Acts, Chapter 8
© Copyright 2007 Darroll Evans, all rights reserved

Acts 8:1-3
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.
2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

Saul (of Tarsus) consented to Stephen’s death!

About that same time there was a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem. They were all scattered, except the Apostles, throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria.

Church growth did not come as a result of the Apostles going out. It was the result of the average Christians’ work following the dispersion that resulted from persecution.

Saul, the Apostle Paul, did more for Church growth and the teaching of the gospel than all other Apostles combined! In Church history, most growth has come as the result of persecution.

Church persecution is NOT the persecution of the saints. It is the persecution of Christ Jesus---personally!

On the road to Damascus, Saul, the persecutor of the Church was confronted by a great Light. He heard a voice asking, “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me?” (Acts 9:4)

The voice did not ask, “Why are you persecuting My Church?” It was Christ asking, “Why are you persecuting Me?” Those who persecute the Church are persecuting Christ Jesus personally!

Following Stephen’s death, several Christian men took his body for burial. They followed normal Jewish burial protocol. There was a great expression of grief concerning him.

As for Saul, he created confusion, and devastation within the church. Saul went so far as to enter the homes of Christians, and throwing them into prison.

Acts 8:4-8
4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.
5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
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.
8 And there was great joy in that city.

Consequently, they that were scattered! But, as they went, they preached the word.

At that time, Philip, one of the seven original Deacons, went to a city in Samaria. There, he preached Christ to the townsfolk.

With one accord (unity), the people took note of the things Philip spoke. They heard what he said and saw the miracles he did.

For instance, unclean spirits came out of many---crying with loud voices. It seems that many were possessed with those spirits. Many others were ill with paralysis, and were lame. They were healed! Due to the work of the Holy Sprit through Philip, there was great joy in that city.

Acts 8:9-13
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:
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.
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.

In Samaria, there a man called Simon. He was known as a sorcerer. As he practiced his “trade,” he bewitched the people of Samaria, making himself out to be something grand.

From the greatest to the least in the town, they paid him special attention. They all thought that he had great power with God. He had amazed them for several years with his conjuring.

However, when they believed Philip’s teaching about the Kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized.

Even Simon himself believed and was baptized. He attached himself to Philip, and was in awe concerning all the miracles and wonderful workings he saw. The real deal will amaze even conmen.

According to the false teaching of regenerational baptism, Simon was saved and spiritually safe. And, yet he had experienced no change of heart.

The act of baptism will not save. Salvation requires a change of heart and that change is brought about by the Holy Spirit.

1 Cor 12:3b no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

Without a spirit-led change of heart, being baptized is just getting wet with no positive spiritual results!

Acts 8:14-25
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.
18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
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.
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.

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

When John and Peter arrived, they prayed for them, so that they might receive the Holy Ghost. Even though they had been baptized in water the Holy Spirit had not fallen on any Samarians!

The baptism in the Holy Spirit is a separate event. We can see that when we study this chapter, the baptism of Cornelius in Chapter ten, and Paul’s baptism of the twelve in Chapter 19.

Water baptism is a good thing, BUT if you are not baptized into Christ, water baptism is of little value!

John the baptizer said, “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire” (Matt 3:11).

Luke 24:49 “And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.”

The promise was the Holy Spirit! The power comes from the baptism of the Holy Spirit! Water does not give power!

Water baptism is a symbol of the sealing of the believer!

Eph 1:13 [Christ Jesus] In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

The sealing with the Holy Spirit and the baptism with the Holy Spirit are apparently two separate works of the Holy Spirit!

When they laid their hands on the people, they received the Holy Ghost. Consequently, when Simon saw that it was through the laying on of the Apostles' hands that the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money for that power.

He told them, “Give me this power, so that I too may lay hands on whomsoever, and he may receive the Holy Ghost.”

However, Peter admonished him, “Your money shall perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. You have nothing to do in this matter. Your heart is not right in the sight of God!

“So, repent and pray to God. Perhaps the thoughts of your heart may be forgiven. I see that you are filled with resentment, and still in the bonds of sin.”

Simon pleaded, “Pray to the Lord for me so that none of these things which you have spoken may come upon me.”

Simon’s version of repentance was a false, self-serving non-repentance.

Philip had baptized a non-believer!

Many Pastors in the day baptize those who have a social experience with no spiritual change!

Social Christians are NOT Christians!

Then Peter and John testified and preached the word of the Lord, and returned to Jerusalem. As they went, they preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.

Acts 8:26-40

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.

It was about that time that an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip. He said, “Arise, and go south to the highway that goes from Jerusalem to Gaza.

Philip arose and went. He found a man from Ethiopia, a eunuch, who had great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians. In fact, he was her Treasurer. He had come to Jerusalem to worship.

At that time, as he was returning home, he was sitting in his chariot, and reading the Isaiah scroll.

The Holy Spirit told Philip, “Go to that man in the chariot.” So, Philip ran up to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah.

Philip asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?”

The man replied, “How can I understand unless someone teaches me?”

He asked Philip to come and sit with him.

The man was reading the part of the scroll that said, “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” (Isa 53:7-8).

The eunuch asked Philip, “Of whom is the Prophet speaking? Is it himself, or another?”

Philip began to expound the Scripture! He preached Jesus to the eunuch!

As they went along, they came to some water, so the eunuch asked, ‘Do you see that water? What hinders me from being baptized?”

Philip answered back, “If you believe with all your heart, you may be baptized.”

And, the eunuch answered in response, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God!”

He commanded the chariot to stop. They went down both into the water, and Philip baptized him.

This is a believer’s baptism.

When they came out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again. The eunuch went on his way rejoicing.

Philip was found at Azotus, a city near the Mediterranean coast. And, passing through the area, he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.

Chapter 9
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