ACTS  8

1 And Saul was there giving approval to his death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at 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 men and women and put them in prison. 

 4 Those who had been scattered preached the word where ever they went.

5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there.

6 When the crowds saw Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attenion to what he said.

7 With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed.

8 So there was great joy in the city.

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 the divine power known as the greeat power.

11 They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his magic.

12 But when they believed Philip as he preached 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.

14When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.

 15 When they arrived they prayed for themthat they might receive the Holy Spirit

16 because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.

17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given by 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. Perhaps He will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart.

23 For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.

 24 Then Simon answered, Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.

25 When they had testified and proclaimed the word of the Lord, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritian villages.

26 Now a 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 a important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, Queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship,

28 and on his way home was sititng in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet.

29 The Spirit told Philip, Go to that chariot and stay near it,

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 The eunuch was reading this passage of scripture: He was led like a sheep to the slaughter and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so He did not open His mouth.

33 In His humilation He was deprived of justice. Who can speak of His descentants? For His life was taken from the earth.

 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.

36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, Look here is water why should not I be 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.

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.

You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God Acts 8:21

I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am He who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.  Revelation 2:23

ACTS 1:8 TO ACTS 8:1

 Thomas J. Grace

1 Saul gave approval to Stephens death, He may have planned the testimony of the false witnesses who laid their clothes at his feet. We do not know if Saul threw a stone, but as a leader we must assusme that he did. Saul begins a great persecution of the church with the consent of the Sanhedrin who later give him written orders to go to Damascus Saul now has what we might call marshal law powers.

      The disciples and believers scatter they run but they do not hide as they teach Jesus where ever they go. Perhaps they were warned and threatened during the trial of Stephen to be prepared to leave if this trial ends badly. The apostles remain in Jerusalem! Acts 1:8 And you will receive power when the Holy Ghost comes on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. The apostles seem to treat this as a prophecy to be fulfilled many years later as we see even with Saul searching for them to put them to death they will not leave Jerusalem.  This was a command of Jesus that was to carried out as soon as they received the power of the Holy Spirit.

     2 Godly men buried Stephen not the apostles or the widows that he served, or those who were there while he did perform  great signs and miraculous wonders. Saul would have been there at the burial to see who shows up that he might be able to arrest. Saul goes from house to house to arrest men and women how long has Saul planned this to have a large group of followers that will follow his orders to arrest their friends and neighbors without having committed any crime. We see how quick the attitude toward Christians changed Acts 5:13 No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. In our own time do we know a group who believe those who are told of there god who is not our God the Father of Jesus Christ will advocate arrest for those who do not join there religion.

     These people are in the world today and we think of them as a few fanatics the numbers are there to quickly form a worldwide army which will oppose Christians and Jews.  Saul will persecute the church but unlike Judas and Ananias we see no scripture that tells us Saul has any connection with satan. Luke 22:3 Then Satan entered Judas called Iscariot. Acts 5:3 Then Peter said, Ananias how is it that Satan has filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spitit. Saul did believe he was doing the work of God against those who were leading his people astray. Later Paul explains Acts 26: 9-11 I was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And that is just what I did in Jerusalem, On the authority of the cheif priests I put many of the saints in prison and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.  Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blasphene. In my obsession against them, I even went to foreign cities to persecute them.  

      4 Those who scattered preached the word wherever they went. Before the arrest of Christ in the garden the apostles did scatter Mark 14:50 Then everyone deserted Him and fled. As Jesus had recently told them Mark 14:50 You will all fall away Jesus told them, for it is written I will strike the Shepherd and the sheep will be  scattered. Jesus also said John 6:39 And this is the will of Him that sent Me, That I shall loose none of all that He has sent Me, but raise them up at the last day. Just as God protected those apostles in the garden and the people who scattered in Jerusalem He will protect us in the last days when the enemy will be searching for us.

      4 They preach weherver they go before this only those who were visitors to Jerusalem who heard the story of Christ and believed and then went back to their home towns were the only people who spread the word of God about Christ. Now there were  thousands of believers traveling throughout the country bringing the gospel to cities and people who have never heard the truth about the life of Jesus Christ. Saul created Christian missionaries and evangelist that took the gospel out of Jerusalem and began a system he would soon join to spread the gospel worldwide.                                                 

     5 Philip one of the seven deacons from Acts 6 goes to Samaria. Now Philip who served the Lord in Jerusalem leaves because his work there will not exist because all have scattered, he does not remain with the apostles he was a fellow worker of Stephen and may have felt the danger was close to him also. In Samaria he proclaims Christ there he does not wait to be appointed or choosen to do this work. He does not claim that he had worked hard for the Lord and faced danger in Jerusalem and now should seek safety and retire from Christian service. He does not even choose to remian quiet and hide out until he can evaluate the danger that is taking place. Philip with no other authority begins to preach Christ to the Samaritian people. We often wait for someone to choose us and anoint us for the service of God and we wait rather than to go as the Lord has ordered us to do.

     6 Jesus went to Samaria, met the woman at the well who believed in Him went to town and told the men about Him. Jesus spends several days in Samaria and tells them John 4:23 Yet a time is coming and now has come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. Jesus left believers in Samaria who were eager to spread the word of God. Later on the road to Jerusalem Jesus wanted to visit Samaria. Luke 9:52,53 And He sent messengers on ahead, who went  into a Samaritian village to get things ready for him, but the people there did not welcome Him, because He was heading for Jerusalem. Had Satan between these two visits already planted Simon the magician with power to decieve the people. The apostles were upset Luke 9:54 When the apostles James and John saw this they asked, Lord do you want us to call down fire from heaven to destroy them. This was a unusual reaction that might have suggested a new danger they did not yet understand. 

      Philip does miraculous signs which causes the crowds to pay attention to him. Now we see two Greek men not apostles doing miracles with no other mention except for Peter and John doing miracles. Here in Samaria a city that the Jews will not enter because of their idol worship mixed with belief in God, the Holy Spirit is ready to show signs and wonders to these people. The Holy Spirit is also ready to do battle with the dark spirit represented by Simon. Once again we will see the battle belongs to the Lord. 7 Stephen definety has power over some of the enemy as he cast out many demons and evil spirits. Many people are healed as we see Gods power and the gifts of the Holy Spirit fully active in the ministry of Philip. to the Samaritians. 8 Great joy had come to Samaria as many believed in the Savior Jesus Christ. 9 Simon practiced sorcery and amazed the people of Samaria.

     10 They called Simon the Great power and the divine power he may have been one of the early antichrist the apostle John spoke of 1 John 2:18 Dear children this is the last hour, and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrist have come. 12 Now those who followed Simin believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and new life in  Jesus and  they were baptized. Although they were amazed by Simon there was no good news for these people only fear and suffering comes from the work of the demons that posessed Simon. Simon believes and is baptized while Philip continues to perform great signs and miracles.

     While no one in Samaria had received the baptism of the Holy Spirit this opens the question of what gifts or acts of God will be performed by the actions of man ministering on earth and what baptisms and gifts of the Holy Spirit can only be given or performed with the direct act of God or the Holy Spirit and our Lord Jesus Christ. 14 The apostles in Jerusalem hear what has happened in Samaria maybe they now remember the words of Christ about Samaria and notice Philip is now doing the work they were commanded to do.

      Peter and John leave Jerusalem maybe for the first time since the resurrection of Christ. Does God have a special reason to move the apostles out of Jerusalem at this time. Saul is going from house to house and would like to capture them and put them to death. It could be no longer safe for them to remain in Jerusalem it is interesting their first journey would be to Samaria a place Saul would not follow them into and would have no power or followers there. Samaria might be the only safe place in Israel for Peter and John to be at this time. We may notice that soon after Peter travels and leaves Jerusalem that Saul is now seeking letters to travel to Damascus where he would continue to persecute the church.

     15 Peter and John pray that the people might receive the Holy Spirit 16 The Holy Spirit had not come on any of them they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Why no Holy Spirit baptism demons were cast out people were healed and there were signs and wonder with miracles. Could there have been a Daniel style battle going on in the Spiritual world Daniel 10:12,13 Then he continued, Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you have set your mind to gain understanding and humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me for twenty one days. Then Michael one of the chief princes  came to help me,  because I was detained there with the king of Persia. Like Daniel who certainly was full of the Spirit and had the gift of  knowledge and wisdom and was the main last days prophet of the old Testament. Peter and John  or Philip like Daniel would encounter problems that will take place in a spiritual world that exist between heaven and earth, where the angels of God can be interfered  with by the demons of satan. This may be one reason the baptism of the Holy Spirit was delayed in Samaria and God would  have seen the trouble and arranged for Peter and John to be in Samaria when the warfare in the Spirit world was over.  This warfare might also have been the battle for the soul and salvation of Saul. It is also unlikely that Simon the sorcerer would have any such power to block or stop the power of God from acting in Samaria.

     We look at verse 6 and 13 and we see that Philip performed miracles both before and after he had met Simon.  If there had been any problem or fault with Philip for this problem Peter would have corrected or released Philip from his duties in Samaria.  Peter was aware of Phlip he had prayed for him when he became a deacon in Jerusalem and had become a trusted member of the church. We are not aware if Philip like Stephen began any further ministry in Jerusalem we are not told but he certainly is prepared to perform miracles when he arrived in Samaria.

     17 Then Peter and John laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. The hands were not used on the day of Pentecost and will not happen in Cornelius house. The apostles in chapter 6 did lay their hands on the seven deacons who were already full of the Spirit.  In Acts 9 :12 Jesus Himself tells Ananias In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight. They laid hands on people and they recieved the Holy Spirit and this also happened before Peter and John met Simon. 18 No one in Cornelius house could make this mistake because the Holy Spirit acted without the aid of a mans hand as they all received the Holy Spirit and we are told that they spoke in tongues which is not mentioned in Samaria.

     Simon could see a method, but did he not see Philip use his hands as he prayed for demons to be cast out, and people to be healed. Would not Simon want the healing powers more than  people speaking in tongues. Perhaps he saw Peter as the leader and the best man to make a deal with because we do not hear of him offering any money to Philip.19 He asked for the power to give the Holy Ghost not for miracles or signs and wonders to be done by him or a power to do so for anyone else.

     20  Now with the spiritual battles in the air and on the ground over and the enemy defeated and Gods power acting in the lives of the people in Samaria as they are now full of the Holy Spirit Peter confronts Simon. 20 You can not purchase the gifts of God with money, this is a problem that develops centuries later in the church as the church will sell Gods blessings for cash contributions which will be addressed by a reformer named Martin Luther. 21 Your heart is not right before God. Peter does not speak of Simons past activities but sees these problems as his present condition. 22 Repent Perhaps the Lord will forgive you. Peter certain of Gods forgiveness in this one on one talk with Simon only does not declare that God will forgive him because of the next description 23 Simon is full of bitterness and captive to sin. Simon needs a new heart and deliverance, he was useing dark powers and made false claims of being the divine power and now he sees the greater power of God he desires that new power maybe for his own use to recapture his past control of Samaria.

     24 Simon ask for prayer that nothing you said may happen to me. Peter of Course does pray for him which was also praying for the protection of Samaria, we are not told anything about Simon again. While Philip and the apostles were in Samaria Simon did no harm to any of them, nor did he anything to stop or prevent their ministry in Samaria. 25 Peter and John testify and proclaim the word of God in many Samaritian cities as they make their way back to Jerusalem which may have become a safer place due to the events that have taken place in the battle for Samaria. 26 Philip still very happy to remain in Samaria where a great revival is going on is now visited by a angel.

     Philip who left Jerusalem and arrived in Samaria on his own will now be guided to his new destination by the words of a angel. This angel visit confirms he has been acting properly in Samaria where the question of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit among the people of Samaria must have troubled him. Instead of being sent to a larger city to preach the gospel the angel sends him to the desert on a empty road. Gods work and success are not measured in our terms of rewards and higher service, this was a important mission and God choose the proper man to accomplish this work. 27  On the road Philip meets a Ethiopian eunuch who was returning home from Jerusalem where he had gone to worship. He was a believer in God who may have heard of all the new things healings and miracles taking place in Jerusalem and went there to learn about Jesus. In Jerusalem he might have witnessed the persecutions of Saul on the new Christian church. While there he did not meet any one who could tell him the story of Christ or help him understand the Book of Isaiah. 28 He sat in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah as he traveled home.

     29 The Spirit speaks to Philip Go to that chariot we have two contacts the Spirit and a angel to reach one man this is a heavenly plan carefully carried out for the salvation of one man.  We may never know who has prayed for us to know Christ as your Savior or any events in this world that has caused us to ask Christ to be our Savior. In Gods plan  you are as important as this man and will do what is necessary for you to be saved. 30 Philip asked , Do you  understand the book of Isaiah.? The eunuch says he needs someone to teach and explain the prophets words. Philip is invited into the chariot. 32 The eunuch was reading Isaiah 53:3 the angel and the Spirit timed this out to the very words this man should be reading when Philip sat down in the chariot.  34 The man asked Philip who is he talking about? 35   Philip does not tell him who he was and what he had done in Jerusalem and Samaria, he begins to explain from the scripture who Jesus was and how he will be his Savior. As they read the scripture Philip tells how Jesus came into this world and was the Son Of God that was arrested and made to suffer by being beaten whipped and mocked. Then taken and nailed to a cross where He would die for the sins of the whole world. He would speak of the resurrection from the tomb and how Christ returned to be with His Father in heaven forever. 36 The eunuch saw some water and was ready to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. 37 King James Version  Philip states if you believe with all your heart you may be baptized. The eunuch answers Philip I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.  38 Both men go down into the water and the man is baptized. He will go and become the only Christian believer in his country of  Ethiopia with all the work to reach this man we must believe he will spread the gospel to many people in his country.

     39 The Spirit of the Lord takes Philip away this is the third time we see a heavenly event twice by the Spirit, this time to remove Philip. The eunuch went on his journey rejoicing. 40  Philip appears twenty miles away in the city of Azotus where he preached the gospel from town to town.  This method of travel that seemed to bring Philip twenty miles away in a matter of minutes carried by the Holy Spirit to a new city and new ministry. Philip seemed to be denied a chance to return to Samaria or any other city of his own choice. Of course God would not force this against a mans will to be taken somewhere he did not agree to go to serve Him. Just as God transported Jonah in the belly of a great fish He now moves Philip to the city of his next service.                  The next time we read about Philip he is visited by the man who had murdered his partner Stephen in Jerusalem. We have to believe that Philip had prayed for Saul to be saved and become a Christian filled with the Holy Spirit. Acts 21:8 Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the seven. He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied. This is the last mention of any of the seven deacons who served in Jerusalem.

CHRIST LOVES YOU. AMEN. COME LORD JESUS