'Ac 8:1-3

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Christians driven out of Jerusalem (Ac 8:1-3)

With the killing of Stephen, fierce persecution broke out against the Christians in Jerusalem. No longer did the Pharisees favour the Christians; in fact, it was a Pharisee, Saul, who led the persecution. The Christians were attacked, imprisoned, or driven violently from the city, but they did not deny their faith.

Although they previously went to the temple daily, they now saw the truth of what Stephen had taught, and they were prepared to suffer for it (Ac 8:1-3).

It seems that only the Hellenist Christians were driven from the city. (Stephen was a Hellenist; see Ac 6:8-9.) Apparently the Aramaic-speaking Christians were allowed to stay (cf. Ac 9:26; 11:2).

This Jerusalem church, without the Hellenists, later became very narrow in its outlook and was a source of trouble to other churches. The Hellenists, on the other hand, became a means of blessing to the whole world.