Acts 8:3

3 But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.

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Acts 8:3 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)

3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

English Standard Version (ESV)

3 But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.

New Living Translation (NLT)

3 But Saul was going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison.

The Message Bible (MSG)

3 And Saul just went wild, devastating the church, entering house after house after house, dragging men and women off to jail.

American Standard Version (ASV)

3 But Saul laid waste the church, entering into every house, and dragging men and women committed them to prison.

GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)

3 Saul tried to destroy the church. He dragged men and women out of one home after another and threw them into prison.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

3 Saul, however, was ravaging the church, and he would enter house after house, drag off men and women, and put them in prison.

New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

3 But Saul began to destroy the church. He went from house to house. He dragged men and women away and put them in prison.

Acts 8:3 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 8:3

As for Saul, he made havoc of the church
Did evil to the saints, destroyed them that called upon the name of Christ, ( Acts 9:13 Acts 9:21 ) and persecuted and wasted the church of God, as he himself says, ( 1:13 ) and now did Benjamin, of which tribe Saul was, ravine as a wolf, ( Genesis 49:27 )

Entering into every house;
where the saints dwelt:

and haling men and women:
in a violent manner, without any regard to age or sex:

committed them to prison;
delivered them up into the hands of the chief priests and magistrates, in order to be committed and sent to prison; this he himself confesses, ( Acts 22:4 ) ( 26:10 ) .

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Acts 8:3 In-Context

1 And Saul approved of their killing him. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.

2 Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him.

3 But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.

4 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.

5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there.

Cross References 2

1. Acts 7:58
2. Ac 9:1,13,21; Acts 22:4,19; Acts 26:10,11; 1 Corinthians 15:9; Galatians 1:13,23; Philippians 3:6; 1 Timothy 1:13