Acts 8 · Verse 3

Acts 8:3

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, King James Version

Acts 8:3 in other translations

BSBBut Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.
WEBBut Saul ravaged the assembly, entering into every house and dragged both men and women off to prison.
ASVBut Saul laid waste the church, entering into every house, and dragging men and women committed them to prison.
YLTand Saul was making havoc of the assembly, into every house entering, and haling men and women, was giving them up to prison;
DARBYBut Saul ravaged the assembly, entering into the houses one after another, and dragging off both men and women delivered them up to prison.
BBEBut Saul was burning with hate against the church, going into every house and taking men and women and putting them in prison.
WebsterAs for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and hauling men and women committed them to prison.

What does Acts 8:3 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
3. Saul ... entering into every house--like as inquisitor [Bengel]. haling men and women, &c.--See his own affecting confessions afterwards (Ac 22:4; 26:9, 10; 1Co 15:9; Ga 1:13; Php 3:6; 1Ti 1:13).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 3. As for Saul. But Saul. He had no concern in the pious attentions shown to Stephen, but engaged with zeal in the work of persecution.

He made havoc. ελυμαινετο. This word is commonly applied to wild beasts, to lions, wolves, etc., and denotes the devastations which they commit. Saul raged against the church like a wild beast--a strong expression, denoting the zeal and fury with which he engaged in persecution.

Entering into every house. To search for those who were suspected of being Christians.

Haling. Dragging, or compelling them.

Committed them to prison. The sanhedrim had not power to put them to death, Jn 18:31, but they had power to imprison; and they resolved, it seems, to exercise this power to the utmost. Paul frequently refers to his zeal in persecuting the church, Acts 26:10,11, Gal 1:13. It may be remarked here, that there never was a persecution commenced with more flattering prospects to the persecutors. Saul, the principal agent, was young, zealous, learned, and clothed with power. He showed afterwards that he had talents fitted for any station; and zeal that tired with no exertion, and that was appalled by no obstacle. With this talent he entered on his work. Christians were few and feeble. They were scattered and unarmed. They were unprotected by any civil power, and exposed, therefore, to the full blaze and rage of persecution. That the church was not destroyed, was owing to the protection of God--a protection that not only secured its existence, but which extended its influence and power, by means of this very persecution, far abroad on the earth.

(a) "he made havoc" Acts 26:10,11, Gal 1:13 (*) "haling" "Dragging forth"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 3 Saul made havoc of the Church - The word ελυμαινετο, from λυμαινω, to destroy, devastate, ravage, signifies the act of ferocious animals, such as bears, wolves, and the like, in seeking and devouring their prey. This shows with what persevering rancour this man pursued the harmless Christians; and thus we see in him what bigotry and false zeal are capable of performing. Entering into every house - For, however it might be to others, a Christian man's house was not his castle. Haling men and women - Neither sparing age nor sex in the professors of Christianity. The word συρων signifies dragging them before the magistrates, or dragging them to justice. Committed them to prison - For, as the Romans alone had the power of life and death, the Sanhedrin, by whom Saul was employed, Act 26:10, could do no more than arrest and imprison, in order to inflict any punishment short of death. It is true, St. Paul himself says that some of them were put to death, see Act 26:10; but this was either done by Roman authority, or by what was called the judgment of zeal, i.e. when the mob took the execution of the laws into their own hands, and massacred those whom they pretended to be blasphemers of God: for these sanctified their murderous outrage under the specious name of zeal for God's glory, and quoted the ensample of Phineas as a precedent. Such persons as these formed a sect among the Jews; and are known in ecclesiastical history by the appellation of Zealots or Sicarii.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 8:1-4

Though persecution must not drive us from our work, yet it may send us to work elsewhere. Wherever the established believer is driven, he carries the knowledge of the gospel, and makes known the preciousness of Christ in every place. Where a simple desire of doing good influences the heart, it will be found impossible to shut a man out from all opportunities of usefulness.

Read the full comment on Acts 8:1-4 →

Acts 8:3 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΣαῦλοςSaulosSaulG4569
δὲdehoweverG1161
ἐλυμαίνετοelumainetowas destroyingG3075
τὴνtēntheG3588
ἐκκλησίανekklēsianchurchG1577
κατὰkatabyG2596
τοὺςtous<the>G3588
οἴκουςoikoushousesG3624
εἰσπορευόμενος,eisporeuomenosentering,G1531
σύρωνsurōndragging offG4951
τεtethenG5037
ἄνδραςandrasmenG435
καὶkaiandG2532
γυναῖκαςgunaikaswomenG1135
παρεδίδουparedidouhe was delivering [them]G3860
εἰςeistoG1519
φυλακήν.¶phulakēnprison.G5438

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Acts 8:3

  • 1 Timothy 1:13

    Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

  • Philippians 3:6

    Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:9

    For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

  • Galatians 1:13

    For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:

  • Acts 9:21

    But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?

  • Acts 22:19

    And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee:

  • Acts 7:58

    And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.

  • James 2:6

    But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?

  • Acts 22:3-4

    I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day. And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.

  • Acts 9:1-13

    And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? …

  • Acts 26:9-11

    I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
7:58; 9:1-13,21; 22:3,4; 26:9-11; 1Co 15:9; Ga 1:13; Php 3:6
1Ti 1:13

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Acts 8:2

    And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.

  • Acts 8:3

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

  • Acts 8:4

    Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.

Read all of Acts 8

Acts 8:3 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Entonces Saulo asolaba la iglesia, entrando por las casas: y trayendo hombres y mujeres, los entregaba en la cárcel.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Or Saul ravageait l’assemblée, entrant dans les maisons; et traînant hommes et femmes, il les livrait pour être jetés en prison.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Saulus aber verwüstete die Versammlung, indem er der Reihe nach in die Häuser ging; und er schleppte sowohl Männer als Weiber fort und überlieferte sie ins Gefängnis.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Saulus autem devastabat ecclesiam per domos intrans, et trahens viros ac mulieres, tradebat in custodiam.