Acts 8 3

Acts 8:3 kjv

As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

Acts 8:3 nkjv

As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.

Acts 8:3 niv

But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.

Acts 8:3 esv

But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.

Acts 8:3 nlt

But Saul was going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison.

Acts 8 verses

Acts 8 3 Meaning

Acts 8:3 provides a stark description of Saul's relentless and brutal campaign against the burgeoning Christian community in Jerusalem. It depicts his systematic devastation of the early church, invading the privacy of believers' homes, forcibly apprehending both men and women, and consigning them to prison. This verse highlights the severe persecution faced by followers of Jesus and Saul's personal, intense zeal in attempting to extinguish the Christian movement.

Acts 8 3 Context

Acts 8:3 is positioned immediately after the intense narrative of Stephen's martyrdom and burial (Acts 7:54-8:2). Saul, previously introduced as a "young man" consenting to Stephen's death (Acts 7:58) and approving of his execution (Acts 8:1), now actively steps into a leading role as a persecutor. This verse marks the beginning of a severe and widespread persecution of the early church in Jerusalem. Historically, this persecution was driven by certain Jewish factions, like the Sanhedrin, who saw the Christian message as blasphemous and a threat to traditional Judaism. Saul, as a zealous Pharisee, perceived the new "Way" as a dangerous heresy and was determined to stamp it out. The actions described, particularly the invasion of private homes and imprisonment, reflect the severity of the legal and social consequences faced by the nascent Christian community under Jewish law, which operated with some autonomy under Roman rule regarding religious matters. This event leads directly to the scattering of believers (Acts 8:4), which paradoxically, facilitated the spread of the Gospel beyond Jerusalem.

Acts 8 3 Word analysis

• As for Saul (Σαῦλος δέ, Saulos de): "Saul" is a Hebrew name, also the name of the first king of Israel from the tribe of Benjamin (1 Sam 9:2), the same tribe as Paul. The conjunction de indicates a transition, shifting the focus specifically to Saul's actions in contrast to the generalized "great persecution" of the previous verse. This singular focus on Saul underscores his prominent and deliberate role.
• he made havoc (ἐλυμαίνετο, elymaineto): This Greek verb is lymāinomai, meaning "to devastate," "to destroy," "to ravage," or "to ill-treat grievously." It carries a strong connotation of violent, destructive, and wanton damage, often used for wild beasts tearing their prey. It conveys an image of savage attack, not merely formal arrest, highlighting the destructive nature of Saul's actions against the community.
• of the church (τὴν ἐκκλησίαν, tēn ekklēsian): "Church" (Greek: ekklēsia) here refers to the assembly or congregation of believers in Jerusalem. It's an early use of the term to describe the Christian community. Saul's assault was directly against this nascent spiritual body.
• entering (εἰσπορευόμενος, eisporeuomenos): This present participle indicates continuous, repeated action, not a single instance. It implies a systematic and methodical approach to his persecution, highlighting its pervasive nature.
• every house (κατὰ τοὺς οἴκους, kata tous oikous): The preposition kata with the plural noun signifies "house by house" or "into all the houses," emphasizing the thoroughness and invasiveness of his actions. This was a direct assault on the private lives and gathering places of believers, showing no respect for personal sanctuary.
• and dragging off (σύρων, syrōn): Another present participle, conveying ongoing action. The verb syrō means "to drag" or "to haul by force." It implies violence, disrespect, and contempt, treating people like criminals or animals being pulled rather than human beings. This action often denoted public humiliation.
• men and women (ἄνδρας τε καὶ γυναῖκας, andras te kai gynaikas): The explicit inclusion of both men and women emphasizes the indiscriminate nature of the persecution. It signifies that no one was exempt, even those considered more vulnerable in society. This challenges societal norms where women were often less likely to be subjected to public arrest and imprisonment for such matters.
• committed them (παρεδίδου, paredidou): The imperfect tense implies continuous delivery or handing over. It means "to give over," "to deliver," or "to surrender," suggesting a legal or official handover to authority for judicial process, likely leading to further legal proceedings or torture in prison.
• to prison (φυλακὴν, phylakēn): Prison here serves as a place of confinement, punishment, and further processing before trial or judgment, consistent with the typical penal systems of the time. The goal was to break the will of the believers and halt the spread of Christianity.

Acts 8 3 Bonus section

The extent of Saul's zealous persecution can be seen in how he "breathed threats and murder" even when traveling to Damascus (Acts 9:1), indicating a deep-seated aggression against the followers of Jesus. This early portrayal of Saul contrasts sharply with his later identity as the Apostle Paul, who himself endured numerous imprisonments (2 Cor 11:23), fulfilling Jesus' prophecy to Ananias about what Paul would suffer for His name's sake (Acts 9:16). Saul’s systematic home invasion mirrored a strategy that could only be carried out with at least the tacit approval of local Jewish authorities, suggesting he acted with significant institutional backing, reflecting the prevailing sentiment among certain powerful religious leaders of the time. This fierce opposition, rather than crushing the movement, contributed to the scattering of believers, turning what was intended for harm into an avenue for the Gospel's diffusion into new territories beyond Jerusalem, fulfilling the mandate of Acts 1:8.

Acts 8 3 Commentary

Acts 8:3 vividly paints the destructive impact of Saul's initial fervent opposition to the Way. His actions were not random acts of violence but a systematic, calculated campaign designed to annihilate the early church. The graphic language, comparing Saul's devastation to a wild animal tearing prey (elymaineto), underscores the savagery and intensity of his religious zeal. He relentlessly pursued believers into the sanctity of their private homes, indiscriminately arresting men and women and consigning them to prison. This verse provides crucial background to Saul's later conversion, revealing the depth of his conviction and commitment before encountering the resurrected Jesus. It demonstrates that misguided religious zeal, divorced from the truth of Christ, can lead to horrific acts of persecution. This dark episode in Saul's life ultimately set the stage for one of the greatest redemptive narratives in Christian history, proving that even the most zealous opponents can be transformed by God's grace. Practically, it highlights the courage of early believers and the painful reality of suffering for faith, yet also indirectly demonstrates how persecution, in God's sovereign plan, can unintentionally lead to the wider spread of the Gospel.