Acts 8:1

King James Version (KJV)

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.

Translations

Acts 8:1 - Amplified Bible

AND SAUL was [not only] consenting to [Stephen's] death [he was entirely approving]. On that day a great {and} severe persecution broke out against the church which was in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles (special messengers).

Acts 8:1 - American Standard Version

And Saul was consenting unto his death. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church which was in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.

Acts 8:1 - Bible in Basic English

And Saul gave approval to his death. Now at that time a violent attack was started against the church in Jerusalem; and all but the Apostles went away into all parts of Judaea and Samaria.

Acts 8:1 - Darby Bible

And Saul was consenting to his being killed. And on that day there arose a great persecution against the assembly which was in Jerusalem, and all were scattered into the countries of Judaea and Samaria except the apostles.

Acts 8:1 - English Standard Version

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.

Acts 8:1 - King James Version

Acts 8:1 - La Biblia de las Americas

Y Saulo estaba de completo acuerdo con ellos en su muerte.
En aquel dìa se desatò una gran persecuciòn en contra de la iglesia en Jerusalén, y todos fueron esparcidos por las regiones de Judea y Samaria, excepto los apòstoles.

Acts 8:1 - The Message

Saul was right there, congratulating the killers.
That set off a terrific persecution of the church in Jerusalem. The believers were all scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. All, that is, but the apostles. Good and brave men buried Stephen, giving him a solemn funeral—not many dry eyes that day!

Acts 8:1 - New American Standard Bible

Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death.
And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

Acts 8:1 - Nueva Biblia Latinoamericana de Hoy

Y Saulo (Pablo) estaba de completo acuerdo con ellos en su muerte.
En aquel dìa se desatò una gran persecuciòn en contra de la iglesia en Jerusalén, y todos fueron esparcidos por las regiones de Judea y Samaria, excepto los apòstoles.

Acts 8:1 - World English Bible

Saul was consenting to his death. A great persecution arose against the assembly which was in Jerusalem in that day. They were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles.

Acts 8:1 - Young's Living Translation

And Saul was assenting to his death, and there came in that day a great persecution upon the assembly in Jerusalem, all also were scattered abroad in the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles;

Acts 8:1 - Additional Comments

Compare to Josh McDowell and Lee Strobel, both staunch atheists who looked at the facts and became Christians. All 3 lives were radically transformed by his encounter with the Lord.
Who was Paul?
" A Pharisee by choice
" By age 6 had studied the Pentateuch, by 10 the Mishna ("oral law", the collection of mostly halakic Jewish traditions which made up the basic part of the Talmud); by 15 the Gernara (extensive devotion of the Midrash (which is part of the Mishna)).
" High training in the Greek world
" Roman citizen by birth, tentmaker by trade
" Studied at the feet of Gamaliel (see Acts 22:3)
" Instructed strictly (utmost rigor) in the understanding & practice of the Law of Moses
" Instructed in the Misha, the traditions of the Pharisees, which were more than 600 rules (oral traditions) passed down from their fathers which are not written in the Law of Moses
" Advanced in Judaism beyond his contemporaries (Gal 1:14)
" Probably did not have a personal knowledge of Jesus. Makes no illusion to the events of His life. Returned to Tarsus before John the Baptist and to Jerusalem after the ascension, so he was not around when Jesus was.
" Received the Gospel through revelations (Gal 1:12)
" Probably about 30 at the time of Stephens death.
" Given a responsible position before 40 (advanced), persecuting the church
" Earnestly "served God" day & night (constant & intense devotion) -- he had a burning zeal for God & His Law, expressed in his strict adherence to it and its ceremonies (yet he was without a true relationship with God!)
" His duty was to keep Christianity down. He owed it to his country, religion & God to oppose in every manner claims of Jesus to be the Messiah.
" Even some time after Stephen's death he was still breathing threats (Acts 9:1). Paul feeling he had successfully destroyed the sect by scattering it got news that those who had scattered are now establishing congregations in every district & instead of suppressing it, it seemed to gather renewed life & was growing rapidly. (Why Jesus said "kicking against the goads" in Acts 9:5). He then had a higher resolve to destroy them.

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