The Church Persecuted and Scattered
Acts 8:1-3
Remember from the last line of Acts 7 when Stephen was stoned, Saul was there giving approval to his death. On the day when Stephen was stoned, a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered through Judea and Samaria. Saul began to persecute the church. He went from house to house and dragged men and women out of their houses and put them in prison.
Philip in Samaria
Acts 8:4-8
Meanwhile, those who scattered preached the word wherever they went. That’s the way the word was spread to get to more people. Philip went to Samaria where the despised people were. Remember Acts 1:8. This is the second place the gospel should go.
“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
The crowds in Samaria heard Philip speak, and they saw miracles performed. Many people were healed, and people were delivered from evil spirits.
Simon the Sorcerer
Acts 8:9-25
In Samaria was a man named Simon who practiced sorcery. He told the people he was someone great, and they believed him because he amazed them with his magic. When the people heard Philip preach the gospel, they believed him and were baptized. Even Simon believed and began to follow Philip because he was astonished by the great signs and miracles performed by Philip.
When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria has accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. The Samaritans had accepted Jesus Christ and they had been baptized, but the Holy Spirit had not come to them. Peter and John prayed for them, laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
When Simon say what the laying on of hands did, he offered the apostles money so he could have that gift as well. Peter assured Simon that the gift of God could not be bought. He suggested to Simon to repent for his wickedness and pray for forgiveness. Instead of praying himself, Simon asked Peter to pray for him. Then before Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, they preached the gospel in many other Samaritan villages. See how the gospel is being spread.
Questions
1. How was Saul introduced? What did Saul do?
2. Explain what happened in Samaria in reference to Acts 1:8.
3. Describe Simon the sorcery. Remember the name “Simon” and what this Simon did because in the upcoming chapters, there are several other Simons.
4. Why do you think Peter and John went to Samaria even though people were responding to Philip?
Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch
Acts 8:26-40
An angel of the Lord instructed Philip to go down from Jerusalem to Gaza. Jerusalem is located up on a hill. That’s why people sing, “We are marching up to Zion.” Zion is another name for Jerusalem. You will see many times in the Bible that people go “up to Jerusalem” or “down from Jerusalem.” Notice that Philip was to go by way of the desert, but the angel of the Lord didn’t tell him why.
Philip obeyed and on his way, he met an Ethiopian eunuch who was coming “down from Jerusalem.” He had gone there to worship. In his chariot, he was reading from the book of Isaiah, but he didn’t understand what he was reading. He asked Philip to explain it to him, and Philip told him about Jesus being the one the passage was about.
Remember, they are in the desert. Just as the eunuch believed, water appeared in the desert and the eunuch asked to be baptized. After the baptism, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away from the scene. The eunuch and Philip never saw each other again. The eunuch went away rejoicing, and Philip traveled through towns preaching the gospel.
Questions
1. Give the characteristics of a “eunuch.” Include the several ways a man can become a eunuch. (Refer to Acts 8:27a).
2. Most people think “Candace” in Acts 8:27a is a name. However, “Candace” is a title of a queen in Africa. In the United States, it is a woman’s name. Do you know anybody named Candace; also spelled Candice?
3. Why does the Bible often record “up to Jerusalem”?
4. Explain how the eunuch could worship in Jerusalem, but he didn’t understand what he was reading in the Bible.
5. Notice how the Spirit of the Lord sent Philip to the eunuch who needed his help and after Philip’s mission was completed, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away from the scene. Also, notice how the water miraculously appeared just when it was needed; not a minute too soon and not a minute too late.
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