Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.
Parallel translations
- WEB Therefore those who were scattered abroad went around preaching the word.
- BSB Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.
- 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 10:23But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.
- Acts 8:1And 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.
- Acts 11:19Now 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.
- 1 Th 2:2But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.
- Acts 15:35Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
- Acts 14:2–7But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren.
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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