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INTRODUCTION
Verses
1-4 Three important things happened because of Stephen’s death.
1. Immediately,
Saul began to persecute the Christians in Jerusalem. He was very cruel. The
Greek word for ‘cause trouble’ shows this. He even searched in people’s houses
to find the believers.
2. Many
believers left Jerusalem. Probably many of them were Jews who spoke Greek, like
Stephen. They travelled far across Judea. They also went to *Samaria, in the
north. They went in many different directions. But the apostles stayed in
Jerusalem.
3. People
outside Jerusalem heard the good news about Jesus. The believers who had left
Jerusalem did not hide. They were bold. And they preached the gospel wherever
they went.
The ‘holy men’ (verse 2) who buried Stephen
were probably not believers. Some students think that they were Jews. There
were many Jews who were not believers. Not all such Jews hated the Christians.
[3]
Saul persecutes the Christians, 8:1-4
1 Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death. And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.
The Greek word for
hearty is suneudokeo soon-yoo-dok-eh'-o meaning to
think well of in common, i.e. assent to, feel
gratified with:--allow,
assent, be pleased, have pleasure.
Saul’s persecution of
the church was very cruel.
2
Some devout men buried Stephen, and
made loud lamentation over him.
Pious Jews, probably,
impressed with admiration for Stephen and secretly inclined to Christianity,
but not yet openly declared. [2]
3
But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after
house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison.
We will read in
Acts 22:4 , Acts 26:9 Acts 26:10 , 1 Corinthians
15:9 , Galatians 1:13 , Philippians 3:6 , 1 Timothy 1:13 how Saul then
called Paul told his remorseful confessions.
Verse 4: Therefore, those who had been
scattered went about preaching the word.
Adversity builds
strength. This statement holds true for
the believers who fled Jerusalem ( Luke
24:47 , Acts 1:8).
They fled persecution
in Jerusalem to foreign lands; giving
them the freedom to preach the gospel there.
As we can see, by
virtue of these disciples being forced to flee Jerusalem, the Word spread
quickly.
Paul’s letters to the
church of Philippi, is another example of the churches persecution ( Philippians 1:12 ; Philippians 1:13 ).
In Philippians 1:12 Paul points out that
his persecution at the Romans hands has advanced the gospel.
In Philippians 1:13The apostle Paul
draws a picture of Christ being chained to him in jail with unbreakable chains.
Philip in Samaria, 8:5-8
Verse 5: Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming Christ to them.
This Phillip was not
the apostle Phillip for all the apostles remained in Jerusalem.
Phillip was more
likely the deacon who filled Stephen’s position after his death.
Samaria "It
furnished the bridge between Jerusalem and the world" [BAUMGARTEN]. [2]
Samaria was inhabited
by Jews who had strayed away from the traditional Jewish faith and worshiped
pagan gods
Verse 6: The crowds with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip, as they heard and saw the signs which he was performing.
Although the deacons
were chosen primarily to distribute food to the poor, God used them to preach
the gospel.
The Holy Spirit
performed miracles through Phillip which brought the attention of the people.
Phillip obeyed the
will of God.
Phillip knew about
Stephens death, and that same fate could befall him as well.
However with great
courage Phillip preached the gospel to the Samarians.
Verse 7: In the case of many who had unclean spirits, they were coming out of them, shouting with a loud voice; and many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed. Verse 8 : So there was much rejoicing in that city.
In verse 7 we see the
Holy Spirit, through Phillip casting out unclean (evil) spirits.
Many people were also
healed of various illnesses
These miracles not
only served as an attraction, but also proved to the people believing in the
Christ brought about a healing of body and soul and protection from evil.
A man who does magic professes belief in Christ, verses 9-13
Verse 9: Now there was a man named Simon, who formerly was practicing magic in the city and astonishing the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great;
Simon was using
sorcery (the evil black art of casting spells and other supernatural events).
Simon seeking self importance, used evil powers to
persuade the people that he was a great and powerful man.
Phillip in
contrast, was used by the power of the
Holy Spirit brought glory to the risen savior.
Verse 10: and they all, from smallest to greatest, were giving attention to him, saying, “This man is what is called the Great Power of God.” Verse 11: And they were giving him attention because he had for a long time astonished them with his magic arts.
The Samaritans were
hungry for a spiritual leader and followed Simon.
The followers of
Simon were deceived into believing Simon was a man of God, because of the signs
he performed.
Satan has power,
and he uses his power to deceive and
corrupt all of Gods creation.
Deception is short
lived, whereas truth is eternal.
Verse 12: But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike.
Simons deception
actually help strengthen the belief in Phillips preaching.
Phillip’s message of
salvation was the spiritual medicine they all needed.
Because they believed Phillip preached the
truth they all received baptism.
Simon noticing the
attention shift away from himself towards Phillip must have been angered, and at the same time,
curious about what he thought was Phillip's powers.
We will see how Simon
will seek out Phillip saying he too believed in Jesus.
Verse 13: Even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed signs and great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed.
Initially Simon may
have pretended to believe, just to learn of this power Phillip was commanding.
Presumably Simon reach a level of belief, because he was baptized.
Philip would not have
baptized Simon if he did not believe.
We see Simon after his baptism gave his full
attention to Phillip.
Peter and John go to Samaria, 8:14-17
Verse 14: Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, Verse 15: who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.
John, at one time,
wanted God to utterly destroy Samaria now he along with Peter were praying for
them.
Although not stated
in these two verses we will see Phillip
baptized them in the name of Jesus.
All Christians
receive the Holy Spirit when they accept Jesus as their savior.
Baptism of the Holy
Spirit ("the renewing of the Holy
Ghost)" ( Titus
3:5-7 , 1 Corinthians
12:13 ).
This would have been
similar to what happened to the apostles at Pentecost.
Verse 16 For He [the
Holy Spirit] had not yet fallen upon any of them: they had
simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus . Verse 17 Then they began laying hands on them, and
they were receiving the Holy Spirit.
The word fallen was
translated from the Greek word epipipto ep-ee-pip‘; to embrace
(with affection) or seize (with more or less violence; literally or
figuratively):--fall into (on, upon) lie on, press upon.
The new American
Standard translation used here uses the word simply. Compare the Bible basic English translation
which reads:
“v16 For up to that
time He had not come on any of them; only baptism had been given to them in the
name of the Lord Jesus.” [5]
We can clearly see
from this translation the meaning of the verse.
In the early
Christian church it was customary to baptize the new converts into the name of
Jesus, thereby giving an outward sign that they belonged to Jesus, and were
members of the new church.
The easy English
translation reads: v14 The
apostles in Jerusalem heard that people in Samaria had believed God’s message.
So, they sent Peter and John to them. v15 When these two apostles arrived, they prayed. They
asked that the believers would receive the Holy Spirit. v16 They did this
because the Holy Spirit had not come onto anyone among them
yet. They had only received baptism into the name of the
Lord Jesus. v17 Then Peter and
John put their hands on the believers. And then the believers received the Holy
Spirit.
“The writer mentions
‘baptism into the name of the Lord Jesus’ (verse 16).
People used the Greek
words for ‘into the name’ in business. Those words meant that something had
belonged to one person. But now someone else owned it. That thing had come
‘into the name’ of this other person.
So, when a person receives baptism into
the name of the Lord Jesus, that person now belongs to Jesus. Jesus is now that person’s Lord and master.”
[3]
Peter and Simon, 8:18-25
Verse 18: Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, Verse 19: Saying, "give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.“
Simons desired
baptism by Peter, believing that Peter was the one who had the power and wanted
a piece of the action.
God knows the heart
of man and He knew Simons real motives in seeking baptism.
Gods gifts are not to
be taken lightly nor used for personal elevation or personal gains.
Gods gifts are meant
to be shared freely to bring honor and glory to the Father and to the Son.
Verse 20: But Peter said to him, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!
Peter was very angry
knowing now that Simon had been baptized into the church under false pretences.
"Accursed be thou and thy money with
thee." It is the language of mingled horror and indignation, not unlike
our Lord's rebuke of Peter himself (Matthew 16:23 ).[2]
Verse 21:“You have no part or portion in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.
Peter refused to
baptize Simon with the Holy Spirit knowing the self severing heart of Simon.
Peter did not expel
Simon from the church but rather rebuked him, desiring him to change his heart.
Verse 22: “Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you.
“this expression of
doubt being designed to impress upon him the greatness of his sin, and the need
of alarm on his part.”[2]
Repenting is a three
fold process:
(1) Recognition one
must realize their transgressions.
(2) Asking for
forgiveness with honesty and purity of heart.
(3) Turning away from the sin with resolve.
Verse 23: “For I
see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in
the bondage of iniquity.”
The term gall
translated from the Greek word: chole khol-ay‘ of a greenish hue; "gall" or bile,
i.e. (by analogy) poison or an anodyne
(wormwood, poppy, etc.):--gall.
Here Peter is saying
to Simon that:
(1) His sin was the
worst kind of bitterness of the soul.
(2) His sin, like all
sin enslaves the sinner to the sin.
Peter could see Simon
was jealous.
Simon wanted the
power the apostles had.
His evil thoughts
made him unhappy.
It was as if those
thoughts were imprisoning him.
This is what sin does
to us it imprisons us.
Sin hurts God. It also hurts other people. And it hurts
us.
Only Jesus can save us from the sentence for sin; death.
[3]
Verse 24: But Simon answered and said, “Pray to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.”
Simon does not have a
repentant heart.
Simon was looking for
absolution from Peter.
He was looking for
others to do what he alone had to do.
To repent of sin is a
very personal thing between the repentant and God.
A private heart felt
prayer of repentance.
No one can repent for
you, nor can any forgive sins against God except the Son who paid the price and
forgives a repentant hearted person.
For Jesus said ‘Everyone who sins is a slave to sin’.
Sin like a prison has
one way out – Jesus!
Philip meets an important man from Ethiopia, 8:26-29
Verse 25: So, when they had solemnly testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they started back to Jerusalem, and were preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans. Verse 26: But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying "get up and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza." (This is a desert road.)
There was such a
road, across Mount Hebron, which Philip would take without going to Jerusalem.
“Gaza
itself, was the southernmost city of Palestine, in the territory of the ancient
Philistines.
To
go from a city, where his hands had been full of work, so far away on a desert
road, could not but be staggering to the faith of Philip,
especially
as he was kept in ignorance of the object of the journey.
But
like Paul, he "was not disobedient to the heavenly vision";
Phillip did not
question the vision and was obedient without understanding God’s purpose in
sending him by this route to Gaza and Jerusalem.
God rarely reveals
His plans to anyone, and so we must obey in faith, relying not in our own
understanding.
Verse 27: So he got up and went; and there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, was in charge of all her treasury; and he had come to Jerusalem to worship, Verse 28: and he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah.
Eunuchs were
emasculated males, employed to take charge of the women at court, they also
acted as chamberlains.
They were also held
confidential offices in the East.
“Candace was the
name/title given to the queens mother.” [2]
Their trip to
Jerusalem was made most likely to celebrate the feast of Pentecost.
Verse 29: Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join this chariot.”
Philip tells the good news, 8:30-35
Verse 30: Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
The Eunuch was
reading aloud which was the custom of people of that time.
The passage he was
reading was about the Messiah.
The Eunuch could have
been reading any number of passages from Isaiah: 1:18; 2:4; 6:3; 8:7; 7:14; the list goes on.
The exact verse will
be revealed to us in verse 32.
We must be humble
like this.
We may need help to
understand spiritual things.
And therefore we must
be humble enough to ask .
Verse 31: And he said, "well, how could I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
The openness of this
man revealed his heart, and his desire to know and understand the Word.
Phillip seized this
opportunity to explain the verse and
then to witness to him.
The Eunuch must have
heard of Jesus who was crucified.
It was common
knowledge both near and far.
Notice Phillip first
asked if he understood and then waited for the invitation.
We too must open our
eyes to the opportunities God presents to us; to teach and witness about Jesus.
Verse 32: Now the passage of Scripture which he was reading was this: “He was led as a sheep to slaughter; And as a lamb before its shearer is silent, So He does not open His mouth.
The Eunuch was
reading arguably the most striking verse in the old testament concerning Jesus
(Isaiah
53:7-8).
He did not see Jesus
in this passage; thinking it was the prophet Isaiah himself.
The Eunuch next
question points this out, and also opens the door for Phillip.
Verse 33: "In humiliation. His judgment was taken away; who will relate His generation for His life is removed from the earth.“
Jews who lived in the
first century did not expect their Messiah to suffer.
They expected him to
vanquish the Romans.
But Jesus had
described himself as a Servant, who would suffer; for example, look at Mark
10:45.
[3]
Phillip begins his
explanation of the passage by tell the story of Jesus; who after His resurrection met two men on
the road to Emmaus.
“When Jesus had risen
from the tomb, he met two disciples. They were going to a town called Emmaus.
As they walked, Jesus
explained the Old Testament prophecies to them.
Verse 34: The Eunuch answered Philip, and said, "please tell me, of whom does the prophet say this of himself or of someone else?"
He answered the
official’s questions.
The prophecy was about Jesus.
Philip used it to explain the good news to the
official.”
35 Then Philip opened his mouth and beginning from this Scripture preached Jesus to him.
Philip struck while
the iron was hot.
While the Eunuch was
mulling over what the prophet Isaiah had prophesized; Phillip gave the Eunuch
the reason for Jesus’ death and more important His resurrection.
Philip baptizes the official, 8:36-40
36 As they went along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, "Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?"37 [And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”]
The Eunuch
acknowledged his belief that Jesus was the son of God.
I believe because the
scripture says Phillip shared the good news, this passage not only establishes
the fact the Eunuch believed, but also realized that Jesus forgave his sins.
38 And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him.
We do not know by
which means the Eunuch was baptized.
Because Phillip was a
student of Jesus and was undoubtedly told of Jesus’ baptism, I assume that he
baptized the Eunuch by total submersion.
The Holy Spirit had
already worked in the Eunuchs’ life in preparation.
Their meeting was no
accident; Phillip was sent to minister to this man.
We can’t force,
coheres or scare a person into believing and accepting Jesus as savior.
The Holy Spirit who
convicts the sinner (preparing the soil) . The next task would be to witness of
Jesus (sow the seed), which may take time to take root. So therefore we must not get discouraged if
we do not see the harvest right away.
39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch no longer saw him, but went on his way rejoicing.
The word snatched is
used here which translated from the Greek word harpazo har-pad'-zo used in various applications):--catch (away,
up), pluck, pull, take (by force
I don’t believe
Phillip wanted to leave. I am sure he
wanted to rejoice with the Eunuch but that was not to be.
This miracle is
undeniable and we see other occurrences of being taken away or taken up (1 Kings
18:12; 2
Kings 2:16; 2
Corinthians 12:2 and again in 2
Corinthians 12:4).
Unlike Simon who
pretended to believe just so he could get this wonderful power from Peter, the
Eunuch truly was a disciple and believed with all his heart.
“He had found Christ,
and the key to the Scriptures; his soul was set free, and his discipleship
sealed; he had lost his teacher, but gained what was infinitely better:
He felt himself a new
man, and "his joy was full."
Tradition says he was the first
preacher of the Gospel in Ethiopia; and how, indeed, could he choose but
"tell what the Lord had done for his soul?"
Yet there is no certainty
as to any historical connection between his labors and the introduction of
Christianity into that country” [2]
40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he kept preaching the gospel to all the cities until he Caesarea.
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