Why were the Jerusalem believers scattered throughout Judea and Samaria?
A great persecution arose against the church in Jerusalem after Stephen was stoned to death, and Saul consented to his death. Because of this persecution against Jewish believers, they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria. This occurred about seven years after Pentecost.
Les explains that in Acts chapter 8, about seven years after Pentecost, Stephen had just been put to death by stoning. Saul was consenting to Stephen’s death, and at that time there was a great persecution against the church, the assembly, which was at Jerusalem—Jewish believers. As a result, those Jewish believers were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria. Les highlights that this persecution drove them out, and he notes the rhetorical question about who was excepted.
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
Who did not leave Jerusalem when the believers were scattered in Acts 8?
When the believers were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria in Acts 8:1, the exception was the Twelve; the twelve apostles did not leave Jerusalem.
Who stayed in Jerusalem when the believers were scattered after Stephen's persecution?
In the scattering after the persecution that arose about Stephen, the Twelve apostles did not scatter with everyone else; they remained in Jerusalem even about eight years after Pentecost.
Who was scattered and who stayed in Jerusalem in Acts 8:1?
In Acts 8:1, all the believers except the apostles were scattered because of the pressure, while the apostles stayed in Jerusalem.