So I sent messengers to them saying, “I am doing an important work, so I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?”
Acts 8:1 - Tree of Life Version Now Saul was in agreement with Stephen’s execution. On that day a great persecution arose against Messiah’s community in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the region of Judea and Samaria, except the emissaries. Tuilleadh leaganachaKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judæa and Samaria, except the apostles. Amplified Bible - Classic Edition AND SAUL was [not only] consenting to [Stephen's] death [he was pleased and entirely approving]. On that day a great and severe persecution broke out against the church which was in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles (special messengers). American Standard Version (1901) And Saul was consenting unto his death. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church which was in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judæa and Samaria, except the apostles. Common English Bible Saul was in full agreement with Stephen’s murder. At that time, the church in Jerusalem began to be subjected to vicious harassment. Everyone except the apostles was scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria. Catholic Public Domain Version Now in those days, there occurred a great persecution against the Church at Jerusalem. And they were all dispersed throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the Apostles. Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version AND at that time there was raised a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all dispersed through the countries of Judea, and Samaria, except the apostles. |
So I sent messengers to them saying, “I am doing an important work, so I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?”
My God sent His angel to shut the lions’ mouths so that they haven’t harmed me, because I was found innocent before Him. Nor have I committed any crime against you, O king.”
“Because of this, behold, I’m sending you prophets and wise men and Torah scholars. Some of them you will kill and execute at the stake, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city.
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt should lose its flavor, how shall it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.
“Remember the word I spoke to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.
They will throw you out of the synagogues. Yes, an hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God.
But you will receive power when the Ruach ha-Kodesh has come upon you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and through all Judah, and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Now in the Antioch community, there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius the Cyrenian, Manaen (brought up since childhood with Herod the Tetrarch), and Saul.
For after David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he went to sleep and was laid with his fathers and saw decay.
praising God and having favor with all the people. And every day the Lord was adding to their number those being saved.
Even when the blood of Your witness Stephen was spilled, I too was standing by and approving, and guarding the clothing of those who were killing him.’
And that is what I did in Jerusalem. Not only did I lock up many of the kedoshim in prisons by the authority I received from the ruling kohanim, but I cast my vote against them when they were being condemned to death.
“Go, stand in the Temple and speak to the people the whole message about this Life.”
Now when they heard this, they became enraged and wanted to kill them.
called in the emissaries, flogged them, ordered them not to continue speaking in the name of Yeshua, and let them go.
“This is the one who was in the community in the wilderness, with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers. He received living words to pass on to us.
When they heard these things, they became enraged and began gnashing their teeth at him.
Driving him out of the city, they began stoning him, and the witnesses laid down their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul.
Now when the emissaries in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the message of God, they sent Peter and John to them.
Philip went down to the main city of Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah to them.
So Messiah’s community throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had shalom and was built up. Walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Ruach ha-Kodesh, it kept multiplying.
Though they know God’s righteous decree—that those who practice such things deserve death—they not only do them but also approve of others who practice the same.
Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually resulted in the advancement of the Good News.
By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger—for he persevered as if seeing the One who is invisible.