Who were the believers who fled Jerusalem and why did they leave?
The believers who fled Jerusalem were Jewish believers who had followed Christ during His earthly ministry or responded to Peter's preaching. They left because of Saul's persecution, and the persecution that arose around Stephen, scattering as far as Antioch in Syria, preaching the word to Jews only.
Les explains that these were believing Jews who had followed Christ proudly in His earthly ministry or had responded to Peter's and the Levites' preaching in the early chapters of Acts. Because of Saul's persecution, they fled Jerusalem, and they were also scattered by the persecution that arose around Stephen, about seven years after Pentecost. They traveled as far as Phenice, Cyprus, and Antioch in Syria, but wherever they went they preached the word to none but Jews. Since no New Testament was yet written, they had only the Old Testament, which was written to the Jew, so their preaching was Jew only.
Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.
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.