They therefore for therefore they, A.V.; about for everywhere, A.V. Went about ; i.e. from place to place, and wherever they went they preached the Word. διέρχομαι here is used in the same sense as in Acts 8:40 , and in Acts 10:38 ; Acts 17:23 ; Acts 20:25 , and elsewhere. read more
The first flight of the Word. "Therefore they that were scattered abroad," etc. It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save the world. Providence and grace work hand-in-hand. The Church needed to be taught by discipline. Jerusalem a natural center of religious life. But a center of radiation, not concentration. I. PREACHING THE WORD the greatest function of the Christian Church. 1. The Word preached was the Word given. Apostles gave it. It was pre-eminently... read more
Went everywhere - That is, they traveled through the various regions where they were scattered. In all places to which they came, they preached the Word.Preaching the word - Greek: “evangelizing,” or announcing the good news of the message of mercy, or the Word of God. This is not the usual word which is rendered “preach,” but it means simply announcing the good news of salvation. There is no evidence, nor is there any probability, that all these persons were “ordained” to preach. They were... read more
8:4-9:31 THROUGHOUT PALESTINE AND BEYONDChristianity enters Samaria (8:4-25)In the time of the Roman Empire, the region of Samaria was the central part of Palestine and along with the neighbouring region of Judea was governed from Caesarea. The origins of the Samaritans go back to Old Testament times, when Samaria was the name of the chief city of the region.After Assyria had conquered the central and northern parts of Israel and taken the people into captivity (722 BC), it moved people from... read more
Therefore, &c. = They therefore indeed. went every where. Lit passed through. Greek. dierchomai. Occ forty-three times, thirty-one times in Luke and Acts. preaching. Greek. euangelizo. App-121 . word. Greek. logos. App-121 . read more
They therefore that were scattered abroad went about preaching the word.As Joseph Benson noted:The great majority of the dispersed Christians held no office in the church; yet they preached wherever they came, and this spread of the gospel without the Holy City, this planting the church in the regions beyond, was effected not by the apostles but by an entirely voluntary and unofficial agency.[9]II. THE CHURCH IN JUDEA AND SAMARIA (Acts 8:5-11:18)With Acts 8:5, a new era in the church began. The... read more
Acts 8:4. Went every where preaching the word— As the apostles were natives of Judea, and had no notion of the conversion of the Gentiles, but would have confined theirministry within the narrow bounds of their own country; this dispersion was nicely ordered by Divine Providence, to render the design of Christ's coming among men fully effectual, which was both to be a light to lighten the Gentiles, and to be the glory of his people Israel. read more
4. they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching—Though solemnly enjoined to do this (Luke 24:47; Acts 1:8), they would probably have lingered at Jerusalem, but for this besom of persecution which swept them out. How often has the rage of Christ's enemies thus "turned out rather unto the furtherance of the Gospel" (see Philippians 1:12; Philippians 1:13). Philippians 1:13- :. SUCCESS OF PHILIP'S PREACHING IN SAMARIA—CASE OF SIMON MAGUS. read more
1. The evangelization of Samaria 8:1-25The first part of Philip’s important witness took place in Samaria. Luke recorded the cause of Philip’s ministry there (Acts 8:1-3), its nature (Acts 8:4-8), and its effects (Acts 8:9-24). read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 8:1-13
Incidents of persecution and dispersion. I. A GLIMPSE OF SAUL THE PERSECUTOR . Though brief and passing, it is very significant. He was a party to the execution of Stephen. Saul was full of ignorance and blind passion. What he afterwards felt about his conduct is expressed in 1 Timothy 1:3 . This example should be a standing warning to us against trust in mere feeling and enthusiasm. The fumes of anger and violence are no signs of pure glowing zeal for the truth, but rather... read more