Acts 8:1-3

Expanded Bible

8 Saul ·agreed that the killing of Stephen was good [^Lapproved of his execution/death].

Troubles for the Believers

On that day the church of Jerusalem began to be persecuted, and all the believers, except the apostles, were scattered throughout [^Lthe countryside/regions of] Judea and Samaria [^Cthe southern and central regions of Israel].

² And some ·religious [devout; pious; godly] ·people [or men] buried Stephen and ·cried loudly [or mourned deeply] for him. ³ [^LBut] Saul ·was also trying to destroy [or began harassing/mistreating/doing harm to] the church, going from house to house, dragging ·out [or off] men and women and putting them in ·jail [prison].