“As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.”
But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison - the violence intensifies. Saul becomes 'a hunter,' going 'from house to house' (kata hous, house by house, evoking a predator's hunt), dragging off believers. The 'prison' (phylakē) is his destination for victims. The explicit inclusion of 'women' (gynē) marks a social transgression: even women are not exempt from persecution. Saul's agency in the destruction ('Saul began to destroy') prepares for his later reversal.
Church Fathers on Acts 8:3
As for Saul, he made havoc of the Church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. Acts 8:3 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…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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