SCRIPTURE: ACTS 8
THE CHURCH PERSECUTED AND SCATTERED (vs. 1-3)
On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him, but Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.
PHILIP IN SAMARIA (vs. 4-8)
Philip went to a city in Samaria to proclaim the gospel and perform miracles. Evil spirits came out of many and many paralytics and cripples were healed. So the crowds paid attention to what Philip preached and there was great joy in that city.
SIMON THE SORCERER (vs. 9-25)
Simon was a sorcerer with Great Power of magic in Samaria. When Philip preached the good news of the kingdom of God, he also believed and was baptized. He followed Philip everywhere and was astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw. When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to pray for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on the apostles’ hands, he offered them money to give him the ability to lay his hands on everyone that they may also receive the Holy Spirit. Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.” (v. 23). Then Simon replied: “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.” (v. 24). After testifying and proclaiming the word of God, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages.
PHILIP AND THE ETHIOPIAN (vs. 26-40)
An angel of the Lord told Philip to go south to the desert road from Jerusalem to Gaze. So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the Prophet. The Spirit told Philip to go to that chariot and stay near it. So Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. Then Philip asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” (v. 30). He answered, “How can I unless someone explains it to me?” (v. 31). So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
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. In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.” (vs. 32-33) So Philip began to explain the Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. As they traveled along the road,, they came to some water and the eunuch asked to be baptized. So both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 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. Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.
THOUGHTS:
After the death of Stephen, the believers shared the gospel and many trusted the Savior. Stephen’s witness made a tremendous impression on Saul and was instrumental in his conversion. Never give up when the enemy seems to be winning because it may be the beginning of your route to final victory.
Persecution forced the Christians to depart from Jerusalem into Judea and Samaria. They experienced discomfort but the Good News was spread. Sometimes God is preparing you for an special task by letting you endure uncomfortable situations or painful circumstances.
Philip was not the apostle Philip. He was a Greek-speaking Jew full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom who was one of the seven men being chosen to help with the food distribution program in the church.
Simon thought he could buy the Holy Spirit’s power, but Peter rebuked him. The only way to receive God’s power is to do what Peter told Simon to do – turn from sin, ask God for forgiveness, and be filled with Holy Spirit. No amount of money can buy salvation, forgiveness of sin or God’s power. These are only gained by repentance and belief in Christ as Savior.
Ethiopia was located in Africa south of Egypt. Philip was in charge of the treasury of Ethiopia. His conversion brought Christianity into the power structures of another government. This is in fulfillment to the scripture that says, the Good News will be spread to the ends of the earth.
The eunuch asked Philip to explain a passage of Scripture that he did not understand. When we have trouble understanding the Bible, be humble to ask others to help you understand God’s Word.
Philip led the eunuch to faith in Jesus Christ by using the Old Testament. Therefore, we must read both the Old and the New Testament because they are God’s word that is applicable to all people in all ages and in all times.