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Text -- Acts 8:4 (NET)

Strongs On/Off
Context
Philip Preaches in Samaria
8:4 Now those who had been forced to scatter went around proclaiming the good news of the word.
Parallel   Cross Reference (TSK)   ITL  

Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics

Dictionary Themes and Topics: Zeal | ROMANS, EPISTLE TO THE | Philip | Persecution | Jerusalem | EVANGELIST | CHURCH | more
Table of Contents

Word/Phrase Notes
Robertson , Wesley , JFB , Clarke , Calvin , TSK

Word/Phrase Notes
Barnes , Poole , Gill

Verse Notes / Footnotes


Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis , Combined Bible , Maclaren , MHCC , Matthew Henry , Barclay , Constable , College

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)

Robertson: Act 8:4 - -- They therefore ( hoi men oun ). Demonstrative hoi as often (Act 1:6, etc.) though it will make sense as the article with the participle diasparente...

They therefore ( hoi men oun ).

Demonstrative hoi as often (Act 1:6, etc.) though it will make sense as the article with the participle diasparentes . The general statement is made here by men and a particular instance (de ) follows in Act 8:5. The inferential particle (oun ) points back to Act 8:3, the persecution by young Saul and the Pharisees. Jesus had commanded the disciples not to depart from Jerusalem till they received the Promise of the Father (Act 1:4), but they had remained long after that and were not carrying the gospel to the other peoples (Act 1:8). Now they were pushed out by Saul and began as a result to carry out the Great Commission for world conquest, that is those "scattered abroad"(diasparentes , second aorist passive participle of diaspeirō ). This verb means disperse, to sow in separate or scattered places (dia ) and so to drive people hither and thither. Old and very common verb, especially in the lxx, but in the N.T. only in Act 8:1, Act 8:4; Act 11:19.

Robertson: Act 8:4 - -- Went about ( diēlthon ). Constative second aorist active of dierchomai , to go through (from place to place, dia ). Old and common verb, frequent ...

Went about ( diēlthon ).

Constative second aorist active of dierchomai , to go through (from place to place, dia ). Old and common verb, frequent for missionary journeys in the Acts (Act 5:40; Act 8:40; Act 9:32; Act 11:19; Act 13:6).

Robertson: Act 8:4 - -- Preaching the word ( euaggelizomenoi ton logon ). Evangelizing or gospelizing the word (the truth about Christ). In Act 11:19 Luke explains more full...

Preaching the word ( euaggelizomenoi ton logon ).

Evangelizing or gospelizing the word (the truth about Christ). In Act 11:19 Luke explains more fully the extent of the labours of these new preachers of the gospel. They were emergency preachers, not ordained clergymen, but men stirred to activity by the zeal of Saul against them. The blood of the martyrs (Stephen) was already becoming the seed of the church. "The violent dispersion of these earnest disciples resulted in a rapid diffusion of the gospel"(Alvah Hovey).

Wesley: Act 8:4 - -- These very words are reassumed, after as it were a long parenthesis, Act 11:19 and the thread of the story continued.

These very words are reassumed, after as it were a long parenthesis, Act 11:19 and the thread of the story continued.

JFB: Act 8:4 - -- Though solemnly enjoined to do this (Luk 24:47; Act 1:8), they would probably have lingered at Jerusalem, but for this besom of persecution which swep...

Though solemnly enjoined to do this (Luk 24:47; Act 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 Phi 1:12-13).

Clarke: Act 8:4 - -- They that were scattered - went every where preaching - Thus the very means devised by Satan to destroy the Church became the very instruments of it...

They that were scattered - went every where preaching - Thus the very means devised by Satan to destroy the Church became the very instruments of its diffusion and establishment. What are counsel, or might, or cunning, or rage, or malice, against the Lord, whether they are excited by men or devils!

Calvin: Act 8:4 - -- 4.And they were scattered abroad. Luke declareth in this place also, that it came to pass by the wonderful providence of God, that the scattering abr...

4.And they were scattered abroad. Luke declareth in this place also, that it came to pass by the wonderful providence of God, that the scattering abroad of the faithful should bring many unto the unity of faith; thus doth the Lord use to bring light out of darkness, and life out of death. For the voice of the gospel, which was heard heretofore in one place only, doth now sound everywhere; in the mean season, we are taught by this example that we must not yield unto persecutions, but rather be encouraged unto valiantness; for, when the faithful flee from Jerusalem, they are not afterward discouraged either with exile or with their present miseries, or with any fear, that they degenerate into slothfulness; 500 but they are as ready to preach Christ even in the midst of their calamity as if they had never suffered any trouble. Moreover, Luke seemeth to note that they led a wandering life in that they changed their lodgings often. Therefore, if we desire to be counted their brethren, let us prick forward ourselves so diligently, that no fear or bitterness of cross discourage us, but that we go forward in showing forth the profession of faith; and that we never be weary of furthering the doctrine of Christ; for it is an absurd thing that exile and flight, which are the first exercises of martyrdom, should make us dumb and fainthearted.

TSK: Act 8:4 - -- Act 11:19, Act 14:2-7; Mat 10:23; 1Th 2:2

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)

Barnes: Act 8:4 - -- Went everywhere - That is, they traveled through the various regions where they were scattered. In all places to which they came, they preached...

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 manifestly common Christians who were scattered by the persecution; and the meaning is, that they communicated to their fellow-men in conversation wherever they met them, and probably in the synagogues, where all Jews had a right to speak, the glad tidings that the Messiah had come. It is not said that they set themselves up for public teachers, or that they administered baptism, or that they founded churches, but they proclaimed everywhere the news that a Saviour had come. Their hearts were full of it. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks; and they made the truth known to "all"whom they met. We may learn from this:

(1)    That persecution tends to promote the very thing which it would destroy.

(2)\caps1     t\caps0 hat one of the best means to make Christians active and zealous is to persecute them.

(3)\caps1     t\caps0 hat it is right for all Christians to make known the truths of the gospel. When the heart is full the lips will speak, and there is no more impropriety in their speaking of redemption than of anything else.

(4)\caps1     i\caps0 t should be the great object of all Christians to make the Saviour known "everywhere."By their lives, their conversation, and their pious exhortations and entreaties, they should beseech dying sinners to be reconciled to God. And especially should this be done when they "are traveling."Christians when away from home seem almost to imagine that they lay aside the obligations of religion. But the example of Christ and his early disciples has taught us that this is the very time to attempt to do good.

Poole: Act 8:4 - -- Now the partition wall was about to be broken down, and the Gentiles to be taken into the pale of the church, God provides this strange means toward...

Now the partition wall was about to be broken down, and the Gentiles to be taken into the pale of the church, God provides this strange means towards it. The disciples are forced to flee for their lives out of Jerusalem, and have an opportunity to preach Christ and the gospel wheresoever they came: thus God can make light to come out of darkness, and makes Japheth to dwell in the tents of Shem, Gen 9:27 .

Gill: Act 8:4 - -- Therefore they that were scattered abroad,.... By reason of the persecution in Jerusalem: the seventy disciples, and other ministers of the word; or t...

Therefore they that were scattered abroad,.... By reason of the persecution in Jerusalem: the seventy disciples, and other ministers of the word; or the hundred and twenty, excepting the apostles,

went every where; or

went through the countries of Judea and Samaria, as far as Phenice, Cyrus, and Antioch:

preaching the word; the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Ethiopic versions add, "of God", and so some copies; the Gospel, which is the word of God, and not man; which was not of men, nor received from men, but came from God, and by the revelation of Christ; and which was good news and glad tidings, of peace, pardon, righteousness and salvation, by Jesus Christ.

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Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

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Commentary -- Verse Range Notes

TSK Synopsis: Act 8:1-40 - --1 By occasion of the persecution in Jerusalem, the church being planted in Samaria, by Philip the deacon, who preached, did miracles, and baptized man...

Combined Bible: Act 8:4 - --notes on verse 1     

Maclaren: Act 8:1-17 - --Seed Scattered And Taking Root And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at...

MHCC: Act 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 ...

Matthew Henry: Act 8:4-13 - -- Samson's riddle is here again unriddled: Out of the eater comes forth meat, and out of the strong sweetness. The persecution that was designed to ...

Barclay: Act 8:1-4 - --Ac 8 is an important chapter in the history of the Church. The Church began by being a purely Jewish institution. Ac 6 shows the first murmurings of...

Barclay: Act 8:1-4 - --The death of Stephen was the signal for an outbreak of persecution which compelled the Christians to scatter and to seek safety in the remoter distric...

Constable: Act 6:8--9:32 - --II. THE WITNESS IN JUDEA AND SAMARIA 6:8--9:31 In this next major section of Acts, Luke narrated three significa...

Constable: Act 8:1-40 - --B. The ministry of Philip 8:1b-40 Luke next featured other important events in the expansion of the chur...

Constable: Act 8:1-25 - --1. The evangelization of Samaria 8:1b-25 The first part of Philip's important witness took place...

Constable: Act 8:4-8 - --Philip's evangelization of Samaria 8:4-8 8:4 Whereas persecution resulted in the death of some believers it also dispersed the disciples over a wider ...

College: Act 8:1-40 - --ACTS 8 II. THE CHURCH IN JUDEA AND SAMARIA (8:1b-12:25) A. PERSECUTION AND DISPERSION OF THE CHURCH (8:1b-3) On that day a great persecution brok...

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Introduction / Outline

Robertson: Acts (Book Introduction) THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES By Way of Introduction But for the Acts we should know nothing of the early apostolic period save what is told in the Epi...

JFB: Acts (Book Introduction) THIS book is to the Gospels what the fruit is to the tree that bears it. In the Gospels we see the corn of wheat falling into the ground and dying: in...

JFB: Acts (Outline) INTRODUCTION--LAST DAYS OF OUR LORD UPON EARTH--HIS ASCENSION. (Act 1:1-11) RETURN OF THE ELEVEN TO JERUSALEM--PROCEEDINGS IN THE UPPER ROOM TILL PEN...

TSK: Acts (Book Introduction) The Acts of the Apostles is a most valuable portion of Divine revelation; and, independently of its universal reception in the Christian church, as an...

TSK: Acts 8 (Chapter Introduction) Overview Act 8:1, By occasion of the persecution in Jerusalem, the church being planted in Samaria, by Philip the deacon, who preached, did miracl...

Poole: Acts 8 (Chapter Introduction) CHAPTER 8

MHCC: Acts (Book Introduction) This book unites the Gospels to the Epistles. It contains many particulars concerning the apostles Peter and Paul, and of the Christian church from th...

MHCC: Acts 8 (Chapter Introduction) (Act 8:1-4) Saul persecutes the church. (Act 8:5-13) Philip's success at Samaria. Simon the sorcerer baptized. (Act 8:14-25) The hypocrisy of Simon ...

Matthew Henry: Acts (Book Introduction) An Exposition, with Practical Observations, of The Acts of the Apostles We have with an abundant satisfaction seen the foundation of our holy religion...

Matthew Henry: Acts 8 (Chapter Introduction) In this chapter we have an account of the persecutions of the Christians, and the propagating of Christianity thereby. It was strange, but very tru...

Barclay: Acts (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES A Precious Book In one sense Acts is the most important book in the New Testament. It is the simple truth t...

Barclay: Acts 8 (Chapter Introduction) The Church Reaches Out (Act_8:1-4) Havoc Of The Church (Act_8:1-4 Continued) In Samaria (Act_8:5-13) Things Which Cannot Be Bought And Sold (Act...

Constable: Acts (Book Introduction) Introduction Title The title "Acts of the Apostles" is very ancient. The Anti-Marcioni...

Constable: Acts (Outline) Outline I. The witness in Jerusalem 1:1-6:7 A. The founding of the church 1:1-2:46 ...

Constable: Acts Acts Bibliography Albright, William Foxwell. The Archaeology of Palestine. 1949. Revised ed. Pelican Archaeolog...

Haydock: Acts (Book Introduction) THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. INTRODUCTION. St. Luke, who had published his gospel, wrote also a second volume, which, from the first ages, hath bee...

Gill: Acts (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO ACTS This book, in some copies, is called, "The Acts of the holy Apostles". It contains an history of the ministry and miracles of ...

College: Acts (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION As early as the second century the title "The Acts of the Apostles" was given to this document. Before that time the work probably circu...

College: Acts (Outline) OUTLINE I. THE CHURCH IN JERUSALEM - 1:1-8:1a A. INTRODUCTION OF THE BOOK - 1:1-3 B. THE COMMISSIONING OF THE APOSTLES - 1:4-8 C. THE ASCENSI...

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