²² His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders,^(A) who already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out^(B) of the synagogue.^(C)

²³ That was why his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”^(A)

8 And Saul^(A) approved of their killing him.

The Church Persecuted and Scattered

On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered^(B) throughout Judea and Samaria.^(C)