Acts Chapter 8

Stephen a man full of faith and the Holy Ghost has just been stoned to death by the Jewish Council. Stephen had been accused of blasphemy by accusers who were bribed and set up to say those things against him.

 

☆ Acts 8:1...

"And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles."

 

A new player is on the scene... a young man named Saul, who approved of Stephen’s death by stoning.

Interestingly the garments of the executioners were placed at Saul's feet as he looked on. 

 

There is something in this, which I will bring up later on.

 

Now... at this particular time... the persecution against the early church at Jerusalem was full on. The believers were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria. 

 

The apostles were not... they were back in Jerusalem. 

 

☆ Acts 8:2...

"And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him."

 

Stephen's death was a big loss. 

We are told that devout men organised and carried him to his burial. The people were in great mourning over the loss of their brother in the Lord. 

 

The word "lamentation" used here involves... the beating of the breast as a sign of grief.

 

In many cultures, when people grieve over the loss of a loved one... the grieving involves loud wailing and very expressive physical gestures... it's very "out there." 

 

I remember going to a funeral of an Aboriginal man in the Kimberleys and there were people wailing and throwing themselves into the grave.

 

Us westerners are too reserved and bottle up our emotions at funerals instead of letting our grief out!

 

☆ Acts 8:3...

"As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison."

 

Back to this little man named Saul. 

 

He was wreaking big havoc (treating shamefully) on the Church.

Saul was entering the homes of Christians and dragging the men and women into, and committing them to prison.

 

Freedom of speech?

The Pharisees and Sadducees (the insecure Jewish religious leaders) were the main perpetrators of the early persecution. 

 

The Romans followed on... with their very hard line.

 

☆ Acts 8:4... 

"Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word."

 

Persecution or not, the believers who were scattered abroad went about everywhere preaching the Word of God.

 

These believers were not going to be stopped.

 

They were filled with the Holy Ghost and had the "power to be witnesses unto Jesus both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."

 

They had been commissioned by Christ to "preach the Gospel to every creature."

And... they "knew Whom they have believed, and were persuaded that He was able to keep that which they had committed unto Him against that day."

 

Persecution was enhancing the spreading of the Gospel... not hindering it.

 

☆ Acts 8:5...

"Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them."

 

Philip one of the seven deacons chosen to perform administrative duties, went to Samaria and preached Christ to the Samaritans.

 

Interesting! 

 

Was he asked to go? 

Or did he feel led by the Spirit to go?

Was he a loose cannon doing as he pleased? 

 

Whatever or whoever... Philip went! (With amazing results).

 

☆ Acts 8:6...

"And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did."

 

The people Philip preached to, gave heed (paid close attention) to what he was saying. 

They listened carefully to him and they saw the miracles he did. 

 

Note again the phrase "one accord"... 

The people were as one... in their listening, in their acceptance of the message... and in their response to the Word.

 

☆ Acts 8:7-8...

"For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.

And there was great joy in that city."

 

Amazing things were happening as Philip preached.

After the preaching of the Word... signs and wonders and miracles followed.

There were many present who were possessed with unclean spirits and these spirits came out screaming with loud voices. 

Those that were slightly paralysed (had the palsy) and those that were lame... were healed.

 

And obviously... there was great joy and happiness in that city because of these wonderful miracles.

 

I would say that whatever made Philip go to Samaria to do what he did... was spot on!

The Samaritans were "ripe" to receive the things of God.

 

☆ Acts 8:9...

"But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one..."

 

But... yes there's always a but!

There has to be a fly in the ointment. 

 

There was a certain man in the same city called Simon, who used sorcery (the magical arts) and who bewitched (astonished doing amazing things) the people of Samaria.

And... he was making out as if he was someone very great.

 

Simon's sorcery was his livelihood.

 

☆ Acts 8:10-11...

"To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.

And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries."

 

Simon was very influential. 

People from the least to the greatest in the city said that Simon possessed great power from God.

The people held him in high regard because of the long period of time he had bewitched (astonished) them with his sorceries (magic arts).

 

I believe Simon was a very wicked and dangerous man. 

 

☆ Acts 8:12...

"But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women."

 

However when the people believed Philip preaching about all the things concerning the Kingdom of God, and when he preached in the mighty Name of Jesus of Nazareth, the men and women went through the waters of baptism.

 

☆ Acts 8:13...

"Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done."

 

Then Simon himself believed the message Philip preached. And after he was baptised, he attached himself to Philip. He began following Philip wherever he went, and was amazed by the miracles he did.

 

As we will see later, Simon's conversion was suspect. I believe he had another agenda. For Simon, it was all to do with what he could get out of life for himself... popularity, power and prestige.

 

☆ Acts 8:14...

"Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John."

 

The apostles in Jerusalem heard what amazing stuff was happening in Samaria... that the people had received and accepted the Word of God... and that mighty miracles of healing were done.

 

A decision was made to send Peter and John to them.

 

Was this to make sure that Philip had done things properly? 

Had he missed out something? 

Or were they just checking up on him?

 

☆ Acts 8:15-16...

"Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost...

For as yet He was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

 

When Peter and John arrived, they prayed for the people so that they would receive the Holy Ghost, because... the Holy Ghost hadn't come upon them as yet. 

They had only been baptised in water, in the Name of the Lord Jesus. 

 

The implication I see here... is that there are two baptisms... the baptism in the Holy Spirit and water baptism in the Name of Jesus. The former is a baptism for power to witness... the latter is a baptism of repentance. 

 

☆ Acts 8:17...

"Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost."

 

Next step... Peter, John... laid hands on these folk... and they received the Holy Ghost. 

How do we know this? 

How could the apostles tell that they had been baptised in the Holy Spirit? 

I believe the next verse tells us.

 

☆ Acts 8:18...

"And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money."

 

When Simon "saw", that by the laying on of the apostle's hands, the Holy Ghost was given to these people, he wanted to give them money.

 

What did Simon "see" to know they received the Holy Ghost? 

There must have been some sort of physical manifestation that caught his eye. 

I think it was more what he heard than saw.

He heard them (and yes he saw their lips move) speaking in tongues, just as the 120 did on the day of Pentecost. 

 

☆ Acts 8:19-21...

"Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

But Peter said unto him, Your money perish with you, because you have thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

You have neither part nor lot in this matter: for your heart is not right in the sight of God."

 

Simon wanted this power too, so that he too could lay hands on people to receive the Holy Ghost. 

 

I believe Simon wanted to buy this gift so he could use it to supplement his livelihood. It was an addition, to help him have more control over people. 

 

Sorry Simon... your motive is totally wrong!

 

The apostle Peter deals with this charlatan, and says to Simon...

"May your money perish with you, because you think that this gift of God can be bought with money.

You can have no part in this because your heart is not right in the sight of God." 

 

God's gifts to us are "grace" gifts... we don't deserve them but God gives them to us anyway... He loves us so much.

 

God's grace cost us nothing so that everyone can have access to it.

God's grace did cost God big time...

the death of His Son on the Cross.

 

☆ Acts 8:22-23...

"Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.

For I perceive that you are in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity."

 

Peter tells Simon in no uncertain terms, "Turn (repent) from your great wickedness and pray. Maybe God will yet forgive your evil thoughts... for I can see that there is jealousy in your heart and you are in bondage to sin."

 

It is interesting to note that the apostles in the early church were able to discern specific sin in people's lives. We saw that with Ananias and Sapphira... lying to the Holy Ghost.

 

Discernment is one of the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit given to the church so that it can function properly... function effectively. 

See ☆ 1 Corinthians 12.

 

If only we would give the Holy Spirit latitude to exercise such discernment in today's Church. 

 

I battled depression for many years and the root cause was sin... certain things were identified eventually that I never knew were sin.

 

☆ Acts 8:24...

"Then answered Simon, and said, Pray you to the Lord for me, that none of these things which you have spoken come upon me."

 

Simon's "cage is rattled" by Peter's forthrightness and accurate discernment. 

He asks Peter, "Please pray to the Lord for me so that none of the things you said will come upon me."

 

Simon missed Peter's point.

He needed to repent of his wickedness and seek forgiveness from God.

If he did so, then these "things" wouldn't come upon him.

 

When I was depressed I wanted prayer for the symptoms of depression to go away. That just didn't work!

When the specific sins were identified, addressed and repented of... bingo... the depression went. Amazing!

 

☆ Acts 8:25...

"And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans."

 

After testifying and preaching the Word of God in Samaria, Peter and John went back to Jerusalem, stopping at several Samaritan villages along the way to preach the Good News to them too.

 

Every opportunity to preach the Gospel was made.

 

Christ's commission was still burning in their hearts... "Go you into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature."

 

☆ Acts 8:26...

"And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goes down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert."

 

We have a sudden change of scenery and situation...

 

It seems that Philip is on a ministry roll (not bad for a deacon).

An angel of the Lord tells Philip to get up and travel south from Jerusalem to Gaza (60 miles SW of Jerusalem), which happens to be desert. These are very specific instructions.

 

What is this all about? 

This seems to be a bit out of the way... 60 miles. 

Go to a desert in the middle of nowhere?

Who or what is in a desert other than dry sand, cacti and scorpions?

 

Philip is obedient and does what is asked.

He knows in his heart that there must be a purpose behind this trip. 

 

Philip has a spiritual sensitivity that I find pretty awesome. He hears from God. And... he's obedient!

 

** It would be an interesting exercise to go through the book of Acts and make a mark each time you read of someone's sensitivity to the Spirit of God and the result of their obedience to what is asked of them.

 

☆ Acts 8:27...

"And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship."

 

Philip arises and goes. 

And lo and behold in the middle of nowhere, he sees an Ethiopian eunuch. A man who had great authority under Candace the Queen of Ethiopia. This guy happens to be in charge of all her treasure... he's the treasurer.

 

Why is he here?

 

He had come to Jerusalem to worship. 

 

Philip would be realising now that this out of the way trip, and meeting this eunuch in the middle of nowhere is a divine appointment. 

 

Yes... it has definite purpose. 

 

☆ Acts 8:28...

"Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet."

 

The eunuch was returning from Jerusalem. He was having a break, sitting in his chariot reading from the book of Isaiah the prophet.

 

It is interesting to note that the eunuch had a potion of the Word of God (Isaiah) in his possession. The printing press had not yet been invented... so it must have been a scroll of some sort.  Where did he get it from? Scrolls with the Word of God written on them would normally be found in the Jewish temples.

 

Do you ever have a break in your journey and have a read from the Bible?

 

☆ Acts 8:29...

"Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join yourself to this chariot."

 

The Holy Spirit tells Philip to go to the eunuch.

 

☆ Acts 8:30-31...

"And Philip ran towards to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Do you understand what you read?

And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him."

 

Philip runs to him and hears the eunuch reading from the book of Isaiah... 

Philip asks him... "Do you understand what you are reading there?"

The eunuch replies, "How can I understand, when there is no one to teach me?"... and he then asks Philip to come up and join him.

 

☆ Acts 8:32-33...

"The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before His shearer, so opened He not His mouth:

In His humiliation His judgment was taken away: and who shall declare His generation? for His life is taken from the earth."

 

The passage of Scripture the Ethiopian was reading from was...

 

☆ Isaiah 53:7-8...

"He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not his mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He opened not His mouth.

He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare His generation? For He was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was He stricken."

 

☆ Acts 8:34...

"And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray you, of Whom speaks the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?"

 

The eunuch asked Philip, "Who is the prophet speaking about? Is speaking of himself or some other person? "

 

☆ Acts 8:35...

Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.

 

What a golden opportunity. 

What an amazing Divine appointment.

All because Philip was sensitive to and obedient to the Holy Spirit. 

 

Philip opened his mouth, started with the same Scripture and preached Jesus Christ to the Ethiopian eunuch. 

 

Philip would have preached about... the prophecy of Christ's coming, Christ in ministry, His baptism, salvation, words of eternal life, miracles, healing, teachings, His rejection by the Jews, His betrayal, the unjust trial, the cruel crucifixion, resurrection and ascension.

 

☆ Acts 8:36-37...

"And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what does hinder me to be baptized?

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.' "

 

As they moved on (Philip had joined the eunuch), they came to a body of water, and the eunuch said to Philip, "Look, here's some water. What's stopping me from being baptised here? "

 

Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you can." 

And the eunuch answered, 

"I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."

 

What a confession! 

No rocket science needed to be saved.

The operative word is to "believe"... believe in Jesus the Son of the living God.

 

☆ John 3:16...

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

 

☆ Romans 10:9...

"That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved."

 

Did the eunuch go back and evangelise Ethiopia? 

 

☆ Acts 8:38...

"And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him."

 

The eunuch stopped his chariot, and they both went down into the water... where Philip baptised the Ethiopian. 

 

☆ Acts 8:39...

"And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing."

 

As they came out of the water, something extraordinary happened. The Spirit of the Lord seized Philip away. 

 

I call this Divine transportation. 

 

The word "caught" used here is the same word (harpazo) used in 

☆ 1 Thessalonians 4:17 when Jesus comes to rapture His church away.

 

The eunuch must have wondered what happened.

Regardless... he went on his way rejoicing... He had found Jesus the Son of God... he found eternal life.

 

☆ 1 John 5:12...

"He that has the Son has life; and he that has not the Son of God has not life."

 

☆ 1 John 3:13...

"These things have I written unto you that believe on the Name of the Son of God; that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may believe on the Name of the Son of God."

 

Notice that the apostle John repeats himself in the same verse.

 

Oh the simplicity of the Gospel! 

Why do theologians insist on complicating the things of God??

 

☆ Acts 8:40...

But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.

 

What happened to Philip? 

 

He was found at Azotus... 34 miles away. 

That would have been one amazing trip Philip had.

And... as he passed through this region, he preached in all the cities until he reached Caesarea.

 

One must wonder whether Philip had been incorrectly selected to be a deacon and be involved in administrative duties. 

 

It seems to me that his heart was for evangelism... and he appears to do an excellent job in doing so.

 

Isn't his nickname Philip the Evangelist? Hmm?

 

Selah!