Who is included in the word 'all' in Acts 8:1?
The word 'all' includes every Jew who had embraced Christ as the Messiah—every believing Jew in Jerusalem. They were all scattered throughout Judea and Samaria, except the Apostles, who stayed in Jerusalem. So the 'all' refers to the entire company of Jewish believers, not the Apostles.
Les emphasizes that he is a literalist and a stickler for every word of Scripture. He concludes that when Acts 8:1 says they were all scattered, it means every Jew who had embraced Christ as the Messiah is included in that word 'all.' The great persecution against the Assembly at Jerusalem, headed by Saul, forced every believing Jew to flee for their lives throughout Judea and Samaria. The only exceptions were the Apostles, who remained in Jerusalem. So the 'all' covers the whole body of Jewish believers, but the Apostles are explicitly 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 made up the church at Jerusalem in Acts 8?
The Jerusalem assembly/church that was being persecuted in Acts 8 was composed of Jewish believers.