Who was Saul persecuting in Jerusalem and Judea in Acts 8?
Saul was persecuting Jewish believers—the church or assembly at Jerusalem. His persecution ran rampant especially in Jerusalem and Judea about seven years after Pentecost. After Stephen was stoned and Saul consented, a great persecution scattered those Jewish believers throughout Judea and Samaria.
Les explains that in Acts chapter 8, about seven years after Pentecost according to the chronologies he has studied, Saul's persecution had been running rampant, especially in the area of Jerusalem and Judea, against Jewish believers. In Acts 8:1, Stephen had just been put to death by stoning, and Saul was consenting unto his death. At that time there was a great persecution against the church—the assembly—which was at Jerusalem, made up of Jewish believers. As a result, those Jewish believers were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria.
Where was Saul's persecution especially rampant in Acts 8?
Saul's persecution was especially rampant in the area of Jerusalem and Judea, against Jewish believers. The great persecution against the assembly at Jerusalem followed Stephen's stoning, and the Jewish believers were scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria. That is where the persecution was most concentrated.
Against whom was the persecution that arose about Stephen directed, and how far did Saul pursue them?
The persecution that arose about Stephen was directed against Jewish believers, the church or assembly at Jerusalem. They were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Saul pursued them as far as Damascus, because Jewish believers were also located there.