Acts 8:1-3
What is written? (ESV)
And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.
What does it say?
Saul agreed with killing him, and on the same day persecution began against the church in Jerusalem. As a result, all the Christians scattered throughout Judea and Samaria except for the apostles who remained in Jerusalem. The death of Stephen was mourned while Saul continued persecuting the church, taking Christians from their homes and imprisoning them.
What is its immediate context?
The church has grown in Jerusalem since the Day of Pentecost along with opposition from the Jewish leaders. Stephen, a Deacon in the church, has just been arrested and stoned.
How Acts 8:1-3 is applied across Bible answers
What is Christ’s church called?
The only congregation at this point in time is referred to as the "church in Jerusalem."
Later, we see in Acts 13:1 ("church at Antioch"), Romans 16:1 ("church at Cenchreae") and Colossians 4:16 ("church of Laodicea").
