Acts 8:1 (Aspects of the Passage)

Greek: Σαῦλος δὲ ἦν συνευδοκῶν τῇ ἀναιρέσει αὐτοῦ. Ἐγένετο δὲ ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ διωγμὸς μέγας ἐπὶ τὴν ἐκκλησίαν τὴν ἐν Ἰεροσολύμοις· πάντες δὲ διεσπάρησαν κατὰ τὰς χώρας τῆς Ἰουδαίας καὶ Σαμαρίας πλὴν τῶν ἀποστόλων. (WH)

Translations: "Saul agreed with putting him to death. On that day a severe persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the land of Judea and Samaria." (HCSB)

"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 Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles." (ASV)

"And Saul agreed completely with killing him. Now on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were forced to scatter throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria." (NET)

"Saul, for his part, approved of his murder. On that day great persecution arose against the congregation that was in Jerusalem; all except the apostles were scattered throughout the regions of Ju·deʹa and Sa·marʹi·a." (NWT 2013)

See 1 Maccabees 11:24.

Craig Keener Comments for Acts 8:1: The “great persecution” (διωγμὸς μέγας) that came on the church may recall Stephen’s recent claim that his accusers’ predecessors “persecuted” (ἐδίωξαν) the prophets (Acts 7:52; cf. Luke 11:49); it also fulfills Jesus’s prediction (Luke 11:49; 21:12, διώξουσιν).[16] It prepares the way for the next occurrence of a cognate term, describing Saul’s own activity (Acts 9:4–5; cf. 22:4, 7–8; 26:11, 14–15); Luke must introduce the idea here to explain the scattering of believers and their message (8:4; picked up in 11:19), which provides the backdrop for Philip’s mission (8:5). Saul’s “approval” (8:1a) belongs with the preceding paragraph, continuing the thought of 7:58, as mentioned above.[17] Saul’s “approval” of Stephen’s execution (8:1; 22:20)[18] was no less culpable than that of those who stood in continuity with the prophets’ murderers in Luke 11:48 (the only other Lukan reference, to which Luke may allude by using this term; cf. Rom 1:32; 1 Clem. 35.6).[19] Paul clearly did more than approve during the rest of the persecution, however, and he probably participated in Stephen’s death as more than simply an onlooker. He likely belonged to the synagogue faction that opposed Stephen (Acts 6:9; 9:11). Clothing was placed at his feet (7:58), possibly (though not certainly) suggesting his authority (4:35, 37; 5:1), and he quickly emerges as the movement’s leader (8:3).

Robertson's Word Picture in the New Testament: A great persecution (διωγμος μεγας). It was at first persecution from the Sadducees, but this attack on Stephen was from the Pharisees so that both parties are now united in a general persecution that deserves the adjective "great." See on Mt 13:21 for the old word διωγμος from διωκω, to chase, hunt, pursue, persecute.