Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Acts: Chapter 8]
description of the havoc carried on by Saul now the leader in the
persecution. He is victor over Stephen now who had probably
worsted him in debate in the Cilician synagogue in Jerusalem.
{Into every house} (\kata tous oikous\). But Luke terms it "the
church" (\t•n ekkl•sian\). Plainly not just an "assembly," but an
organized body that was still "the church" when scattered in
their own homes, "an unassembled assembly" according to the
etymology. Words do not remain by the etymology, but travel on
with usage. {Haling} (\sur•n\). Literally, dragging forcibly
(=hauling). Present active participle of \sur•\, old verb. {Men
and women} (\andras kai gunaikas\). A new feature of the
persecution that includes the women. They met it bravely as
through all the ages since (cf. 9:2; 22:4). This fact will be a
bitter memory for Paul always. {Committed} (\paredidou\).
Imperfect active of \paradid•mi\, old verb, kept on handing them
over to prison.
8:4 {They therefore} (\hoi men oun\). Demonstrative \hoi\ as
often (1:6, etc.) though it will make sense as the article with
the participle \diasparentes\. The general statement is made here
by \men\ and a particular instance (\de\) follows in verse 5.
The inferential particle (\oun\) points back to verse 3, the
persecution by young Saul and the Pharisees. Jesus had commanded
the disciples not to depart from Jerusalem till they received the
Promise of the Father (1:4), but they had remained long after
that and were not carrying the gospel to the other peoples
(1:8). Now they were pushed out by Saul and began as a result
to carry out the Great Commission for world conquest, that is
those "scattered abroad" (\diasparentes\, second aorist passive
participle of \diaspeir•\). This verb means disperse, to sow in
separate or scattered places (\dia\) and so to drive people
hither and thither. Old and very common verb, especially in the
LXX, but in the N.T. only in Ac 8:1,4; 11:19. {Went about}
(\di•lthon\). Constative second aorist active of \dierchomai\, to
go through (from place to place, \dia\). Old and common verb,
frequent for missionary journeys in the Acts (5:40; 8:40; 9:32;
11:19; 13:6). {Preaching the word} (\euaggelizomenoi ton
logon\). Evangelizing or gospelizing the word (the truth about
Christ). In 11:19 Luke explains more fully the extent of the
labours of these new preachers of the gospel. They were emergency
preachers, not ordained clergymen, but men stirred to activity by
the zeal of Saul against them. The blood of the martyrs (Stephen)
was already becoming the seed of the church. "The violent
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