Acts 8:2 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

It was an argument that they were devout (religious) indeed, that they durst, amongst such a multitude of persecutors and furious zealots, own their esteem for St. Stephen. It was piacular amongst the Jews, to touch the dead corpse of such a one as was put to death for blasphemy; and these perform such funeral rites for him, as were used for such only as were of note and eminency. Made great lamentation over him; as the Jews were wont to do at the funeral especially of eminent persons: thus it was done at Jacob's interment, Genesis 50:10; and thus had been done more lately at Lazarus's funeral, 1 Thessalonians 11:1-44, even by our Saviour himself, Acts 8:35: which lamentation was the greater, because of the church's loss at such a time.