Acts 8

Acts 8:26-40

themselves through Judas and Samaria, except the apostles, who still conformed at Jerusalem, and were preserved safe from the rage of their blood-thirsty enemies.

3. Stephen’s friends, devout men, eminent for their piety, dared, notwithstanding the danger to which they were exposed, to gather up his broken remains, and carried him to his burial; and though they could not but rejoice in his triumphant death, they bewailed their own and the church’s lofs, deprived of so able an advocate for the cause of Christ. Note, (1.) The departure of the eminent servants of Jesus demands a tear; though it be their gain, it is our lofs, and we should weep for ourselves. (2.) The corpse is honourable in which a heavenly spirit hath dwelt, and should be decently laid in the dust, in fear and certain confidence of a glorious reformation, when it shall awake in brighter array.

4. And, the immezzlement for the Christian name, a fiery zealot, the fittest to the priests could have chosen for their service, made honest of the church, perfecting them even unto death, as he owns, (Acts xxii. 4.) entering into every body, and, sparing neither age nor sex, having men and women, unmature them to prefer. To such low and dirty work doth enmity against the gospel lead a man of none, a gentleman, a scholar; as if every mark of contempt and cruelty to a Christian was meritorious and commendable.

5. 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 a loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palaces, and that were lame, were healed. 8. And there was great joy in that city. 9. But there was a certain man called Simon, which before-time in the same city used forcery, 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 decrees. 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.

6. 3. The attempt to extinguish and suppress the rising flame of Christianity, served but the more to spread the sacred fire. They that were scattered abroad, went every where preaching the word; not hiding themselves in corners, or seeking concealment by their silence; but publishing throughout the country the glad tidings of salvation by Jesus Christ. Philip, the second of the deacons, and now the first since Stephen had finished his glorious course, was among the chief of these dispersed Evangelists.

7. He went down to the city of Samaria, to the metropolis of the country, which was either Samaria, or, as some thing, Sychar, or Shechem, where Jesus had been formerly, (John iv. 5.) and preached Christ unto them. As an herald he publicly proclaimed his name, as exalted to the throne of glory, and invited all to come and share the blessings of his happy government; and this must be our constant theme, Christ crucified, glorified.

8. Great was the success that attended his labours. *The people with one accord, in general, gave heed unto those things which Philip spoke; shewing the most serious attention to his discourse, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did, in proof of his divine mission, and of the gospel of Jesus which he declared unto them. Miracles of the most stupendous nature, such as dispossessing unclean spirits, who with the utmost rage exclaimed at the power they could not withstand; curing the paralytic, and restoring the use of their limbs to the lame, when all human help was desperate. And there was great joy in that city; the people transported beheaded their amazing works of divine power and grace, and rejoiced in the glad news of pardon and salvation preached to them through the Redeemer. Note, (1.) So far as the gospel effectually reaches the heart, Satan’s power is broken, and his kingdom of uncleaned within is destroyed. (2.) The grace of God cures the moral impotence of our fallen nature, and enables the lame man to leap like an hour, and the paralytic soul to arise and run the way of God’s commandments. (3.) The great things which make for our excruciating peace, deserve our most serious attention; and the more we turned unto them, the more shall we consult our own happiness. (4.) True religion will make none melancholy;

but wherever the gospel is known and believed, there the soul will taste the sweetest and most substantial joy.

3. What made the success of the gospel in this place still more extraordinary, was the delusion under which the people had lain, through the feats of a certain forcerer named Simon, who had breathed the people of Samaria, astonishing them with his magic arts and diabolical illusions; giving out that himself was some great one, the great God himself, or, as others suppose, the expected Messiah; and such was the influence which his pretended miracles had on the minds of the people, that they all gave heed unto him, *from the least to the greatest, high and low, young and old, saying, This man is the great power of God; as if he was endowed with almighty power, equal to the great God himself; so strangely had he for a considerable time breathed them with his forcerer.

4. Before the gospel word the kingdom of Satan fell. When they believed Philip, preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, the blessings and privileges, the doctrines and ordinances of it, and the name of Jesus Christ, as the great saviour of lost sinners, the head of his church, the author of all morrow laws, and glorious hopes hereafter, they gladly embraced his salvation, abandoned the impolite Simon, and by baptism made open profession of their faith in Jesus, with men and women. Note, (1.) They who are most bewitched by Satan’s forcerers, and the power of sin, are not beyond the recovering influence of the Redeemer’s grace. (2.) When we truly believe in Jesus, we shall openly and boldly profess him before men.

5. Even Simon the magician himself was so astonished at the real miracles and signs which Philip wrought, that he claimed also; so far as it is, as to make outward profession of Christ as the true Messiah, and to desire and be admitted to baptism in his name. Note, (1.) They who have been most consciously wicked, when they make profession of repentance and conversion to God, are to be received cordially into the church, notwithstanding all that is past. (2.) Though many hypocrites may and do join themselves with God’s people, yet we must leave men’s hearts to the search of hearts, and judge of others with all candour and charity, till they give evident proofs of their unfaithfulness.

6. 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 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.*

7. 14. The glad tidings soon reached Jerusalem of the happy progress of the gospel at Samaria; and the apostles, for the furtherance of the blessed work, dispatched two of their body, Peter and John, immediately, to confirm the disciples, and communicate unto them those extraordinary gifts which the apostles alone could confer. We have,

8. The success of their journey. They prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost, in his miraculous gifts, and be set on a level with the Jewish convents; for as yet he had fallen upon none of them, though they had experienced his illuminating, sanctifying, and comforting influence upon their souls, in consequence of which they had now baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus; yet they had not, by any visible appearance of the Holy Ghost, received the gift of tongues, or prophecy, or the power to work miracles. But when the apostles had prayed, and were assured of an answer to their requests, then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost, in some visible manner, at least many of them, on whom the apostles laid their hands; and probably ordained them to the ministry of the word, for which they were thus more eminently qualified. Note, Though we may not expect miraculous powers, yet the same Holy

Holy Ghost, in all his gracious influences, is still given to answer to the prayer of faith.

2. Simon’s hypocrisy on this occasion appeared. When he saw that through the laying on of the apostolic hands the Holy Ghost was given, he was vastly ambitious of possessing the same apostolic power, and thought he could well reimburse himself any expences, could he but obtain it; therefore, supposing their views necessary in his own, he offered them money, paying, Gives me this power also, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost; thus discovering both his ambition and avarice, and showing the noticness of his heart, notwithstanding his pretended conversion.

3. There, with abhorrence, rejects the proposal, and denounces his doom. The money paid with them; thou and it must profit together, if in this temper of mind thou abidest: as for us, we detest thy mercenary offer, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money; an imagination as absurdly foolish, as implicitly wicked. Thou hast neither part nor let in this matter, art neither a partake of the gifts or graces of the Spirit, and as yet an alien from the kingdom of grace, and destitute of the hope of glory: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God; but under the specious protection of Christianity, lurks the foolish hypocrisy. Repeat therefore of this thy unshaded, to great and aggravated, if yet repentance may be given, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven also, and there be a possibility of pardon. For I perceive by this proposal, that thou art in the gall of bitterness; in a fleet of unregeneracy, under the dominion of the most abhorred corruption, and in the head of iniquity; enslaved by Satan and sin; and as a criminal carrying to execution, exposed to the severest vengeance of an offended God. Note, (1.) The fatal bait of money, how many souls hath it plunged into perdition and destruction? (2.) Where the heart is not right with God, though a form of godliness may conceal the hypocrisy from men, there is one that hath and judgeth. (3.) Sin is the odious thing which renders the soul abominable to God; and when it breaks forth in an upsthen, justly exposes his character to the derelation of all good men. (4.) They who are now held in bonds of iniquity, may affordly expect to be bound over to everlasting shame and punishment. (5.) The vilett of sinners must not be abandoned, but still invited to repentance and prayer; whilst there is life, there is hope.

4. Simon, terrified at this dire commination and reproof, interests their prayers for him; not to much that his heart might be renewed, as that the threatened vengeance might be exerted; and that is a sure sign of an unhumbled spirit, when it is more afflicted with the dread of suffering, than with the evil of sin.

5. The apostles, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, confirming and establishing the faith of the disciples at Samaria, returned in Jerusalem, to give an account to their brethren, of their proceedings and success; and, in their way, they preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans, improving every stage of their journey, and taking every opportunity of publishing the great salvation of their master Jesus. Let us imitate such worthy examples, preaching the word in Jaffa, and as some may think, out of Jaffa.

6. And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Ariel and go toward the South, unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. 27. And he arole 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 fitting 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, Understandeth 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 theater, 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 Azorua, and passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Cefarea.

We have here the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch, by whom it is generally supposed Christianity was first planted in that country, and the scripture fulfilled, Pfal. lxviii. 30.

1. Philip, who continued still at Samaria, is directed by an angel to depart thence, and go towards the South, unto the way that goeth from Jerusalem to Gaza, which I deject. And immediately, obedient to the heavenly call, he arose and went. Note, Though we see not at first the realists on which God’s providential disposition of us is founded, yet when we bow to his command, we shall see cause to acknowledge his wisdom and goodness.

2. He there met a man of singular distinction, an Ethiopian, an inhabitant of Africa, an eunuch; either really such, they being formerly often preferred to the first offices of state; or this may signify his station at the court, as the word is used of Potiphar, Gen. xxix. 1. being a man of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasures, a post of distinguished eminences, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship; either being a Jew, or a proselyse to their religion. Note, God hath taken some of all nations, and all ranks, to be to the praise of the glory of his grace.

3. Philip receives an intimation from the Holy Spirit, to go near, and join himself to this chariot, where he found him reading aloud the prophet Esaias, perhaps the portions which he had heard expounded at Jerusalem; where though he must have heard of Christ and his apostles, yet he them to have paid no regard to them, and was returning attached as much as ever to the Jewish religion. Note, (1.) The Lord, by strange providences, often brings about great events; even when we travel on the road, we know not what good may be done, though among strangers, if we have but the heart to speak a word for Christ. (2.) The scriptures should be much in our hands; they are the best companions on our journeys, and will supply master for the choicest meditation. (3.) It is no evil for men of station and affluence to ride in their chariots, if that, as well as every other gift, be sanctioned by the word of God, and by prayer.

4. Philip hearing him read the prophet Esaias, puts a question to him of great moment, and which we should often put to ourselves, when perusing the sacred oracles, Understandeth thou what thou readest? His reply was singularly humble: far from taking the question ill, though from a stranger on foot, and meanly dressed, he answers with the most modest acknowledgment of his own poor attainments, How can I, except some man should guide me? and, willing to be instructed, and glad to embrace every opportunity of increasing his knowledge of their blessed prophecies, he desired Philip, who appeared to be intelligent in their matters, to come up into the chariot, and he with him, well judging that the honour he did the evangelist, would be abundantly repaid by the instructions he should receive. Note, (1.) To shew a reachable spirit, is the suret way to become wise unto salvation. (2.) The scriptures, especially the prophecies, are many of them hard to be understood; and we should therefore call in the assistance of good men, and good books, to assist our enquiries; and above all, look up to the Spirit of wisdom for an enlightened understanding.

5. This illustrious Ethiopian having seated him in the chariot, enquires of Philip the meaning of the passage he had been reading, Ife. liii. 7, 8. where, according to the Septuagint version, it was written, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter, and like a lamb dumb before his theater, so opened he not his mouth: in his humiliation his judgment was taken away, and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth; the Ethiopian therefore begs Philip to inform him, of whom the prophet in this passage speaks, of himself, or of some other man? Hereupon Philip opened his mouth, and, glad of to say an opening, began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus, the great subject of the prophecy. He was the sheep led to the slaughter, willingly offering himself a sacrifice for the sins of his people; silent before his sheaves as a lamb, neither oppressing nor threatening, but mere and patient under all the indignities shewn him; he humbled himself to the lowest state, to the life of a servant, and the death of a slave: his judgment was taken away; he was treated in the most unjust and cruel manner, hurried from one judgment seat to another; and though considerably innocent, executed as the vilett of malefactors: and who shall declare his generation? the wickedness and impiety of the men of that age in which he suffered these things; for his life is taken from the earth, and by wicked hands he was crucified and slain, cut off as a criminal

unworthy to live. Yet God raised him from the dead, exalted him to his right hand, in token of his fullest approbation; and having accepted his sacrifice for the sins of his people, hath given power to his ministers to preach remission of sins to all nations; and by the ordinance of baptism, to admit those who professed faith in him to baptism, as the initiatory ordinance into his church.

6. Convinced of the truth by Philip’s discourse, he embraced the gospel of Jesus which the evangelist preached; and as they were as their way, Philip opening the truth at large, and the eunuch attentively listening, they come unto a certain water, when, desirous to make open profession of his faith by baptism, if Philip had no objection, he humbly proposes it, that he might be baptized. Philip said, If thou believeth with all these hurts, the great truths on which I have been discoursing, trusting on Jesus alone for pardon, righteousness, and salvation, and willing to yield thyself to his government and service, thou mayest. He answered, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the divine, all-sufficient, and promised Saviour, the true Messiah, God incarnate. Satisfied with this confession of his faith, Philip consents to his proposal; and the eunuch ordering his chariot to stop, they went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch and he baptized him. Note, (1.) Nothing affects the conscience of men like the preaching of a crucified Jesus. (2.) Faith is not a mere speculative assent to gospel truths, but the embracing with the heart a salvation suited to the case of a lost sinner. (3.) No man can truly say that Jesus is the Christ, but by the Spirit of God; and the real knowledge of this truth secures eternal life.

7. Philip and the eunuch are parted as miraculously as they were brought together. 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 this miracle served to bear testimony to his doctrine, and he went on his way running in Christ Jesus, with whole salvation he was now become acquainted, and happy in the hope of carrying the glad tidings to his countrymen. But Philip was found at Ahome, or Athod, upwards of thirty miles from Creas and passing through, he preached us he travelled, in all the cities, till he came to Cafarna, where afterwards, it seems, he chiefly took up his abode, Acts xx. 8.