Acts 8
Today we begin the second phase of the growing church. It took a big push to really move the church beyond Jerusalem. This “push” was in the form of Stephen death followed by Saul’s desire to destroy the Church. Can you think of a time in your live when a big “push” was required to make you change?
The first few verse of chapter eight close out the first phase of Acts. As you may recall from chapter seven, Stephen was being stoned. Luke begins chapter eight by noting, "And Saul approved of their killing him. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. 2 Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. 3 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 force and authority of the Sanhedrin was tasked with the destruction of the Church. Front and center of this assault was Saul. Saul doesn't know it yet, but he will soon have a face to face meeting with Jesus. For now though, Saul is enemy number one and most of the young Church flees Jerusalem in his wake. Among the fleeing is a man named Philip. Luke continues at verse four:
4 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. 5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. 6 When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. 7 For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was great joy in that city."
Samaria is north of Jerusalem so it is counter intuitive for us to read that Philip went "down" to Samaria. We typically think of south as "down" and north as "up." But in Israel, Jerusalem is the high point. One goes "down" no matter which direction they travel. Luke also notes that while in Samaria, Philip spoke about the Messiah (Jesus). The Holy Spirit empowered Philip to do many miracles, including physical healing and spiritual healing. Continue reading at verse nine:
9 Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, 10 and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is rightly called the Great Power of God.” 11 They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his sorcery. 12 But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.
The religion of the Samaritans was a hybrid of Judaism and pagan religions. Following the exile the weakest and poorest of Israel were left behind. Those left inter-married with gentiles and took on components of their religious beliefs. Because of this, when the Hebrews returned from the exile they hated the Samaritans.
In this passage, what do Simon and Philip have in common? How are they different? How does the crowd respond to each man? What is the relationship between Jews and Samaritans? What was the source of Simon’s abilities? What was the source of Philip’s abilities? How sincere do you think Simon was about his commitment to Christ? What appears to be his motivation? Continue reading at verse 14:
14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria. 15 When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit."
Is it surprising that God would send Peter and John to Samaria? What is significant about the Samaritans receiving the Holy Spirit? Continue reading at verse 18:
18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money 19 and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! 21 You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. 23 For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”
What does Peter’s rebuke in verse 20 tell us about Simon? What do you make of Peter’s response in verses 12-23? What was your primary motivation for receiving Jesus Christ as your savior? Continue reading at verse 24:
24 Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.” 25 After they had further proclaimed the word of the Lord and testified about Jesus, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages."
Do you think Simon words in verse 24 reveal a change in his heart? Explain? At this point Peter and John return to Jerusalem but God calls Philip to a special mission. Continue reading at verse 26:
26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. 29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”
Have you every experienced God’s prompting you to go? This was a substantial journey for Philip, about 80 miles. But Philip was obedient to God's calling and headed south-west toward Gaza. This Ethiopian man also had traveled many miles. It is about 50 miles between Jerusalem and Gaza. It is another 300 miles or more to his home. Why would an Ethiopian man go to Jerusalem? Ethiopian: Probably not from modern day Ethiopia. This is a Greek term means he was from Kush, of African ancestory. Most scholars equate Kush with the southern part of modern day Egypt. Most likely, this man was an Egyptian convert to Jewish faith. Kandake or Candace is more a title than a name, meaning “Queen of the Ethiopians.” Likely a Queen from Egypt. Eunuch: Generally means castrated. This was often a requirement to serve in the royal court. Some scholars believe Luke uses this term to indicate that the man was neither fully Jew nor Gentile. Continue reading at verse 30:
30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. 31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. 33 In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.”
Has the Holy Spirit ever prompted you to speak to another person? Provided you with a question? What was this man reading? Let us take a moment to read 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 openeth 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." How does this passage prepare the man for hearing the Gospel message?
34 The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” 35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus."
Why would Philip be qualified to share the Gospel? Why did the Spirit not send Peter or John? How would you share the Gospel message if you were asked by a stranger? Some people like to share the "Roman Road," others use the "A, B, C" method (Accept, Believe, and Commit). I find Romans 3:23 and John 3:16 useful. One needs to have a "method" in mind and than rely on the Holy Spirit to do the work of conviction and salvation. But lets get back to Philip and the Ethiopian in verse 36:
36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” [37]
You may notice that some Bibles omit verse 37. Verse 37 in found in some early manuscripts but not in the majority. When it is included, verse 37 reads, "Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” The eunuch answered, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. 40 Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.
What is significant of this baptism? Let’s make a list of all the things that God needed to ordain in order to prepare for this interaction? What does this teach us about our role and God’s role in ministry? Have you ever experienced a “Gaza road-like” setup in which it was clear that God was set things up but still required your obedience? When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. Was this a miracle? How do you think that Philip got from Gaza to Azotus – 30 miles away? What are the barriers that we experience in sharing the Gospel? What do you THINK God planned for this African man?