ACC ~ Acts 8 v1 - 3

OVERVIEW:

These verses conclude Luke’s account of the persecution in Jerusalem, which began with his narrative of what followed from the healing of the lame man at the Beautiful Gate: the hearing before the Sanhedrin, the imprisonment and arraignment before the Sanhedrin and finally, the death of Stephen. Providence is at work in the persecution (CHRYSOSTOM), which becomes the seedbed of the gospel (BEDE). Stephen’s body was buried (THEODORET). Even Saul’s frenzy was used to an unexpected end (CHRYSOSTOM).

8:1 | The Believers Were Scattered

PERSECUTION SPREADS THE SEED OF THE WORD. CHRYSOSTOM: “The persecution,” he says, “gained strength.” True, but especially then it delivered people who were previously possessed. For it planted miracles like forts among them. Even the death of Stephen did not quench their rage, but rather increased it. It dispersed the teachers, so that the discipleship became greater. There was joy, although there had been great lamentation. Note again the good: the malady lasted long enough, but it was this man who brought them deliverance. HOMILIES ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 18.

OBEYING THE LORD’S INJUNCTION. BEDE: This is what the Lord himself commanded: “When they persecute you in one city, flee to another.” It occurred according to the Lord’s will, “so that the occasion of tribulation might become the seedbed of the gospel.” COMMENTARY ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 8.1.

8:2 | The Burial of Stephen

STEPHEN’S BODY WAS BURIED. THEODORET OF CYR: And yet it was the body only which was deemed proper for burial, while the soul was not buried together with the body; nevertheless the body alone was spoken of by the common name. Similarly the blessed Jacob said to his sons, “Bury me with my fathers.” He did not say, “Bury my body.” LETTER 144.

8:3 | Saul Persecuted the Church

EMBOLDENED BY STEPHEN’S MURDER. CHRYSOSTOM: Great was [Saul’s] frenzy: that he was alone, that he even entered into houses; for indeed he was ready to give his life for the law. “Arresting,” it says, “men and women”: mark both the confidence, and the violence and the frenzy. All that fell into his hands, he put to all manner of ill-treatment, for in consequence of the recent murder, he had become more daring. HOMILIES ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 18.