Acts 8:1-5 ▼

1 Saul wholeheartedly approved of Stephen’s death. And on that day a great and relentless persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem; and the believers were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles.

2 Some devout men buried Stephen, and mourned greatly over him [expressing a personal sense of loss].

3 But Saul began ravaging the church [and assaulting believers]; entering house after house and dragging off men and women, putting them in prison.

4 Now those [believers] who had been scattered went from place to place preaching the word [the good news of salvation through Christ].

5 Philip [the evangelist] went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed) to them.