Saul persecutes the church.
Though persecution must not drive us from our work, yet it may send us to work elsewhere. Wherever the established believer is driven, he carries the knowledge of the gospel, and makes known the preciousness of Christ in every place. Where a simple desire of doing good influences the heart, it will be found impossible to shut a man out from all opportunities of usefulness.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 1-4
1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 And devout men carried Stephen [to his burial], and made great lamentation over him. 3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed [them] to prison. 4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.
 | Author: Matthew Henry Rank: Priest AD: 1714 Source: Title: Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible Author: Matthew Henry |
The Lord Christ proclaimed to His disciples, on his way to the cross, “You will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice” [John 16:20]. As St. Stephen was stoned, many believers grieved for him, while Saul of Tarsus rejoiced for getting rid of him. He initially thought it to be the beginning of the end of the disciples, of the Church, and of the name of the crucified Jesus in the world. The word ‘consenting’ bore the comfort and joy of the heart He probably admitted that before many, including St. Luke, as a self remorse and a living testimony to God’s abundant grace that transformed him from rejoicing in the killing of the preachers, to finding his contentment in his daily endurance of death, for the sake of preaching in the name of the crucified Jesus. Paul felt remorse for those days in which he consented to the persecution of the Christians, with the conviction that he was rendering service to God.
It was not in the minds of believers then, to preach among the Gentiles, as their thoughts were confined to the Church in Jerusalem. Even The disciples and the apostles, having heard the repeated commandment of the Lord Christ before His ascension, to testify to Him in the whole world, did not know yet how to begin their ministry outside Jerusalem.
The martyrdom of Stephen, and the explosion of the wave of persecution against the Church in Jerusalem, forced the believers to disperse everywhere, and turned out to become like seeds sowed in several countries, for establishing churches there.
1- The martyrdom of St. Stephen caused a great persecution against the Church in Jerusalem. What was the secret behind this?
It is very difficult to explain why the apostles remained in Jerusalem, when the congregation were scattered everywhere. But it is possible to say that it certainly was the pleasure of the Lord Christ the Head of the Church, to have the apostles staying in Jerusalem, to work for the newly established Church, to become the center of a spiritual power to support the churches to be established later on by the scattered congregation. The Lord Christ intended to proclaim His plan, that the city which opposed and crucified Him remains a living center for the spiritual work, by his holy apostles.
2- So far, both the Jews and the Romans counted the Christians as a Jewish sect, committed to worship in the temple. The Jewish leaderships, even the Sanhedrin, could not realize the real extent of the Christian faith. But the frank address of St. Stephen, and his confirmation of what the Lord Christ had previously proclaimed that the temple would be destroyed, and that the Jewish customs would change, including the circumcision of the flesh, keeping the Sabbath, and the statutes of purification, provoked the Jews to get rid altogether of the followers of Jesus, as their presence, represented a grave danger, especially in Jerusalem, where the temple and the rites of feasts were.
3- It was bitter for the Jewish leaderships, having realized in the address of Stephen, a public accusation that the Sanhedrin had committed the crime of killing the Messiah. They feared the spreading of that accusation on a public level, even among the Jewish unbelievers in Jesus, as that would shake the image of sanctity, and probably the authority of the Sanhedrin. That is why, getting rid of the followers of the Crucified was of very urgent importance.
4- He who shed blood is termed in the Holy Book as ‘thirsty to shed blood’, as he feels that committing it would bring fulfillment and comfort to his depths, Yet his thirst to shed blood only grows stronger, to go on killing and shedding more blood. The same thing could be said of anger, which incites in the soul a growing fire of hatred.
5- The martyrdom of St. Stephen, with such a spirit of love and zeal, has given the believers, even the weak among them, strength to testify to the Lord Jesus Christ publicly, and to enter into debate with the Jews, something that flared the situation in Jerusalem, more and more.
6- The Church had to be driven out of Jerusalem, in order to bear together with her Lord, the reproach of the cross outside the camp.
7- Saul of Tarsus, having got rid of St. Stephen, who used to embarrass him in debate, feared that another Stephen who embraces the same thoughts may appear. That is why Saul dedicated all his energies to oppose the Church, and to completely scatter its congregation.
8- Saul assumed that by the death of St. Stephen, he would surely be able to resume his normal life, with no spiritual, theological, and intellectual opposition. He did not realize that it actually constituted the beginning of a revolution of thoughts within him, to start a new life on the same path taken by Stephen. And that, the fast setting forth of St. Stephen to paradise has become a support for his own transformation to faith, and for his joyful acceptance of sufferings, persecution, and even daily death for the sake of the name of Jesus Christ. Here, St. Luke connects between the martyrdom of St. Stephen and the entrance of Saul of Tarsus into the gospel of the Church. Having been the fiercest persecutor of the Church, who caused the believers to scatter all over Judea and Samaria, he did not realize that the Holy Spirit uses even his fierce violence to provoke believers to set forth far from the temple, with all its rites and daily gatherings, in order to open the door of faith before the Gentiles.
Yet the apostles stayed in Jerusalem, probably on account of the fact that because they were all Hebrew, the Sanhedrin did not fear that they might change the Jewish customs. But the Sanhedrin could not stand any Greek Jew converted to Christianity to stay behind, lest a new Stephen, an opponent to the temple and the customs, might appear. The apostles might also have stayed in Jerusalem, having felt that it was their duty to provoke the congregation to flee from persecution, for fear that any weak believer might fall into denial of faith, and in the hope that, by their scattering everywhere, they might be able to testify to Jesus outside Jerusalem. But the apostles bravely stayed in Jerusalem to confront the first round of persecution.
It was not in the minds of believers then, to preach among the Gentiles, as their thoughts were confined to the Church in Jerusalem. Even The disciples and the apostles, having heard the repeated commandment of the Lord Christ before His ascension, to testify to Him in the whole world, did not know yet how to begin their ministry outside Jerusalem.
The martyrdom of Stephen, and the explosion of the wave of persecution against the Church in Jerusalem, forced the believers to disperse everywhere, and turned out to become like seeds sowed in several countries, for establishing churches there.
1- The martyrdom of St. Stephen caused a great persecution against the Church in Jerusalem. What was the secret behind this?
It is very difficult to explain why the apostles remained in Jerusalem, when the congregation were scattered everywhere. But it is possible to say that it certainly was the pleasure of the Lord Christ the Head of the Church, to have the apostles staying in Jerusalem, to work for the newly established Church, to become the center of a spiritual power to support the churches to be established later on by the scattered congregation. The Lord Christ intended to proclaim His plan, that the city which opposed and crucified Him remains a living center for the spiritual work, by his holy apostles.
2- So far, both the Jews and the Romans counted the Christians as a Jewish sect, committed to worship in the temple. The Jewish leaderships, even the Sanhedrin, could not realize the real extent of the Christian faith. But the frank address of St. Stephen, and his confirmation of what the Lord Christ had previously proclaimed that the temple would be destroyed, and that the Jewish customs would change, including the circumcision of the flesh, keeping the Sabbath, and the statutes of purification, provoked the Jews to get rid altogether of the followers of Jesus, as their presence, represented a grave danger, especially in Jerusalem, where the temple and the rites of feasts were.
3- It was bitter for the Jewish leaderships, having realized in the address of Stephen, a public accusation that the Sanhedrin had committed the crime of killing the Messiah. They feared the spreading of that accusation on a public level, even among the Jewish unbelievers in Jesus, as that would shake the image of sanctity, and probably the authority of the Sanhedrin. That is why, getting rid of the followers of the Crucified was of very urgent importance.
4- He who shed blood is termed in the Holy Book as ‘thirsty to shed blood’, as he feels that committing it would bring fulfillment and comfort to his depths, Yet his thirst to shed blood only grows stronger, to go on killing and shedding more blood. The same thing could be said of anger, which incites in the soul a growing fire of hatred.
5- The martyrdom of St. Stephen, with such a spirit of love and zeal, has given the believers, even the weak among them, strength to testify to the Lord Jesus Christ publicly, and to enter into debate with the Jews, something that flared the situation in Jerusalem, more and more.
6- The Church had to be driven out of Jerusalem, in order to bear together with her Lord, the reproach of the cross outside the camp.
7- Saul of Tarsus, having got rid of St. Stephen, who used to embarrass him in debate, feared that another Stephen who embraces the same thoughts may appear. That is why Saul dedicated all his energies to oppose the Church, and to completely scatter its congregation.
8- Saul assumed that by the death of St. Stephen, he would surely be able to resume his normal life, with no spiritual, theological, and intellectual opposition. He did not realize that it actually constituted the beginning of a revolution of thoughts within him, to start a new life on the same path taken by Stephen. And that, the fast setting forth of St. Stephen to paradise has become a support for his own transformation to faith, and for his joyful acceptance of sufferings, persecution, and even daily death for the sake of the name of Jesus Christ. Here, St. Luke connects between the martyrdom of St. Stephen and the entrance of Saul of Tarsus into the gospel of the Church. Having been the fiercest persecutor of the Church, who caused the believers to scatter all over Judea and Samaria, he did not realize that the Holy Spirit uses even his fierce violence to provoke believers to set forth far from the temple, with all its rites and daily gatherings, in order to open the door of faith before the Gentiles.
Yet the apostles stayed in Jerusalem, probably on account of the fact that because they were all Hebrew, the Sanhedrin did not fear that they might change the Jewish customs. But the Sanhedrin could not stand any Greek Jew converted to Christianity to stay behind, lest a new Stephen, an opponent to the temple and the customs, might appear. The apostles might also have stayed in Jerusalem, having felt that it was their duty to provoke the congregation to flee from persecution, for fear that any weak believer might fall into denial of faith, and in the hope that, by their scattering everywhere, they might be able to testify to Jesus outside Jerusalem. But the apostles bravely stayed in Jerusalem to confront the first round of persecution.
 | Author: Tadros Yacoub Malaty Rank: Monk Posted on: 2024-05-19 Source: Title: Acts of the Apostles Number of pages: 696 Translation: DR. GEORGE BOTROS |
And now without scruple they had intercourse with Samaria, whereas it had been said to them, Go not into the way of the Gentiles and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not. Matthew 10:5 Except the Apostles, it says: they, in this way also, wishing to win the Jews—but not to leave the city—and to be the means of inspiring others with boldness. As for Saul, he made havoc of the Church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
 | Author: John Chrysostom Rank: Bishop AD: 407 |
And Saul was consenting unto his death. Hereupon arises a persecution, and it becomes a great one. And at that time there was a great persecution against the Church which was at Jerusalem. And they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the Apostles. Mark how once more God permits temptations to arise; mark, and well observe, how the events are ordered by Divine Providence. They were admired because of the signs: being scourged, they were none the worse for it: (some) were ordained in the matter of the widows : the word increased: once more, God permits a great hindrance to arise. And a persecution of no ordinary kind [and they were all scattered, etc.]; for they feared their enemies, now become more daring: and at the same time it is shown that they were but men, these that were afraid, that fled. For, that you may not say after these things that by grace alone they effected (what they did), they were also persecuted, and themselves became more timorous, while their adversaries were more daring. And were all scattered abroad, it says, except the Apostles. But this was divinely ordered, so that they should no longer all sit there in Jerusalem. And devout men, it says, carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
| Author: John Chrysostom Rank: Bishop AD: 407 |
And now without scruple they had intercourse with Samaria, whereas it had been said to them, Go not into the way of the Gentiles and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not. Matthew 10:5 Except the Apostles, it says: they, in this way also, wishing to win the Jews—but not to leave the city—and to be the means of inspiring others with boldness.
| Author: John Chrysostom Rank: Bishop AD: 407 |
Mark how once more God permits temptations to arise; mark, and well observe, how the events are ordered by Divine Providence. They were admired because of the signs: being scourged, they were none the worse for it: (some) were ordained in the matter of the widows : the word increased: once more, God permits a great hindrance to arise. And a persecution of no ordinary kind [and they were all scattered, etc.]; for they feared their enemies, now become more daring: and at the same time it is shown that they were but men, these that were afraid, that fled. For, that you may not say after these things that by grace alone they effected (what they did), they were also persecuted, and themselves became more timorous, while their adversaries were more daring. And were all scattered abroad, it says, except the Apostles. But this was divinely ordered, so that they should no longer all sit there in Jerusalem.
| Author: John Chrysostom Rank: Bishop AD: 407 |
The listed verse explanations of the individual persons have nothing to do with the explanations of the other persons. This also applies to the Bible translations.
