Therefore, those who had been scattered went through places preaching the word.
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.
- BSB Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.
- NKJV Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere 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 into the next, for most certainly I tell you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel, until the Son of Man has come.
- Acts 8:1Saul was consenting to his death. A great persecution arose against the assembly which was in Jerusalem in that day. They were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles.
- Acts 11:19They therefore who were scattered abroad by the oppression that arose about Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews only.
- 1 Th 2:2but having suffered before and been shamefully treated, as you know, at Philippi, we grew bold in our God to tell you the Good News of God in much conflict.
- Acts 15:35But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
- Acts 14:2–7But the disbelieving Jews stirred up and embittered the souls of the Gentiles against the brothers.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.