Thematic Bible
Thematic Bible
Afflictions made beneficial » In furthering the gospel
But Saul brought devastation to the church by entering everyone's house and dragging men and women off to jail.
Verse Concepts
Those who were scattered everywhere as a result of the persecution [being waged against the church] because of Stephen's [death], traveled as far away as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, declaring the message to Jews only. But when some men from Cyprus and Cyrene came to Antioch, they preached [about] the Lord Jesus to the Greeks [i.e., Gentiles] also. The power of the Lord was upon their efforts so that a large number of people who believed [the message] turned to the Lord [in faithful obedience].
Now I want you to know, brothers, that the things that happened to me have resulted in the advancement [of the influence] of the Gospel rather [than hindering it],
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for which I am suffering difficulty [here] in prison, as [though I were] a criminal. But God's message is not "in prison."
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At my first defense [Note: Paul here refers to his initial hearing before the Roman court] no one supported me, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message could be fully proclaimed and that all the Gentiles could hear it. And I was rescued from the lion's mouth. [Note: This is probably a figure of speech indicating that Paul had escaped some immediate danger. See Psa. 22:20-21].
Church » The wicked persecute
And Saul was in full agreement with Stephen being put to death. And a great persecution broke out against the Jerusalem church, and all the disciples, except the apostles, were scattered throughout the districts of Judea and Samaria. The godly men who buried Stephen's body mourned over his loss very deeply. But Saul brought devastation to the church by entering everyone's house and dragging men and women off to jail.
For you brothers became imitators of the churches of God in Judea, which are in [fellowship with] Christ, for you people also suffered the same things from your own countrymen that they did from the Jews, who killed the Lord Jesus and the [Old Testament] prophets and also drove us [apostles] out [of Thessalonica and Berea. See Acts 17]. They are not pleasing to God and are hostile to all people,
The church » The wicked persecute
And Saul was in full agreement with Stephen being put to death. And a great persecution broke out against the Jerusalem church, and all the disciples, except the apostles, were scattered throughout the districts of Judea and Samaria. The godly men who buried Stephen's body mourned over his loss very deeply. But Saul brought devastation to the church by entering everyone's house and dragging men and women off to jail.
For you brothers became imitators of the churches of God in Judea, which are in [fellowship with] Christ, for you people also suffered the same things from your own countrymen that they did from the Jews, who killed the Lord Jesus and the [Old Testament] prophets and also drove us [apostles] out [of Thessalonica and Berea. See Acts 17]. They are not pleasing to God and are hostile to all people,
religious Intolerance » The jewish leaders » In persecuting stephen
And Saul was in full agreement with Stephen being put to death. And a great persecution broke out against the Jerusalem church, and all the disciples, except the apostles, were scattered throughout the districts of Judea and Samaria. The godly men who buried Stephen's body mourned over his loss very deeply. But Saul brought devastation to the church by entering everyone's house and dragging men and women off to jail.
But several men from the synagogue, made up of freed slaves from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia and Asia, began arguing with Stephen. But they could not stand up to the wisdom and [power of] the Holy Spirit by which Stephen spoke. Then they enlisted men to say [i.e., to testify falsely against Stephen, verse 13], "We heard him criticizing Moses and [even] God." read more.
And they stirred up the people, the elders and the teachers of the law of Moses and searched for him, seized him and brought him before the Council. They had arranged for the false witnesses to say, "This man will not stop speaking against the Temple and the law of Moses, for we [ourselves] heard him saying that this Jesus from Nazareth would destroy the Temple and change the customs handed down to us by Moses." Then, as all the Council members stared at Stephen, his face appeared to them like an angel's.
And they stirred up the people, the elders and the teachers of the law of Moses and searched for him, seized him and brought him before the Council. They had arranged for the false witnesses to say, "This man will not stop speaking against the Temple and the law of Moses, for we [ourselves] heard him saying that this Jesus from Nazareth would destroy the Temple and change the customs handed down to us by Moses." Then, as all the Council members stared at Stephen, his face appeared to them like an angel's.
But they shouted loudly and refused to listen, and then all of them rushed at him. They threw him out of the city and stoned him [to death]. Those who witnessed [the incident] placed their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. So, they stoned Stephen [to death] as he called out to the Lord, saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit [as I die]."
Jerusalem » Disciples persecuted and dispersed from
Those who were scattered everywhere as a result of the persecution [being waged against the church] because of Stephen's [death], traveled as far away as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, declaring the message to Jews only. But when some men from Cyprus and Cyrene came to Antioch, they preached [about] the Lord Jesus to the Greeks [i.e., Gentiles] also. The power of the Lord was upon their efforts so that a large number of people who believed [the message] turned to the Lord [in faithful obedience].
And Saul was in full agreement with Stephen being put to death. And a great persecution broke out against the Jerusalem church, and all the disciples, except the apostles, were scattered throughout the districts of Judea and Samaria. The godly men who buried Stephen's body mourned over his loss very deeply. But Saul brought devastation to the church by entering everyone's house and dragging men and women off to jail. read more.
Now the disciples, who had become scattered all over, went everywhere preaching the message [of God].
Now the disciples, who had become scattered all over, went everywhere preaching the message [of God].
Paul » Persecutes the Christians; present at, and gives consent to, the stoning of stephen
But Saul brought devastation to the church by entering everyone's house and dragging men and women off to jail.
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With every breath [it seemed], Saul [expressed his desire to] threaten and murder the Lord's disciples and [even] went to the head priest
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And Saul was in full agreement with Stephen being put to death. And a great persecution broke out against the Jerusalem church, and all the disciples, except the apostles, were scattered throughout the districts of Judea and Samaria.
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They threw him out of the city and stoned him [to death]. Those who witnessed [the incident] placed their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.
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And I persecuted this 'Way' [even to the point of] putting people to death. [I had] both men and women bound [in chains] and locked up in prisons.
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Prisons » Used for confining » Persons accused of heresy
But Saul brought devastation to the church by entering everyone's house and dragging men and women off to jail.
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So, these [Jewish] leaders arrested Peter and John and put them in jail until the next day because it was [already] evening.
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and arrested the apostles and put them in jail.
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