Teks -- Acts 8:4 (NET)

Philip Preaches in Samaria

8:4 Now those who had been forced to scatter went around proclaiming the good news of the word.

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Robertson: Act 8:4 - They therefore

They therefore ( hoi men oun ).

Demonstrative hoi as often (Act 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 Act 8:5. The inferential particle (oun ) points back to Act 8:3, 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 (Act 1:4), but they had remained long after that and were not carrying the gospel to the other peoples (Act 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 diaspeirō ). 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 Act 8:1, Act 8:4; Act 11:19.

Robertson: Act 8:4 - Went about

Went about ( diēlthon ).

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 (Act 5:40; Act 8:40; Act 9:32; Act 11:19; Act 13:6).

Robertson: Act 8:4 - Preaching the word

Preaching the word ( euaggelizomenoi ton logon ).

Evangelizing or gospelizing the word (the truth about Christ). In Act 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 dispersion of these earnest disciples resulted in a rapid diffusion of the gospel"(Alvah Hovey).

Wesley: Act 8:4 - Therefore they that were dispersed went every where

These very words are reassumed, after as it were a long parenthesis, Act 11:19 and the thread of the story continued.

JFB: Act 8:4 - they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching

Though solemnly enjoined to do this (Luk 24:47; Act 1:8), they would probably have lingered at Jerusalem, but for this besom of persecution which swept them out. How often has the rage of Christ's enemies thus "turned out rather unto the furtherance of the Gospel" (see Phi 1:12-13).

Clarke: Act 8:4 - They that were scattered - went every where preaching

They that were scattered - went every where preaching - Thus the very means devised by Satan to destroy the Church became the very instruments of its diffusion and establishment. What are counsel, or might, or cunning, or rage, or malice, against the Lord, whether they are excited by men or devils!

Calvin: Act 8:4 - And they were scattered abroad

4.And they were scattered abroad. Luke declareth in this place also, that it came to pass by the wonderful providence of God, that the scattering abroad of the faithful should bring many unto the unity of faith; thus doth the Lord use to bring light out of darkness, and life out of death. For the voice of the gospel, which was heard heretofore in one place only, doth now sound everywhere; in the mean season, we are taught by this example that we must not yield unto persecutions, but rather be encouraged unto valiantness; for, when the faithful flee from Jerusalem, they are not afterward discouraged either with exile or with their present miseries, or with any fear, that they degenerate into slothfulness; ⁵⁰⁰ but they are as ready to preach Christ even in the midst of their calamity as if they had never suffered any trouble. Moreover, Luke seemeth to note that they led a wandering life in that they changed their lodgings often. Therefore, if we desire to be counted their brethren, let us prick forward ourselves so diligently, that no fear or bitterness of cross discourage us, but that we go forward in showing forth the profession of faith; and that we never be weary of furthering the doctrine of Christ; for it is an absurd thing that exile and flight, which are the first exercises of martyrdom, should make us dumb and fainthearted.

TSK: Act 8:4

Act 11:19, Act 14:2-7; Mat 10:23; 1Th 2:2

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Act 8:4

Now the partition wall was about to be broken down, and the Gentiles to be taken into the pale of the church, God provides this strange means towards it. The disciples are forced to flee for their lives out of Jerusalem, and have an opportunity to preach Christ and the gospel wheresoever they came: thus God can make light to come out of darkness, and makes Japheth to dwell in the tents of Shem, Gen 9:27 .

Gill: Act 8:4 - Therefore they that were scattered abroad // went every where // went through // preaching the word

Therefore they that were scattered abroad,.... By reason of the persecution in Jerusalem: the seventy disciples, and other ministers of the word; or the hundred and twenty, excepting the apostles,

went every where; or

went through the countries of Judea and Samaria, as far as Phenice, Cyrus, and Antioch:

preaching the word; the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Ethiopic versions add, "of God", and so some copies; the Gospel, which is the word of God, and not man; which was not of men, nor received from men, but came from God, and by the revelation of Christ; and which was good news and glad tidings, of peace, pardon, righteousness and salvation, by Jesus Christ.