Acts 8:3
But Saul made havock of the church, entering in from house to house, and dragging away men and women, committed them to prison.
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- Vulgate (Clementine)
- Saulus autem devastabat ecclesiam per domos intrans, et trahens viros ac mulieres, tradebat in custodiam.
- Greek New Testament (SBLGNT)
- Σαῦλος δὲ ἐλυμαίνετο τὴν ἐκκλησίαν κατὰ τοὺς οἴκους εἰσπορευόμενος, σύρων τε ἄνδρας καὶ γυναῖκας παρεδίδου εἰς φυλακήν.
The Fathers on this verse
St John Chrysostom A Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles, Homily XVIII on Acts vii. 54
“As for Saul, he made havoc of the Church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.” ( v. 3 .) Great was his frenzy: that he was alone, that he even entered into houses: for indeed he was ready to give his life for the Law. “Haling,” it says, “men and women:” mark both the confidence, and the violence, and the frenzy. All that fell into his hands, he put to all manner of ill-treatment: for in consequence of the recent murder, he was become more daring. “Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word. Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. …
St John Chrysostom Homilies on First Corinthians, Homily XIII
Wouldst thou see the hands too? those which he now hath? Or wouldest thou rather behold first their former wickedness? ( Acts viii. 3 .) “Entering (this very man) into the houses, he haled,” of late, “men and women,” with the hands not of man, but of some fierce wild beast. But as soon as he had received the colors of the Truth and the spiritual experience, no longer were these the hands of a man, but spiritual; day by day being bound with chains. And they never struck any one, but they were stricken times without number. Once even a viper ( Acts xxviii. 3, 5 .) reverenced those hands: for they were the hands of a human being no longer; and therefore it did not even fasten on them.
Eusebius The Church History of Eusebius, The Course pursued by the Apostles after the Ascension of Christ
9. During this time Paul was still persecuting the church, and entering the houses of believers was dragging men and women away and committing them to prison.
St Jerome The Letters of St. Jerome, To Pope Damasus
1. By her importunity the widow in the gospel at last gained a hearing, and by the same means one friend induced another to give him bread at midnight, when his door was shut and his servants were in bed. The publican’s prayers overcame God, although God is invincible. Nineveh was saved by its tears from the impending ruin caused by its sin. To what end, you ask, these far-fetched references? To this end, I make answer; that you in your greatness should look upon me in my littleness; that you, the rich shepherd, should not despise me, the ailing sheep. Christ Himself brought the robber from the cross to paradise, and, to show that repentance is never too late, He turned a murderer’s death into a martyrdom. Gladly does Christ embrace the prodigal son when he returns to Him; and, leaving the ninety and nine, the good shepherd carries home on His shoulders the one poor sheep that is left. …