Our titles for today’s study are; Verses 1-4 Saul persecutes the church. Verses 5-25 The gospel preached in Samaria. Verses 26-40 Philip and the Eunuch. Acts 8 and verse 1 reads.
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.
This word scatter should have been translated as Sent. Saul was a Pharisee, but unlike the rest of them, he genuinely loved the Lord. He just missed Isaiah 7:14, among other scriptures. He had studied at the feet of Gamaliel, and was zealous for the LORD. Jesus had warned them about this in John 16 and verse 1 reads.
John 16:1] These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.
[2] They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
[3] And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.
Back to Acts 8 and verse 2 reads.
Acts 8:2] And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
Stephen was well loved and filled with the Holy Spirit.
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.
He persecuted all the Christians in Judaea. Saul who became Paul wrote in 1Timothy 1 and verse 11 reads.
1Tim.1:11] According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.
[12] And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
[13] Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
Do not judge Paul, he too is an apostle (Sent) of our LORD. Back to Acts 8 and verse 4 reads.
Acts 8:4] Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.
Again, this word scattered should have been translated Sent. They were Sent out to preach the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Acts 8:5] Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
Philip, being one of the seven that was chosen along with Stephen, preached Christ to the house of Israel.
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 with one mind heard the Word of God, and believed, not only because of the miracles, but because they heard the Holy Spirit that was in Philip also.
Acts 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.
Know the difference between sick and possessed. Phillip and his four virgin daughters were also sent to the Gaza region of today, and were successful in converting many.
Acts 8:8] And there was great joy in that city.
[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:
Simon was a sorcerer and through drugs and witchcraft deceived many into a false religion.
Acts 8:10] To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.
[11] And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.
He was able to trick them with delusions. Let’s go to Revelations 20 and verse 7 reads.
Rev.20:7] He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
Don’t overlook this, we that overcome, he calls his sons.
Rev.20:8] But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
There is death of the flesh, and death of the Spirit. And then everlasting life for all of us who overcome. Back to Acts and verse 12 reads.
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.
[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.
Simon was baptized, but does he really believe?
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:
[15] Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
[16] (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
[17] Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
Jesus and the Father now dwell within them. John 14.
Acts 8:18] And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
The Holy Spirit did not fall on Simon, so he offered them money that he might have the power that was obviously with them. My question would be, if you don’t have the Holy Spirit then how would you give it to anyone else?
Acts 8:19] Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
The Holy Spirit did not enter into Simon, but he didn’t care about that. He just wanted the power of what he had witnessed.
Acts 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.
[21] Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
[22] Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
[23] For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.
[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.
Didn’t even have the thought of repentance, couldn’t even pray for himself. Peter just cursed him. If you look up this Simon in the you will find in the SMITHS bible dictionary what they called Simony. This man would go on to tell those that he had tricked with delusion earlier; If you bury me, I will rise again in three days. They’re still waiting.
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.
[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.
If you look at Gaza today it is still a desert. Well, maybe rubble.
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,
[28] Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
This Eunuch was an Israelite, but a slave given much authority, the LORD knows how to take care of his own. Remember Joseph was also sold into slavery, and became second only to Pharoah. This man was reading Isa.53:1-9. He will be a little confused, but Phillip was sent to him by God and will teach him Jesus.
Acts 8:29] Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
[30] And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
[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.
When the LORD sends you, you will find it well prepared. Let’s go to Jeremiah 3 and verse 15 reads.
Jer.3:15] And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.
Now let’s go to Ephesians 4 and verse 11 reads.
Eph.4:11] And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
[12] For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
[13] Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
The LORD will always provide good teachers that they may teach his Elect in these end times. Back to Acts 8 and verse 32 reads.
Acts 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:
[33] In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
What was just quoted to Phillip was Isa.53:7-8. Now Phillip can teach him Jesus Christ. Let’s go to Isaiah 53 and begin with verse 7 and it reads.
Isa.53:7] 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.
[8] 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.
Now Philip will pick up where he left off and continue in Isaiah 53 and verse 9 reads.
Isa.53:9] And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
He was crucified between two malefactors, and buried in his uncle Joseph of Arimathaea’s tomb.
Isa.53:10] Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
There will be no more sacrifices for Jesus was the Lamb of God. Don’t overlook that it pleased the LORD to bruise him. The first prophecy in God’s Word was in Genesis 3 and verse 15 reads.
Gen.3:15] And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
They bruised his heels when they nailed them to the cross. This is how the LORD was pleased when they fulfilled prophecy exactly as it was written. Back to Isaiah 53 and verse 11 reads.
Isa.53:11] He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
[12] Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
This eunuch was taught that it was Jesus that Isaiah was prophesying about. Back to Acts 8 and verse 34 reads.
Acts 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?
[35] Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
When the LORD sends you to do his work, it is an awesome thing to witness. Now we come to the baptism of this Eunuch.
Acts 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?
[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.
This is what your confession needs to be, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. This is why I chose to be baptized at the age of 44. Though I was told I was baptized as an infant, I never made this confession until I learned this verse. I would hope that all who just read this verse, do the same if they haven’t confessed that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
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.
[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.
[40] But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.
And that’s how the Holy Spirit works. Touching the hearts of those that love the Lord, and confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Let’s go to his throne.
Father, we thank you for your word and ask that you bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.
KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance Of The Bible