Acts 8:3
What does Acts 8:3 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 8:3 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 8:3 means
Saul intensified the persecution, actively working to dismantle the church. He conducted house-to-house raids, indiscriminately seizing both men and women who were Christians and imprisoning them. This systematic and brutal campaign was designed to suppress the growing Christian movement by instilling fear and removing its adherents from society. Saul's actions demonstrate his fervent opposition to Christ, driven by his conviction that he was defending God's law.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000But Saul laid waste the church, entering into every house, and dragging men and women committed them to prison.
KJV
King James Version · 1611As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901But Saul laid waste the church, entering into every house, and dragging men and women committed them to prison.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949But Saul was burning with hate against the church, going into every house and taking men and women and putting them in prison.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and Saul was making havoc of the assembly, into every house entering, and haling men and women, was giving them up to prison;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752But Saul made havock of the church, entering in from house to house: and dragging away men and women, committed them to prison.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890But Saul ravaged the assembly, entering into the houses one after another, and dragging off both men and women delivered them up to prison.
Context
This verse vividly illustrates the severity of the 'great persecution' mentioned in verse 1, providing concrete examples of Saul's ruthless methods. It explains *why* believers scattered, setting the immediate backdrop for verse 4, which details how those who were scattered, rather than being silenced, began to actively spread the Christian message in new areas.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Acts 22:3
I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, at the feet of Gamaliel, instructed according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God, even as ye all are this day:
- Galatians 1:13
For ye have heard of my manner of life in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and made havoc of it:
- 1 Corinthians 15:9
For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
- Philippians 3:6
as touching zeal, persecuting the church; as touching the righteousness which is in the law, found blameless.
- Acts 9:21
And all that heard him were amazed, and said, Is not this he that in Jerusalem made havoc of them that called on this name? and he had come hither for this intent, that he might bring them bound before the chief priests.
- Acts 7:58
and they cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.
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