Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.
Parallel translations
- WEB Therefore those who were scattered abroad went around preaching the word.
- KJV Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.
- NKJV Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.
- NASB Therefore, those who had been scattered went through places preaching the word.
- NLT But the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Those scattered by persecution went everywhere preaching the word. God turned persecution into the very means of spreading the gospel.
Overview
Rather than silencing the church, the scattering sent ordinary believers out proclaiming Christ wherever they went. This shows God's sovereign ability to bring good from evil, advancing His mission through the dispersed disciples (Genesis 50:20; Romans 8:28). The gospel cannot be contained by opposition.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Matt 10:23When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next. Truly I tell you, you will not reach all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
- Acts 8:1And Saul was there, giving approval to Stephen’s death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.
- Acts 11:19Meanwhile those scattered by the persecution that began with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the message only to Jews.
- 1 Th 2:2As you are aware, we had already endured suffering and shameful treatment in Philippi. But in the face of strong opposition, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God.
- Acts 15:35But Paul and Barnabas remained at Antioch, along with many others, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord.
- Acts 14:2–7But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.
How Acts 8:4 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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