ACTS 8
Act 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 Judea and Samaria, except the
apostles.
In reality the persecution of this early church helped to spread the gospel all
over the earth. This spread the true gospel taught by the apostles and not the
false gospel that was spread by the uniting of the church during the time of
Constantine. By that time the gospel took on another form a little at a time so
as to sneak it in unawares by those that might have been spiritually alive at
that time. That is why we now have a religion that worships Mary and have
idolatry rampant within that particular church. It took the Protestant
Reformation and other separations after that before the old time gospel was even
seen again.
Act 8:2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great
lamentation over him.
Naturally they loved one another seeing as they had the true faith and they were
still in their first love toward Christ and one another.
Act 8:3 As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house,
and haling men and women committed them to prison.
The truth is hated even today by not just other religions other than
Christianity but those within the confines of Christianity will hate the truth
even worse than others if they themselves are apostate from the truth.
Act 8:4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching
the word.
Act 8:5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto
them.
Philip was also one of those appointed to care for the widows like Stephen was.
Act 8:6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which
Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
Act 8:7 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.
Actually these things should follow believers today. A word of caution however,
we are not to follow the signs. If someone professing to do signs and wonders
teaches a doctrine contrary to the New Testament, we must avoid them even if
there appear to be signs and wonders. The bible says we know them by their
fruits. What kind of life do they lead when they are not in public? Jesus said,
by this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
The fruits of the spirit are love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness,
goodness, faith. Romans says that without holiness, no one shall see the Lord.
No one that truly loves the Lord and loves fellow believers will ever want to
gain by their loss, to deceive or to teach anything falsely.
We must allow signs to follow us but we are not to puff up one person and follow
him or her because of signs. They have nothing that can't be given to any spirit
filled believer. Philip was not one of the original 12 apostles yet he performed
signs and wonders as he was preaching the gospel. They were given not just to
relieve the suffering but to confirm the truth of the gospel and convince
unbelievers that Jesus was the Christ, the savior from sin that all must believe
in to be saved.
Act 8:8 And there was great joy in that city.
To find the truth in Jesus Christ brings joy. Our joy should be in Him and not
in the signs themselves. When the signs confirm the truth, in this we should
rejoice. Jesus warns of false signs and wonders and even warn against those that
do signs and wonders yet, they never knew Jesus Christ. Avoid the teaching that
to gain is godliness. We have a health and wealth gospel today that perverts the
true gospel.
Act 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:
Act 8:10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying,
This man is the great power of God.
Act 8:11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched
them with sorceries.
Act 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.
Act 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.
Notice Simon was a believer who was overly fascinated by the miracles. He didn't
have the depth in Christ that we need. Miracles come and go. Sometimes because
of unbelief they disappear for a season until someone is stirred up by the word
enough to pray and seek the Lord thereby stirring up his faith and the miracles
resume. They didn't cease with the death of the apostles, unbelief set in and
the unbelief caused them to disappear until the latter day outpouring of the
Holy Spirit. Even now though we need to take heed not to follow a person but
Christ.
Act 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:
Act 8:15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive
the Holy Ghost:
Act 8:16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in
the name of the Lord Jesus.)
This is stressing the need to be baptized in the Holy Ghost as well as water
baptism. We need that power to teach, preach, witness, and have discernment with
love.
Act 8:17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy
Ghost.
Act 8:18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the
Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
Act 8:19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may
receive the Holy Ghost.
Act 8:20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast
thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
Act 8:21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not
right in the sight of God.
We have to be so careful today with this modern prosperity gospel. The gifts of
God cannot be bought with money and we are making the teaching of giving much
too important. I've heard some promise healing, salvation and many other things
if someone would give to their particular ministry. Freely we receive and freely
we should give. Let us quit robbing people of giving because they want to
support the ministry of the word by love. If we use force, intimidation,
threats, or even promise them riches, we are robbing them of giving because they
love. Talk about robbing God, this is true robbery. We take away their desire to
give from the depths of their heart and teach them to give because they may be
cursed if they don't give. Jesus never taught this type of giving.
Act 8:22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps
the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
If we desire to buy the gifts of God or desire to purchase a high standing in
the church, or desire to receive gifts because of service rendered in holy
things, we need to repent.
There are poor pastors that are desperately in need of support and we will
answer to God if we neglect them by living a good comfortable life while our
pastor lives poorly. Something is wrong with our hearts if this happens. For
this reason I very seldom talk about tithing. I pay tithes because I love my
pastor and his family and I love the work of God but I really don't see tithing
in the New Testament. I don't like to say it though because some people would
not give if they thought they didn't have to but it is a shame. To learn to give
because we love to give is a blessing we rob ourselves of.
I think though it is the fault of the greedy rich pastors who fleece the flock
that has gotten people out of the mood to give for the right reasons. They claim
they need money to spread the gospel all over the world by way of television and
I'm sure it takes millions, but why do they live so lavishly while those the
send in the gifts barely get by? Are they not robbing widow's houses?
Act 8:23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the
bond of iniquity.
Act 8:24 Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of
these things which ye have spoken come upon me.
It doesn't say here whether the apostles prayed for this man for no more is said
of him.
Act 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.
They had until 70 AD to preach the gospel in this area before the end would come
upon the nation of Israel. It would be no longer in existence until 1948.
Act 8:26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go
toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is
desert.
Act 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,
Act 8:28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Isaiah the prophet.
Jesus can be preached by using the Old Testament prophets who foretold of His
coming.
Act 8:29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this
chariot.
Act 8:30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Isaiah,
and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
Act 8:31 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.
Act 8:32 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:
Act 8:33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare
his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
We see this in Isaiah 53:7. Here is proof that Jesus is the Messiah spoken of in
the Old Testament. Why would these disciples die for a lie? All the signs and
wonders in that day were to prove that Jesus was this one promised by Moses and
by Isaiah.
Act 8:34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom
speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?
Act 8:35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same Scripture, and
preached unto him Jesus.
Act 8:36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the
eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
Water baptism was such a common religious ritual that the eunuch saw the need
for it right away. Water itself does not save, it is an outward testimony to
what has already taken place in the inner man.
Act 8:37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest.
And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
Act 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.
Act 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.
God must have had further plans for this eunuch because Philip didn't stay
around to instruct or teach him in any way. Philip was caught away to go
somewhere else. Perhaps since this man was already reading the Old Testament,
God knew that he would seek on his own without a mentor. Some people are like
this. They are saved by believing in Jesus but they give themselves wholly to it
without anyone prompting them. I have no doubt that his man spread this new
gospel to all he knew. It would be interesting to learn what became of him.
We must remember that apostles, prophets, teachers and preachers are gifts from
God. He will plant them where it is needed. It is a gift. God must have seen
that the eunuch didn't need any further help unless he sent someone else later.
It is possible now that if we find Jesus Christ and are equipped with the
written word, we can learn all we need to know on our own if we are determined
to do so. If we happen to run across good bible teachers, we are even further
blessed indeed. Our attitude toward Christian fellowship should always be "do I
get to" rather than "do I have to". True fellowship in the spirit and in truth
is a gift from God.
Act 8:40 But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in
all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.
Once they were baptized in the Holy Spirit, they went forth being equipped with
the power from God. Because of these faithful men, we today have received the
glorious gospel of Jesus Christ.
