John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 3. As for Saul, he made havoc of the church , etc.] Did evil to the saints, destroyed them that called upon the name of Christ, ( Acts 9:13,21) and persecuted and wasted the church of God, as he himself says, (Gal 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).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-4 - Though persecution must not drive us from our work, yet it may send u to work elsewhere. Wherever the established believer is driven, he carries the knowledge of the gospel, and makes known the preciousnes of Christ in every place. Where a simple desire of doing goo influences the heart, it will be found impossible to shut a man ou from all opportunities of usefulness.
Greek Textus Receptus
σαυλος 4569 N-NSM δε 1161 CONJ ελυμαινετο 3075 5711 V-INI-3S την 3588 T-ASF εκκλησιαν 1577 N-ASF κατα 2596 PREP τους 3588 T-APM οικους 3624 N-APM εισπορευομενος 1531 5740 V-PNP-NSM συρων 4951 5723 V-PAP-NSM τε 5037 PRT ανδρας 435 N-APM και 2532 CONJ γυναικας 1135 N-APF παρεδιδου 3860 5707 V-IAI-3S εις 1519 PREP φυλακην 5438 N-ASF
Vincent's NT Word Studies
3. Made havoc (elumaineto). Only here in New Testament. In Septuagint, Ps. lxxix. 13, it is used of the laying waste of a vineyard by the wild boar. Compare Acts ix. 21, where the A.V. has destroyed, but where the Greek is porqhsav, devastated. Canon Farrar observes: "The part which he played at this time in the horrid work of persecution has, I fear, been always underrated. It is only when we collect the separate passages - they are no less than eight in number - in which allusion is made to this sad period, 16 it is only when we weigh the terrible significance of the expressions used that we feel the load of remorse which must have lain upon him, and the taunts to which he was liable from malignant enemies" ("Life and Work of St. Paul"). Note the imperfect, of continued action.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
8:3 {Laid waste} (elumaineto). Imperfect middle of lumainomai, old verb (from lume, injury), to dishonor, defile, devastate, ruin. Only here in the N.T. Like the laying waste of a vineyard by a wild boar (#Ps 79:13). Picturesque description of the havoc carried on by Saul now the leader in the persecution. He is victor over Stephen now who had probably worsted him in debate in the Cilician synagogue in Jerusalem. {Into every house} (kata tous oikous). But Luke terms it "the church" (ten ekklesian). Plainly not just an "assembly," but an organized body that was still "the church" when scattered in their own homes, "an unassembled assembly" according to the etymology. Words do not remain by the etymology, but travel on with usage. {Haling} (surwn). Literally, dragging forcibly (=hauling). Present active participle of surw, old verb. {Men and women} (andras kai gunaikas). A new feature of the persecution that includes the women. They met it bravely as through all the ages since (cf. #9:2; 22:4). this fact will be a bitter memory for Paul always. {Committed} (paredidou). Imperfect active of paradidwmi, old verb, kept on handing them over to prison.
