed to extirpate the church was by the overruling providence of God made an occasion of the enlargement of it. Christ had said, I am come to send fire on the earth; and they thought, by scattering those who were kindled with that fire, to have put it out, but instead of this they did but help to spread it.
Act 8:14-25
God had wonderfully owned Philip in his work as an evangelist at Samaria, but he could do no more than an evangelist; there were some peculiar powers reserved to the apostles, for the keeping up of the dignity of their office, and here we have an account of what was done by two of them there-Peter and John. The twelve kept together at Jerusalem (v. 1), and thither these good tidings were brought them that Samaria had received the word of God (v. 14), that a great harvest of souls was gathered, and was likely to be gathered in to Christ there. The word of God was not only preached to them, but received by them; they bade it welcome, admitted the light of it, and submitted to the power of it: When they heard it, they sent unto them Peter and John. If Peter had been, as some say he was, the prince of the apostles, he would have sent some of them, or, if he had seen cause, would have gone himself of his own accord; but he was so far from this that he submitted to an order of the house, and, as a servant to the body, went whither they sent him. Two apostles were sent, the two most eminent, to Samaria,
Act 8:26-40
We have here the story of the conversion of an Ethiopian eunuch to the faith of Christ, by whom, we have reason to think, the knowledge of Christ was sent into that country where he lived, and that scripture fulfilled, Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands (one of the first of the nations) unto God, Ps. 68:31.