Acts 8 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

Acts 8

Saul Ravages the Church

8:1 And Saul approved of his execution.

And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. 3 But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.

Philip Proclaims Christ in Samaria

4 Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. 5 Philip went down to the city¹ of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. 6 And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs that he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was much joy in that city.

Simon the Magician Believes

9 But there was a man named Simon, who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was somebody great. 10 They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the power of God that is called Great.” 11 And they paid attention to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic. 12 But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles² performed, he was amazed.

14 Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, 15 who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. 18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! 21 You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are in the gall³ of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.” 24 And Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.”

25 Now when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.

Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch

26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south⁴ to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. 27 And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” 30 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this:

  “Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter
    and like a lamb before its shearer is silent,
    so he opens not his mouth.
33   In his humiliation justice was denied him.
    Who can describe his generation?
  For his life is taken away from the earth.”

34 And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. 36 And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?”⁵ 38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39 And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.

Footnotes

[1] 8:5 Some manuscripts a city
[2] 8:13 Greek works of power
[3] 8:23 That is, a bitter fluid secreted by the liver; bile
[4] 8:26 Or go at about noon
[5] 8:36 Some manuscripts add all or most of verse 37: And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he replied, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”

Commentary

Chapters 8-10 describe the initial spread of the gospel beyond Judea into Samaria, and then the conversion of Saul, to become apostle to the Gentiles, and of Cornelius, a Gentile proselyte. In chapter 13, Saul (Paul) and Barnabas begin their ministry from Antioch, leading to the gospel going throughout the Roman Empire.

David Devenish (Demolishing Strongholds) says; ' Opposition, persecution, corruption, division and diversion of leaders from their main calling remain issues of warfare today.'

v1-3: Stephen's death marks the start of deliberate persecution "against the church;" and this is more severe than anything previously experienced. Many are scattered throughout Judea and Samaria, in line with 1.8. Saul is named as approving Stephen's death, but also leading the charge against the church; he "began to destroy the church," see 9.21.

v4: The believers who are scattered preach the word everywhere they go; so the persecution has the effect of spreading the gospel; the Lord frustrates the schemes of the wicked. In a similar way, Israel prospered under the bondage of the Egyptians, Ex 1.12.

Persecution is rarely as dangerous to the health of the church as internal strife; very soon false doctrine, false teachers bring confusion into the church. The parable of the wheat and tares indicates that this will continue until the final day.

v5: Philip (6.5) finds a new ministry, just as Stephen did. Many Jews were prejudiced against the Samaritans, and perhaps Philip would have been; but such prejudices disappear as He proclaims Christ; only He has power to turn centuries of hatred and mistrust into love.

v6-8: Philip performs great miracles, as Stephen did. And many believe. Acts shows God's dealings with individuals as well as with multitudes, and that is always important.

The scripture refers to "many paralytics and cripples;" perhaps a prevalance in the area. If so, then God's miracles mirrored the local situation.

v9-12: The power of Simon the Sorcerer; through his miracles he gained authority over many; "This man is the divine power." Simon attracted men to himself; Philip turns men to Christ. Thus there are such things as counterfeit miracles; there are other clearer marks of true faith in God.

v13: Simon believes, is baptised, and follows with Philip; Is he really converted? He seems to be more interested in miracles than in truth, the signs than the reality.

v14-17: The apostles arrive in Samaria; perhaps they perceive a danger of division between Jew and Samaritan in the church. The special anointing of the Holy Spirit is a mark of the apostles' visit.

It seems unlikely that Philip preached a defective gospel; contrast 19.1-4, where Paul meets disciples of John Baptist, who are not true Christians. The experience here is that the Samaritan believers do not receive the Holy Spirit when they believe.

v18: The receiving of the Holy Spirit has some clear outward sign, although we are not told what it is.

v19: Simon wants 'spiritual power;' he is interested in self, and promoting self, rather than in seeing Jesus Christ glorified in His followers.

v20-23: Peter sees the reality of Simon's heart and desires; he is clear that Simon is not truly converted. It is by the Holy Spirit that Peter discerns his heart.

Many misuse and misunderstand spiritual things; we do not always see the whole picture, nor even understand our own hearts; but God is not mocked.

v24: Compare Ex 12.32, "bless me also."

v25: Peter and John do not need to remain in Samaria. The apostolic role is to establish churches, and to strengthen believers. Others are appointed to remain.

v26-27: Philip is sent from the crowds of Samaria to an individual in the desert. He is ready to go wherever God calls. We are not to despise 'smaller' opportunities.

The eunuch, presumably a Jewish proselyte, who has travelled to Jerusalem to worship, and who reads the OT, is from "Ethiopia," or the 'Upper Nile Region' (margin); this seems to have been Nubia, an ancient kingdom in the area of modern day Ethiopia and Sudan.

v28-29: A man seeking God, a heart prepared by God; fertile ground to receive the word of God.

v30-31: The practice is to read out loud, or have another read for him; Ezra 4.18; Esth 6.1. Common Jewsih practice was that reading and meditation was spoken out loud. It was only later that the practice of silent reading became common.

The Ethiopians needs someone to explain its meaning. Understanding the Bible is not magic; and we have the Holy Spirit, in us, and through others, to explain the word of God.

v32-34: The reading, in Isaiah 53, demands thought. Is the prophet speaking of his own experience, or that of another? We ask questions to grow in understanding.

v35: Philip preaches Jesus Christ; He is the key to understanding all Scripture; and He must be at the heart of our explanation.

v36-38: Having believed in Christ, the Ethiopian is baptised. It seems clear that he is baptised by immersion in water; and it is very soon after his conversion, as in 2.41.

v39: Although Philip is taken away, the Ethiopian is full of joy, for he knows Jesus Christ, contrast Mark 10.22.

v40: Philip is taken somewhere else, Azotus and then travels on to Caesarea.