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Wednesday, October 2nd, 2024
the Week of Proper 21 / Ordinary 26
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Read the Bible

The Holy Bible, Berean Study Bible

Acts 8:3

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

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Church;   Intolerance, Religious;   Jerusalem;   Paul;   Scofield Reference Index - Churches;   Thompson Chain Reference - Paul;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Afflictions Made Beneficial;   Church, the;   Prisons;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Paul;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Jerusalem;   Paul;   Persecution;   Pharisees;   Stephen;   Temple;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Church, the;   Holy Spirit;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Prison;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Acts of the Apostles;   Paul;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Acts;   Paul;   Persecution in the Bible;   Prison, Prisoners;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Acts of the Apostles;   Church;   Gnosticism;   Mark, Gospel According to;   Peter;   Simon Magus;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Home;   Martyr;   Pharisees;   Philemon Epistle to;   Police;   Prisoner;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - New Testament;   Preaching;   Samaria ;   3 To Draw, Drag;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Paul;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Philip;   Samaria;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Kingdom or Church of Christ, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Hale;   Havoc;  

Parallel Translations

Simplified Cowboy Version
But Saul didn't care. He went from ranch to ranch, from house to house, and dragged men and women who believed in Jesus off to prison.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison.
Legacy Standard Bible
But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he was delivering them into prison.
Bible in Basic English
But Saul was burning with hate against the church, going into every house and taking men and women and putting them in prison.
Darby Translation
But Saul ravaged the assembly, entering into the houses one after another, and dragging off both men and women delivered them up to prison.
New King James Version
As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.
Christian Standard Bible®
Saul, however, was ravaging the church. He would enter house after house, drag off men and women, and put them in prison.
World English Bible
But Saul ravaged the assembly, entering into every house, and dragged both men and women off to prison.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
But Saul made havock of the church, entring into every house, and haling men and women, committed them to prison.
Weymouth's 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.
King James Version (1611)
As for Saul, he made hauocke of the Church, entring into euery house, and hailing men and women, committed them to prison.
Literal Translation
But Saul ravaged the assembly, entering house by house, dragging both men and women, he delivered them to prison.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But Saul made hauocke of the congregacion, entred in to euery house, and drue out men & wemen, & delyuered the to preson.
Mace New Testament (1729)
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.
THE MESSAGE
And Saul just went wild, devastating the church, entering house after house after house, dragging men and women off to jail. Forced to leave home base, the followers of Jesus all became missionaries. Wherever they were scattered, they preached the Message about Jesus. Going down to a Samaritan city, Philip proclaimed the Message of the Messiah. When the people heard what he had to say and saw the miracles, the clear signs of God's action, they hung on his every word. Many who could neither stand nor walk were healed that day. The evil spirits protested loudly as they were sent on their way. And what joy in the city!
Amplified Bible
But Saul began ravaging the church [and assaulting believers]; entering house after house and dragging off men and women, putting them in prison.
American Standard Version
But Saul laid waste the church, entering into every house, and dragging men and women committed them to prison.
Revised Standard Version
But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
But Saul made havocke of the congregacion entrynge into every housse and drewe out bothe man and woman and thrust the into preson.
Update Bible Version
But Saul laid waste the church, entering into every house, and dragging men and women committed them to prison.
Webster's Bible Translation
As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and hauling men and women committed [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;
New Century Version
Saul was also trying to destroy the church, going from house to house, dragging out men and women and putting them in jail.
New English Translation
But Saul was trying to destroy the church; entering one house after another, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.
Contemporary English Version
Saul started making a lot of trouble for the church. He went from house to house, arresting men and women and putting them in jail.
Complete Jewish Bible
But Sha'ul set out to destroy the Messianic Community — entering house after house, he dragged off both men and women and handed them over to be put in prison.
English Standard Version
But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.
Geneva Bible (1587)
But Saul made hauocke of the Church, and entred into euery house, and drewe out both men and women, and put them into prison.
George Lamsa Translation
As for Saul, he continued to persecute the church of God, entering into houses and dragging out men and women and delivering them to prison,
Hebrew Names Version
But Sha'ul ravaged the assembly, entering into every house, and dragged both men and women off to prison.
International Standard Version
But 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.Acts 7:58; 22:4; 26:10-11; 1 Corinthians 15:9; Galatians 1:13; Philippians 3:6; 1 Timothy 1:13;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
BUT Shaol persecuted the church of Aloha, going to the houses, and drawing men and women delivered them to the house of the bound.
Murdock Translation
And Saul persecuted the church of God, entering houses, and dragging forth men and women and committing them to prison.
New 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.
New Life Bible
During this time Saul was making it very hard for the church. He went into every house of the followers of Jesus and took men and women and put them in prison.
English Revised Version
But Saul laid waste the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
New Revised Standard
But Saul was ravaging the church by entering house after house; dragging off both men and women, he committed them to prison.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
But, Saul, went on to lay waste the assembly, along the houses, going in, and, dragging off both men and women, was
Douay-Rheims Bible
But Saul made havock of the church, entering in from house to house: and dragging away men and women, committed them to prison.
King James Version
As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
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.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
As for Saul, he made hauocke of the Churche, and entred into euery house, & drewe out both men and women, and put them into pryson.
New American Standard Bible
But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house; and he would drag away men and women and put them in prison.
Good News Translation
But 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.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
But Saul greetli distruyede the chirche, and entryde bi housis, and drowe men and wymmen, and bitook hem in to prisoun.

Contextual Overview

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-fearing men buried Stephen and mourned deeply over him. 3But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Acts 7:58, Acts 9:1-13, Acts 9:21, Acts 22:3, Acts 22:4, Acts 26:9-11, 1 Corinthians 15:9, Galatians 1:13, Philippians 3:6, 1 Timothy 1:13

Reciprocal: Genesis 49:27 - a wolf Luke 11:49 - and some Luke 21:12 - before Acts 4:3 - laid Acts 5:14 - multitudes Acts 5:18 - General Acts 9:13 - how Acts 12:4 - he put Acts 16:23 - they cast Acts 22:19 - know Acts 26:10 - I also 1 Corinthians 9:15 - I have 1 Thessalonians 2:14 - even Hebrews 11:36 - bonds

Cross-References

Genesis 7:11
In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, on the seventeenth day of the second month, all the fountains of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of the heavens were opened.
Genesis 7:24
And the waters prevailed upon the earth for 150 days.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

As for Saul, he made havoc of the church,.... Did evil to the saints, destroyed them that called upon the name of Christ, Acts 9:13 and persecuted and wasted the church of God, as he himself says, Galatians 1:13 and now did Benjamin, of which tribe Saul was, ravine as a wolf, Genesis 49:27

Entering into every house; where the saints dwelt:

and haling men and women: in a violent manner, without any regard to age or sex:

committed them to prison; delivered them up into the hands of the chief priests and magistrates, in order to be committed and sent to prison; this he himself confesses, Acts 22:4.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

As for Saul - But Saul. He took no interest or part in the pious attentions shown to Stephen, but engaged with zeal in the work of persecution.

He made havoc - ἐλυμαίνετο elumaineto. This word is commonly applied to wild beasts, to lions, wolves, etc., and denotes the “devastations” which they commit. Saul raged against the church like a wild beast - a strong expression, denoting the zeal and fury with which he engaged in persecution.

Entering into every house - To search for those who were suspected of being Christians.

Haling - Dragging, or compelling them.

Committed them to prison - The Sanhedrin had no power to put them to death, John 18:31. But they had power to imprison; and they resolved, it seems, to exercise this power to the utmost. Paul frequently refers to his zeal in persecuting the church, Acts 26:10-11; Galatians 1:13. It may be remarked here that there never was a persecution commenced with more flattering prospects to the persecutors. Saul, the principal agent, was young, zealous, learned, and clothed with power. He showed afterward that he had talents suited for any station, and zeal that tired with no exertion, and that was appalled by no obstacle. With this talent and this zeal he entered on his work. The Christians were few and feeble. They were scattered and unarmed. They were unprotected by any civil power, and exposed, therefore, to the full blaze and rage of persecution. That the church was not destroyed was owing to the protection of God a protection which not only secured its existence, but which extended its influence and power by means of this very persecution far abroad on the earth.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Acts 8:3. Saul made havoc of the Church — The word ελυμαινετο, from λυμαινω, to destroy, devastate, ravage, signifies the act of ferocious animals, such as bears, wolves, and the like, in seeking and devouring their prey. This shows with what persevering rancour this man pursued the harmless Christians; and thus we see in him what bigotry and false zeal are capable of performing.

Entering into every house — For, however it might be to others, a Christian man's house was not his castle.

Haling men and women — Neither sparing age nor sex in the professors of Christianity. The word συρων signifies dragging them before the magistrates, or dragging them to justice.

Committed them to prison. — For, as the Romans alone had the power of life and death, the Sanhedrin, by whom Saul was employed, Acts 26:10, could do no more than arrest and imprison, in order to inflict any punishment short of death. It is true, St. Paul himself says that some of them were put to death, see Acts 26:10; but this was either done by Roman authority, or by what was called the judgment of zeal, i.e. when the mob took the execution of the laws into their own hands, and massacred those whom they pretended to be blasphemers of God: for these sanctified their murderous outrage under the specious name of zeal for God's glory, and quoted the ensample of Phineas as a precedent. Such persons as these formed a sect among the Jews; and are known in ecclesiastical history by the appellation of Zealots or Sicarii.


 
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