Acts 8
OGCACTS TEST OVER Chapter S EIGHT THROUGH TWELVE True or False
The opposition of the church takes a definite turn in procedure beginning with the eighth chapter.
This change, or turn, was in the fact that the Sadducees now took up the persecution whereas it was formerly the Pharisees.
The rulers really had nothing to fear for the Christians would have always been in the minority.
This persecution was in reality providential.
The book of Acts teaches us that this persecution was only confined to Jerusalem.
Christians stayed in Jerusalem; there is record of their secret meetings.
The death of Stephen was a great defeat.
Only the men, of course, went everywhere preaching the word.
There is a record of the apostles hiding themselves in Jerusalem and thus were they enabled to stay in the city.
The word they preached was preached everywhere.
Multiple Choice Acts 8:5-12
Philip went to Samaria and proclaimed unto them: 1) The Messiah. 2) The Christ. 3) Jesus.
This Philip was: 1) Philip the apostle. 2) Philip the deacon. 3) Another Philip.
Philip became an evangelist: 1) When he was ordained by the apostles. 2) When he started evangelizing. 3) Later in Caesarea.
They believed Philip when they saw: 1) His honest face. 2) The signs which he did. 3) His marvelous delivery.
Among those diseases healed by Philip was: 1) Demon possession. 2) Blindness. 3) Deafness.
As a result of the preaching and healing there was much: 1) Conviction. 2) Joy. 3) Conflict in the city.
The record states that Simon amazed the people by: 1) Sorcery. 2) Ventriloquism. 3) Both.
All believed Simon from the least to the greatest because: 1) He had been doing it for such a long time. 2) He was the mayor of the town. 3) He had an agreement with the leaders of the city.
They believed Philip instead of Simon because: 1) Not all heard Simon. 2) Some never did believe in Simon. 3) Philip’s message and work were plainly superior to those of Simon.
Acts 8:12 compares very well with: 1) Acts 2:38. 2) Acts 3:19. 3) Mark 16:15-16.
Fill in the Blanks
But Peter said: Thy silver ______________________________________________ with ___________________ for thou hast thought to obtain the gift of God with money.
… and pray the Lord, if _____________________ the thought of thy heart shall be forgiven thee.
For I see that thou art in the _____________________ of bitterness and the _____________________ of iniquity.
They therefore, when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, returned to _________________ and preached the gospel to many _____________________ of the Samaritans.
But an __________________________ of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza; the same is ___________.
And he arose and went; and behold, a man of Ethiopia, a ___________ of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure, who had come to Jerusalem to ____________________.
And Philip ran to him, and ___________________ him reading Isaiah the prophet.
He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and as a lamb before his shearer is dumb, so he openth not his mouth; in his ____________ his judgment was taken away.
And Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this scripture, __________________ unto him ___________________.
Find FIVE (5) mistakes in this paragraph.
Philip preached Jesus from Jeremiah the prophet to this negro. Near to where they were was a body of water. The eunuch seeing the water said: Behold here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? The horses were called to a halt and the eunuch went down alone into the water and was baptized. From this text, apart from the Greek, it would be impossible to determine the mode of baptism. The Azotus mentioned is the city of Gaza on the Philistine plain. Philip was at this time a single man who could make this trip even as Paul did on his missionary journeys.
UNDERLINE the words that are out of place. (ONE word for each question)
Acts 9:1 to Acts 2:1) Saul. 2) Slaughter. 3) Synagogues. 4) Share.
Acts 9:1 to Acts 2:1) Letters. 2) Leniency. 3) Lord.
Acts 9:3-8 a. 1) Damascus. 2) Drew nigh. 3) Dream.
Acts 9:3-8 a. 1) Light. 2) Letters. 3) Liberty. 4) Lord.
Acts 9:3-8 a. 1) Goad. 2) Go. 3) Grown.
Acts 9:3-8 a. 1) Boast. 2) Blind. 3) Broken. 4) Best.
Acts 9:3-8 a. 1) Conviction. 2) Conversion. 3) Confession. 4) Constitution.
Acts 9:8 b - Acts 9:22. 1) Ananias. 2) Arise. 3) Amazed. 4) Azotus.
Acts 9:8 b - Acts 9:22. 1) Saints. 2) Suffer. 3) Share. 4) Seen.
Acts 9:8 b - Acts 9:22. 1) Brother. 2) Bear. 3) Bring.
Affirm or Deny But Tell the Reason Why
I say that Simon the sorcerer was never really converted.
Affirm ____________________ Deny ____________________ Tell why.
I say the despised Samaritans were the first Gentile converts.
Affirm ____________________ Deny ____________________ Tell why.
I say that Acts 8:14 (Now when the apostles that were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John) offers proof that Peter was not the first Pope.
Affirm ____________________ Deny ____________________ Tell why.
I say that Peter and John were sent to Samaria to investigate the faith of these Samaritans and see if they were on the right track.
Affirm ____________________ Deny ____________________ Tell why.
I say that nowhere did anyone ever connect prayer with receiving the Holy Spirit.
Affirm ____________________ Deny ____________________ Tell why.
I say that the Samaritans did not have the Holy Spirit until the apostles arrived and gave it to them.
Affirm ____________________ Deny ____________________ Tell why.
I say the Holy Spirit fell on them in answer to prayer; therefore we should pray the same prayer today.
Affirm ____________________ Deny ____________________ Tell why.
I say that Luke does not tell us all of the circumstances of Simon’s sin and that it must have been a real temptation to Peter and John.
Affirm ____________________ Deny ____________________ Tell why.
I say that Simon must have thought about it a long while before he made the offer to Peter and John.
Affirm ____________________ Deny ____________________ Tell why.
I say that Simon would have had to wait until the Lord’s day to be forgiven of his sin.
Affirm ____________________ Deny ____________________ Tell why.
True or False
1
The main thought of Luke in the whole work of Peter was the conversion of Cornelius.
2
The eunuch was the first Gentile convert to Christianity.
3
Cornelius could have been saved if he had continued in his devoutness.
4
Cornelius could have been saved in his pious life if he had had no opportunity to hear of Christ.
5
Cornelius was an officer of the Roman army maintained in Caesarea to keep law and order.
6
Cornelius probably obtained his faith through association with the Jews.
7
No worship to Jehovah in sincerity goes unrewarded.
8
Cornelius observed the Jewish hours of prayer.
9
The angel appeared at noon. (To Cornelius).
10
The angel had on garments that literally shown with their brightness.
11
Cornelius did not connect the angel with God.
12
The angel told Cornelius to go himself to Joppa and fetch Simon Peter.
13
The angel did not want Cornelius to mix Simon the apostle with Simon the tanner, so he told him of his surname.
14
Cornelius sent only his two household servants as messengers to fetch Peter.
15
It was at the sixth hour when the men arrived in Joppa.
16
The vision of Peter and Cornelius were exactly similar.
17
To have eaten what was in the sheet would have been to sin, so thought Peter.
18
The sheet descended from heaven three times.
19
The men from Cornelius stood outside of the house at the outer gate and called in to inquire of the whereabouts of Simon Peter.
20
The messengers of Cornelius made the mission of Peter as attractive to the Jewish mind as possible.
Multiple Choice
Who heard the news of Peter’s work in Caesarea? 1) The apostles. and disciples. 2) The apostles and brethren. 3) The apostles and brethren of Judea.
Who contended with Peter at Jerusalem? 1) The apostles. 2) The disciples. 3) They of the circumcision.
Their charge was: 1) He should not have preached to them. 2) Eaten with them. 3) Baptized them.
To convince these of Jerusalem, Peter: 1) Preached the gospel to them. 2) Only told them of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. 3) Told them how the Lord had convinced him.
Peter concluded his defense by saying: The Holy Spirit had: 1) Overcome them. 2) Fallen on them as on us in the beginning. 3) filled them.
Peter’s closing words were that: 1) God had accepted the Gentiles in that He had given them the Holy Spirit. 2) The Gentiles had been baptized in the Holy Spirit, therefore were saved and accepted. 3) God had plainly told him to accept these unclean persons.
Now when they heard these things they: 1) Praised the Lord. 2) Contended with Peter. 3) Held their peace and glorified the Lord.
**The Labors of the Early Disciples
Here is a list of TEN words. Pick out the ones that DO NOT relate to this section. The correct ones are all QUOTED from the text.
1
Scattered.
2
Scarcely.
3
Tribulation.
4
Tremble.
5
Traveled.
6
Cyprus.
7
Syria.
8
Phoenicia.
9
Antioch.
10
Hebrews.
Who’s Who in Acts 11:22, Acts 12:25.
Who said the following?
There will be a famine over all the world.
Rise up quickly.
Now I know of a truth, that the Lord hath sent forth his angel.
Peter is standing before the gate.
It is his angel.
Tell these things unto James and the brethren.
Put them to death.
The voice of a god, and not of a man.
Who did the following?
Went to seek for Saul in Tarsus.
Became the ones who were first called Christians.
Killed James the brother of John with a sword.
Slept at the door of the prison.
Had a prayer meeting in her house.
Went down to Caesarea.
Made Blastus their friend.
Arrayed himself in royal apparel, and sat on the throne.
Smote Herod.
Went back to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas.
Acts 8:1-4
THE CHURCH IN JUDEA AND SAMARIA
THE DISPERSION THE WORK OF PHILIP THE WORK OF PETER AND John 8:1-40.
A.
THE DISPERSION. Acts 8:1-4.
And Saul was consenting unto his death.
And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church which was in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
And devout men buried Stephen, and made great lamentation over him.
But Saul laid waste the church, entering into every house, and dragging men and women committed them to prison.
They therefore that were scattered abroad went about preaching the word.
It might be well to say at the beginning of this section that the numbers which appear under the headings such as the one above **correspond to the numbers found upon the following chart. **All the events that took place in Jerusalem will be discussed under number one (1); all the events that took place in Samaria, under point two (2), etc.
a. The persecution against the church resulting in dispersion. Acts 8:1.
**Acts 8:1 **It has already been said that Saul was consenting to the death of Stephen. A further word needs to be added; that through the efforts of this one and others a great persecution arose against the church. Up to this time the rulers were content to oppose the church by pretending to defend their position. The opposition now turns from the defensive to the offensive. The leadership of the persecution passes from the Sadducees to the Pharisees. Saul was a Pharisee of the Pharisees. The opposition swept upon the disciples with a fierceness that had never before been known. There were to be no more trials, no more defenses. The cause of Christ was condemned in a wholesale manner that permitted no hearing. Evidently the popularity of the new movement presented to the mind of the Jews a real threat to their power and prestige. It did indeed, for had the church been left to continue its march, all Jerusalem would have bowed at the feet of Jesus.
Under the general persecution it was flee or be jailed. Since the persecution was localized in Jerusalem the disciples scattered into the parts of Judea and Samaria. This dispersion was God’s use of opposition to further His own purposes. Jesus said the witness was to be given first at Jerusalem, then in Judea and Samaria; this was the start of it.
b. The burial of Stephen. Acts 8:2.
**Acts 8:2 **With great sorrow devout men tenderly lifted the broken body of Stephen from amidst the stones and buried him. Yet there must have been joy intermingled, for now they knew that there was nothing they could not face, and come forth victorious. They had faced threatenings, imprisonments, stripes and now death; still Jesus could be seen and heard, leading them above it all to still greater efforts.
c. The persecution of Saul. Acts 8:3.
**Acts 8:3 **Saul was the spearhead in this all out campaign. He left no stone unturned, he ferreted out every Christian. He went from house to house and upon finding a follower of Jesus gave him no chance for so much as a word, but dragged him from his home and cast him into prison.
d. The preaching of all who were scattered. Acts 8:4.
**Acts 8:4 **There were not twelve preachers in this early church but thousands. Every believer held it his divine responsibility to tell someone else of this Jesus. So when the disciples were forced to leave their homes and loved ones they Went everywhere preaching the word.
What was the difference between the persons persecuted in the earlier persecution and the ones described in the eighth chapter?
What change of party do we find in the leadership of the persecution?
What threat did the Pharisees see in this new movement?
How did this persecution fulfill the purpose of Christ?
Tell of the sorrow and joy that must have been present at the burial of Stephen.
PART OF THE COLONNADE WHICH ONCE ENCIRCLED SAMARIA.
On the south side, near to the west end, a great number of columns are still standing.
Could it be that Philip looked upon some of these same pillars? Samaria stood upon a hill about three hundred feet high, in a wide basin formed by the valley which runs from Shechem to the coastHere, on this hill, overlooked by still higher hills beyond the valley, Omri built the new city which became the permanent capital of the kingdom of the northern tribes. The city was almost impregnable. Two sieges it sustained without yieldingone in 901 B.C. (1 Kings 20:1) and one nine years later. (2 Kings 6:24, Acts 7:20).
How did Saul go about his efforts of persecutionhis attitude and method?
What is the meaning of the term word as used in Acts 8:4?
Acts 8:5-13
**B.
THE FIRST WORK OF PHILIP.** Acts 8:5-13.
And Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and proclaimed unto them the Christ.
And the multitudes gave heed with one accord unto the things that were spoken by Philip, when they heard, and saw the signs which he did.
For from many of those that had unclean spirits, they came out, crying with a loud voice: and many that were palsied, and that were lame, were healed.
And there was much joy in that city,
But there was a certain man, Simon by name, who beforetime in the city used sorcery, and amazed the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:
to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is that power of God which is called Great.
And they gave heed to him, because that of long time he had amazed them with his sorceries.
But when they believed Philip preaching good tidings concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
And Simon also himself believed: and being baptized, he continued with Philip; and beholding signs and great miracles wrought, he was amazed.
Acts 8:5-8 The Bible is geographically accurate for when we read in Acts 8:5 that Philip went down to Samaria although he journeyed northward we know by the topography of the land that he was making a descent. Who was this man who is here introduced as a special case among the many who scattered? It is not Philip the apostle, but rather Philip the deacon one of the seven (cp. Acts 21:8). By the press of circumstances he became an evangelist of Christ Jesus. Philip’s work was like that of all others who fled the city of David to preach the word.
Coming in his journey to the city of Samaria he proclaimed unto them the Christ. This preacher was not without divine evidence to confirm his word. The Samaritans not only heard his word but also beheld signs and great miracles performed to show the divine approval of his message. Luke, with his customary precision, tells us that the signs consisted in the healing of those possessed, the palsied and the lame. The first response was one of intense interest, then of great joy as a result of both the healing and the good news.
What do you know of Philip previous to his mention in Acts 8:5 a?
What relation did the signs and wonders performed by Philip have to do with his preaching?
**Acts 8:9-12 **In verse nine Luke refers to an incident that must have confronted Philip upon entering the city. He says that in this city there was a certain man named Simon. This one had for a long period of time carried out a program of deception. Through the means of sorcery he had amazed and confounded the people. This deception was believed by both the small and the great. All had accepted him as the fulfillment of a superstitious idea that one was to come who would be an offshoot of deity. His position was so generally recognized because he had carried out this practice over such a long period of time.
But in spite of this condition in the city they believed Philip preaching good tidings concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. It would seem that the more they thought of the message of the kingdom of God the less they thought of the words of Simon. The more they considered the signs of Philip the less they thought of the tricks of the sorcerer. Philip probably told them that there was but **one **manifestation of God’s power and person and that was in and through Jesus Christ. Thus it came to pass that they believed Philip and they were baptized, both men and women. (Note the obvious fulfillment of Mar 16:15-16).
Acts 8:13 The most astounding part of this whole event is that the very ringleader of the opposition Simon himself was taken as a trophy for King Jesus. The account of the conversion of Simon is an exact counterpart of the Great Commission as given by Mark, He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. (Mark 16:15-16). Whatever else could be said of this man Simon we must say that at this time he evidenced honesty and humility; for it must have taken real humility and honesty to make this public profession of his acceptance.
There has been no little discussion as to whether Simon was truly converted or only made a pretense of faith. It seems to the writer that all hesitancy of accepting Simon’s conversion as genuine would be removed if we could but remember that Luke is writing the account quite some time after the events, and with a personal contact with those who were eye-witnesses of the events. If Simon were pretending then would not Luke have so stated it when he recorded his belief and baptism? It is unthinkable that if Luke knew of the hypocrisy of Simon (and he surely must have if it were so) that he would not have so recorded it when writing this history. There is as much reason to discount the conversion of the rest of the Samaritans as that of Simon for their acceptance is described in the same words as that of Simon. Indeed Simon is said to have **continued with Philip. **He did this at least for the length of time it took for the news of the conversion of the Samaritans to reach Jerusalem.
What was the first problem to face Philip upon entering Samaria?
Why was the deception of Simon the sorcerer so readily accepted?
How do you imagine it came to pass that the people turned from Simon to Philip?
What scripture did the conversion of Simon and the Samaritans fulfill?
Do you believe the conversion of Simon was genuine? Why yes or no?
THE APPROACH TO NABLUS, THE ANCIENT SHECHEM
Through the olive groves on the eastern side of the city the gate is shown beneath the minaret.
Here is a town in the country of Samaria to which Philip went to preach unto them Jesus. After Vespasian destroyed the Samaritan temple on Mt. Gerizim, he built his new city (Neapolis) farther up the valley, leaving the ancient Shechem in ruins. Archaeology has shown that Shechem was Tell Balatah, not the site of the later Roman city Neapolis or Nablus, which was considered for a long time to be Shechem, but is N.W. of it. **Unger’s Bible Dictionary **p. 1008. It was near this town that Jesus taught the Samaritan woman of the water that was not in the well.
Acts 8:14-25
C.
**THE WORK OF PETER AND JOHN. **Acts 8:14-25.
I.
AT JERUSALEM. Acts 8:14
Now when the apostles that were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
Acts 8:14 The cause of Christ was making great strides in the city and province of Samaria. When the news reached Jerusalem the apostles immediately sent unto them Peter and John.
As we have said, the work of the Lord was progressing wonderfully among the Samaritans. Why then was it necessary for Peter and John to appear on the scene? Was it indeed important that they come at all? These questions are answered by the text itself. Note the facts given in the text:
AT SAMARIA. Acts 8:15-25 a
who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit:
for as yet it was fallen upon none of them: only they had been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.
Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
Now when Simon saw that through the laying on of apostles-’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money,
saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay my hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit.
But Peter said unto him, Thy silver perish with thee, because thou hast thought to obtain the gift of God with money.
Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right before God.
Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray the Lord, if perhaps the thought of thy heart shall be forgiven thee.
For I see that thou art in the gall of bitterness and **in **the bond of iniquity.
And Simon answered and said, Pray ye for me to the Lord, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.
They therefore, when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.
**Acts 8:15-17 **As soon as the apostles heard of Philip’s good work in Samaria they sent Peter and John. But we ask for what purpose? What they did when they arrived would determine why they were sent.
-
When they arrived they prayed and laid hands upon the Samaritans; through this means these received the special gifts of the Holy Spirit.
-
This action was necessary because the Samaritans had only been baptized in water into Christ. They had then consequently only received the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38) or the (indwelling personality of the Holy Spirit.) The Holy Spirit in His miraculous powers had not **fallen upon **any of them. Luke uses the term fallen upon to describe the reception of the special powers. He uses this terminology in speaking of fear also (Luke 1:12; Acts 19:17). It carries the idea of obtaining or acquiring. From what we should already have concluded concerning the special spiritual gifts (see special study on the Holy Spirit,) we must say the use of the term Holy Spirit in Acts 8:15 b is synonymous with spiritual gifts. Nor is this unusual for there are other examples where the cause is placed for the effect.
Give the purpose of the coming of Peter and John to Samaria; prove your answer.
How is the term Holy Spirit used in Acts 8:15 b? Explain.
**Acts 8:18-24 **In contrast to the wonderful impartation of the Holy Spirit we are brought to face the sin of Simon. This record should teach us that holy company and religious activities do not exclude temptation and sin. Luke is very brief in this account. So brief that we are constrained to believe that there must have been a lapse of time between verse seventeen and eighteen. It does not seem reasonable that Simon would immediately sin in the way he did. The rebuke of Peter shows that there must have been a premeditation on his part. It was no impulsive statement that was said one moment and repented of the next. Peter says in describing his sin, that he was held in the bond of iniquity i.e. his sin had so grown within him as to be a fetter upon his very soul. Simon had allowed this thought to brood within his bosom so that the bitterness of hypocrisy had filled his heart.
He wanted this power of imparting the Holy Spirit by the laying on of his hands. The offer of money was not prompted by impetuousness nor was it probably offered in the public gathering, but rather at some opportune moment when Simon thought Peter would be most easily approached.
Peter did not hesitate a moment. We can think of a time in Peter’s life when he would have hesitated and possibly yielded. But that was before Pentecost; that was before Peter was emptied of self and filled with the Holy Spirit. The apostle with the discernment of spirits that was his (1 Corinthians 12:10) knew Simon’s exact predicament. This he revealed to Simon in the sternest of rebukes. He said in essence, You are lost and your silver will be lost with you. This is true because you seek to put a price upon that which is priceless. You have sought to bring down into your carnal sphere the power of Almighty God. You cannot buy with your money any part of God or His power. Your heart is not right before God. Peter did not close this rebuke in a thunder of final anathema but with the hope of restoration. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness and pray the Lord, if perhaps the thought of thy heart shall be forgiven thee.
Then, as we have already remarked, Peter spoke to Simon of what he saw in Simon’s heart. The gall of bitterness bespeaks of the heart condition or Simon’s personal feelings. The bond of iniquity describes the hold or power his sin had upon him. It is not our intention to decide motives, but from the words of Simon we seem to catch something of the meaning of the word perhaps in Peter’s rebuke. Peter had suggested that the thought of this man’s heart might not be forgiven. Why? It would appear from what Simon here says, that Peter, looking into the purposes of the soul, could see that he was not yet ready or willing to follow his request for repentance. Even as the apostle spoke the words he knew the heart of Simon and so said if perhaps. The thought of verse twenty-four is an indication of Simon’s unwillingness to do what was demanded of him. He was doubtless afraid and remorseful but not willing to forsake sin. Because of his fear he asked that Peter and John would pray for him. Note that he did not ask them to pray for him that he might have the courage to follow out the instructions given, but only that he might not be lost. He has many counterparts in our modern day.
What lesson can be found in the wicked proposal of Simon?
Does the briefness of this account concerning the wicked proposal of Simon force us to any conclusion on the matter? If so, what?
What does the rebuke of Peter reveal about the heart condition of Simon?
How do you suppose the offer of money was made?
How did Peter know of the exact condition of Simon’s heart?
What reason does the response of Simon give for Peter’s use of the word perhaps?
If Simon was not willing to repent why did he ask Peter and John to pray for him?
Acts 8:25 Peter and John came to Samaria for one primary purpose; i.e. the installing of spiritually equipped leaders in the new congregation. This being accomplished they also testified and spoke the word of the Lord to the Samaritans, Following this they turned their faces toward Jerusalem. On their return journey they paused at numerous villages and preached the gospel among the despised Samaritans. It is interesting to notice the change in John’s attitude toward these people. Read Luke 9:51-55.
What interesting detail is given in the former treatise concerning John and Samaria?
Acts 8:26-40
D.
THE LATER WORK OF PHILIP. Acts 8:26-40.
ON THE ROAD FROM JERUSALEM TO GAZA. Acts 8:26-39.
But an angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza: the same is desert.
And he arose and went: and behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure, who had come to Jerusalem to worship;
and he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah.
And the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
And Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
And he said, How can I, except some one shall guide me? And he besought Philip to come up and sit with him.
Now the passage of the scripture which he was reading was this,
He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before his shearer is dumb, So he openeth not his mouth:
In his humiliation his judgment was taken away:
His generation who shall declare? For his life is taken from the earth?
And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other?
And Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this scripture, preached unto him Jesus.
And as they went on the way, they came unto a certain water; and the eunuch saith, Behold, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip; and the eunuch saw him no more, for he went on his way rejoicing.
Acts 8:26 In verse twenty-six we again encounter the much used word but. This time it is a stop sign designating a halt in our consideration of the work of Peter and John; indeed it is the last mention of John in the historical record. We are now to turn our attention to Philip the evangelist. Right in the midst of the most encouraging of evangelistic efforts, when it would seem that surely one could stay a long while and reap many souls an angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying Arise and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza; the same is desert. Philip’s faith was the kind that caused him to know that God’s way is always the best way. Since God had started him on this work he knew that however strange and inexplainable the directions, there was one directing who could see the whole pattern and that he was but an instrument in performing God’s work. So he arose and went.
It is such a well known fact that it hardly merits mention but to someone it might be helpful to state that the word desert as used in Acts 8:26 b means uninhabitable. The word does not carry the same thought that is commonly associated with it in the English. There has never been anything but a fertile plain called the plain of Philistia in the district where Philip met the eunuch. For comparative references as to the use of this word see Matthew 14:15; Matthew 14:19; Mark 6:35; Mark 6:39; John 6:10.
**Acts 8:27-28 **What was Philip to find in this uninhabited territory? Luke does not mention any of the events that might have occurred on the fifty mile journey from Samaria to this road. In Philip’s day the road that led from Jerusalem to Gaza was a fine paved Roman thoroughfare. Perchance Philip encountered several persons upon this highway, but there was but one person on this road in the plan of God for Philip. There traveled in this way a certain Ethiopian eunuch of great authority. He was the treasurer of queen Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had been to Jerusalem to worship and was now on his way home. He was evidently either an Ethiopian Jew or a proselyte. At this time we find him reading aloud from Isaiah the prophet.
Show how the request of the angel to Philip was strange and why he immediately obeyed.
How is the word desert used in Acts 8:26 b?
How far was it from Samaria to the road from Jerusalem to Gaza?
Was the Ethiopian a Gentile? Why so, or why not?
How did Philip know the eunuch was reading from Isaiah?
**Acts 8:29-30 As Philip beheld the chariot and its retinue he had no reason to be particularly interested. Then it happened, the question of Philip’s heart was answered; the Spirit said to Philip go near and join thyself to this **chariot. Philip did not hesitate a moment but ran to carry out the divine request. As his swift steps carried him close to the chariot, familiar words fell upon his ears, for he heard the occupant of the chariot reading from Isaiah the prophet. Probably this very passage he heard had formed a basis for many a sermon to Philip’s Jewish friends. There is no plainer prophecy of the suffering Servant.
It was natural for Philip to inquire of this one as he did. Philip came up alongside of the chariot and asked informally: Understandest what thou readest?
**Acts 8:31-32 **The eunuch, seeing in the words of Philip an invitation to learning, immediately spoke of his own inability and asked Philip to come up and ride with him that he might instruct him. This surely manifested a good and honest heart on the part of the eunuch. Now the passage of scripture he was reading was this: He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and as a lamb before his shearer is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: for his life is taken from the earth. Philip. beginning from this scripture, preached unto him Jesus. Yes, yes, and where Philip began we must all begin if we are going to truly preach Jesus. To leave out the vicarious suffering of Jesus is to leave out the gospel from our preaching. Repentance, confession and baptism mean very little, if anything, without a deepseated knowledge and faith in Jesus as the Lamb of God slain for the sins of the world.
**Acts 8:33-38 **Verse thirty-three speaks of the fact that because of the manner of Christ’s trial He was given no judgment. This we hold to be the meaning of the word humiliation. In the latter portion of the verse there is likewise an allusion to the humiliation of Jesus; in His trial and death He was to be like a man who was the last of his family; that being taken by death there would be no one to carry on the generation.
What did Philip preach when he opened his mouth and preached unto him Jesus? This can be answered by turning to the sermons of Peter and Stephen, for the same Spirit that spoke through these men was now speaking through Philip, When Philip finished his message in Samaria he baptized both men and women. When Peter finished his sermon on the day of Pentecost 3,000 were added by baptism, So it is not at all strange to read here that when they came to a certain water the eunuch desired to be baptized. What water would be found in this desert? Geographical and historical surveys tell us that there were several bodies of water in this district that could have accommodated the baptism described. The mode of baptism is not before alluded to but here it is described, And he commanded the chariot to stand still and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they came up out of the water. Could anything be more clearly descriptive of a burial with Christ in baptism? Is not immersion the inevitable conclusion of an open mind? The action of going down into the water and coming up out of the water would have been entirely superfluous had Philip only sprinkled or poured water upon the candidate.
What do you think of the approach of Philip to the eunuch?
What real lesson in preaching can we learn from Philip?
Explain verse thirty-three.
ASHDOD (AZOTUS).
Ashdod was one of the five cities of the Philistines. These cities were famous in the days of Saul. Ashdod is between Lydda on the east and Joppa on the west. Into this ancient city the young evangelist Philip walked on his way to Caesarea. It was here that he was found preaching to the inhabitants the good news of Christ. What type of response do you suppose these people gave Philip? Was it easier for him to speak to these Philistines of Christ and his salvation than it is for you to speak to your next door neighbor? The ark of God was carried here in the long ago and placed in the temple of Dagon, an ancient Canaanite deity. Dagon was cast down and broken up by the power of God. What God’s power did in the days of Saul (1 Samuel 5:1-8) it did in the day of Philip. The gospel is the power of God today to the casting down of idols. We have the same power and the same opportunity for the salvation of souls today that Philip had in Azotus.
**Acts 8:39 **Upon the completion of the baptism two events occurred.
- The Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip. How this happened, whether the Spirit transported Philip bodily from the scene, or directed him suddenly to another field of service we have no way of knowing.
- The eunuch saw Philip no more but went on his way rejoicing.
It might be well to note that the remission of sins (Acts 2:38), the blotting out of sins (Acts 3:19) and now the rejoicing (Acts 8:39) all occurred following belief, repentance and baptism. No doubt the eunuch went back to establish a work for Christ among his own people.
But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached the gospel to all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.
**Acts 8:40 **But Philip was found at Azotus. This terminology would seem to indicate some sudden appearance by Philip in this city. The Azotus at which Philip was found is the Ashdod of the Old Testament, one of the five cities of the Philistines. It stood a few miles from the seashore, nearly at a right angle to the line of the eunuch’s travel and probably fifteen miles distant. (McGarvey: **Commentary On Acts I, **p. 163).
How can we know of the content of Philip’s sermon? Name two ways.
What water could be found in this desert place? Give a full answer.
What inevitable conclusion do we find from the account of the baptism of the eunuch?
What two events occurred at the completion of the baptism? Explain each.
What do you know of Azotus mentioned in Acts 8:40 a?
PHILIP’S FOUNTAIN (Acts 8:38).
And they came to a certain water. this is only one of the bodies of water in this district. There are several possible places where immersion could take place. And they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
The broad fertile plain of Philistia was thickly set with villages in Philip’s time and offered a productive field for many years of evangelistic effort, 5. **IN CAESAREA. **Acts 8:40 d.
The distance from Azotus to Caesarea was about sixty miles. Caesarea was the northernmost city in the evangelistic tour of Philip, It is here with his family that we find him some five or six years later, (Cf. Acts 21:7-8.)
Tell two facts about Caesarea.