Acts 8:4 kjv
Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.
Acts 8:4 nkjv
Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.
Acts 8:4 niv
Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.
Acts 8:4 esv
Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.
Acts 8:4 nlt
But the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went.
Acts 8 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 8:1 | Saul was consenting to his death. And at that time there arose a great persecution against the church... | Background to scattering (Acts 11:19) |
| Acts 11:19 | Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose after Stephen... | Those scattered by Stephen's death |
| John 16:32 | Yet a time is coming, and has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home... | Jesus foretells scattering |
| Psalm 46:1-3 | God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble... | God's protection amidst trouble |
| Isaiah 61:1 | The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me... to proclaim good news to the afflicted... | The message proclaimed |
| Mark 16:15 | And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” | The Great Commission |
| Romans 10:14-15 | How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?... | The necessity of preaching |
| 2 Timothy 4:2 | Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort... | Instruction on preaching |
| Philippians 1:12 | I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel... | Persecution advancing the gospel |
| Colossians 1:23 | ...if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard... | Continuing in the gospel |
| 1 Peter 1:6-7 | In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you must be afflicted... | Refined by suffering |
| Genesis 50:20 | As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good... | God turning evil into good |
| Deuteronomy 30:3 | ...then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you... | Restoration after dispersion |
| Jeremiah 29:14 | I will be found by you, declares the Lord. I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations... | God's promise of regathering |
| Isaiah 55:10-11 | For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and return not thither... | The effective Word of God |
| Acts 8:5 | Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. | Example of those scattered |
| Acts 8:26-40 | The account of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch. | Another example of spreading the gospel |
| Matthew 28:19-20 | Go therefore and make disciples of all nations... | The Great Commission repeated |
| 1 Corinthians 1:18 | For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. | The power of the preached word |
| Acts 1:8 | But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you... | The power enabling the proclamation |
Acts 8 verses
Acts 8 4 Meaning
The believers who were scattered by persecution actively preached the gospel wherever they went.
Acts 8 4 Context
This verse describes the immediate aftermath of Saul's persecution which scattered the early Christians beyond Jerusalem. The persecution, triggered by Stephen's martyrdom, did not stop the spread of the gospel; instead, it served to advance it. Those who fled took the message of Christ with them, preaching it in new regions. This movement of believers out of Jerusalem fulfilled Jesus' earlier commission to spread the good news to "all the nations."
Acts 8 4 Word Analysis
- μὲν (men) - A particle, often untranslatable, but it serves to mark a distinction or emphasis, often introducing a contrast or a new aspect of a statement. Here, it subtly sets up what "those who were scattered" did, in contrast to the reason for their scattering.
- οὖτοι (houtoi) - "these" or "these ones," referring back to the believers who were scattered.
- διασπαρέντες (diasparentes) - From διασπείρω (diaspeirō), meaning "to scatter abroad," "to disperse," or "to sow widely." It carries a strong sense of being spread out over a wide area.
- ἀπῆλθον (apēlthon) - The aorist indicative of ἀπέρχομαι (aperchomai), meaning "to go away," "to depart," or "to go forth."
- εὐαγγελιζόμενοι (euangelizomenoi) - The present participle of εὐαγγελίζω (euangelizō), meaning "to preach the good news," "to evangelize." The present tense indicates an ongoing action.
- τον λόγον (ton logon) - "the word." This refers to the message of the gospel, the good news about Jesus Christ.
- διερχόμενοι (dierchomenoi) - The present participle of διέρχομαι (dierchomai), meaning "to pass through," "to go through," or "to travel through." It indicates movement across and within regions.
Words/Group Analysis
- "scattered abroad": This phrase highlights a forced dispersal. However, the active preaching signifies the believers’ proactive faith, transforming a negative event into an opportunity for evangelism. This echoes Old Testament prophecies of restoration through dispersion (cf. Deut 30:3).
- "went forth preaching the word": This collective action of the scattered believers is the core of the verse. It shows the intrinsic nature of faith—it moves and it speaks. The gospel is not meant to be contained but to spread.
Acts 8 4 Bonus Section
The actions described in this verse align with the biblical principle of resilience and faithfulness in adversity. The early church, despite suffering, did not fall silent but became even more vocal about their faith. This proactive spreading of the word highlights a characteristic of genuine faith: it cannot be suppressed by external forces. The systematic spread through these scattered individuals is a foundational element of how Christianity moved from a small sect in Jerusalem to a global religion. It showcases the organic, person-to-person transmission of the gospel message.
Acts 8 4 Commentary
The scattering of believers, though caused by intense persecution, paradoxically became a powerful catalyst for the gospel's expansion. This demonstrates God's sovereignty, turning human intent for harm into a means for divine purpose. Each believer became an unintentional missionary, carrying the transforming message of Christ into new territories. Their act of preaching the word, wherever they went, underscores the core mission of the church to share the good news. This early church understood that the message of salvation was too important to keep to themselves, even in the face of personal danger. Their dispersion fulfilled the Great Commission on a practical level, planting seeds of faith far beyond Jerusalem.