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.
Les explains that Acts 8 comes about seven years after Pentecost, according to the chronologies he has studied. At that point, Saul's persecution had been running rampant, especially in the area of Jerusalem and Judea, against Jewish believers. In chapter 8, verse 1, Stephen had just been put to death by stoning, and Saul was consenting to his death. At that time there was a great persecution against the church, the assembly, at Jerusalem—Jewish believers. As a result, they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria. The context then raises the question of who was excepted from that scattering.
And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
More Questions
How is Saul introduced in the book of Acts?
Saul, later Paul, is introduced in Acts as the persecutor of these Jewish believers; he consented to Stephen's death and headed up a terrible persecution against the church.