THE MINISTRY OF PETER AND JOHN IN SAMARIA: ACTS 8:14-25

        News had reached the Twelve in Jerusalem of the Samaritans receiving the Word of God. The Twelve chose Peter and Jon to go to Samaria and survey the situation. In verse 15 the narrative says they came down. No matter which direction you went from Jerusalem you had to descend, thus the going down. Samaria is actually north of Jerusalem. Peter and John prayed for Samaritans that they might receive the Holy Spirit. They were not praying them to received the indwelt Spirit. You received the indwelt Spirit at your immersion. It is clear, by the text, that they were going to bestow, on the Samaritans, spiritual gifts. Philip, although he could perform miracles, could not confer the gifts to others. Only the apostles could.

Verse 16 informs us that the Samaritans had been immersed into Jesus. They had received the Holy Spirit, but not any of the spiritual gifts. Verse 17 tells us that apostles, Peter and John began laying hands on them and they received the spiritual gifts. Only and apostle could by the laying on of hand confer spiritual gifts. One’s thoughts may go to the 10^th chapter and the conversion of Cornelius. We will deal with the manner the gifts were conferred in our study of that chapter.

Since, it was by the laying on of hands of an apostle, and there are none living today, we can conclude that none today can be expected to receive the gifts by the laying on of hand of mortal man.

We’re told in verse 18 that Simon witnessed what was going on and was captivated with the thought that someone could convey the gifts via the laying on of hands. It was here that he offered Peter and John money for that power. Verse 19 informs us of this fact.

Simon seems to have reverted to some of his old habits. Was he really saved or had he been faking this the whole time? In verse 20 Peter tells him, “May your silver perish with you.” He tells him money can’t buy the gift of God. In verse 21 Peter informs Simon that his heart of not right before God.

In verse 22 peter tells him to repent and ask the Lord for forgiveness. If Simon was not a Christian, /then why would Peter inform of his need to repent of his sins. In verse 23 Peter observes that Simon is showing actions that are contrary to the Christian life. He tells him he is in the bondage of iniquity. It is possible for them to sin and even turn back to the world. In verse 24 we read of Simon’s answer to the words of Peter and John. He asks them to pray for him. Did he repent? We’re not told. This is the last scriptural mention of Simon. As to his future, all we have to rely on are traditions. Verse 25 informs us that Peter and John continued to preach among t*he Samaritans. The narrative tells us that on their way back to Jerusalem, they preached as they went.

        PHILIP’S ENCOUNTER WITH THE ETHIOPEAN EUNUCH: ACTS 8:26-40

        As we have observed, Philip had been preaching in Samaria. Here in verse 26, he’s told bay an angel of the Lord to “arise and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza (this is a desert road).” Concerning Philip’s trip, J. M. McGarvey had this to say,

          “Some five or six miles from Jerusalem, the road begins to descend from the central ridge, which follows that far, through a rough and narrow ravine known in the Old Testament as the Valley of Elah. After traversing this valley a few miles nearly due south, the road turns west, and rises through another Waddy, i.e., creek, to the level of the Philistine Plain, which it follows the rest of the way to Gaza.”

          According to Genesis 10:19, Gaza is one of the oldest cities in the world.

          As with any true servant of God, Philip answered the call.  We’re told why left the promising work in Samaria to go to the inhabited desert. Next, we’re told why God wanted him to go. The narrative informs that upon his arrival he came inContact with the Ethiopian Eunuch. The record tells us that he was an official in the court of Candace, Queen of the Ethiopians. Since he had come to Jerusalem to worship, we can be sure he was either a Jew or a proselyte. Verse 28 finds him on his way back home. He is sitting in his chariot reading from the Book of Isaiah.

          The Holy Spirit then commanded Philip to go and join the Ethiopian. In verse 30 Philip hears him reading from Isaiah and asks him if he understand what he is reading. In ve8rse 31 he says he does not and invites Philip to join him. In verse 32 we’re told which passage he was reading from. Luke tells us that it was from the Septuagint version of Isaiah 53:7, 8. It reads as follows:

          “He was led as a sheep to slaughter; And as a lamb before the shearers is silent, so he does not open his mouth. In humiliation his judgement was taken away; Who shall relate his generation? For his life is removed from the earth.

          In verse 24 the Eunuch is asking Philip to explain the meaning of these verses. Verse 35 informs us that Philip preached Jesus to him. It is evident that he told him the entire gospel story. He must have related the facts of the Gospel.  He must have informed him of the importance of immersion because in verse 36, the Eunuch requests immersion.  H. Leo Boles wrote,

          “No inspired preacher of the Gospel ever preached Jesus without the baptism that Jesus commanded; no Gospel preacher today can preach Jesus without preaching the command too be baptized.”

          Verse 37 gives us the question that Philip asked the Eunuch and his answer.  In the NASB this verse is in the margin Why? This verse was not in the earliest manuscripts we have.

          In verse 38 the Eunuch orders the chariot to stop. We’re told that Philip immersed the man into Christ. It says “they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch and he baptized him.” Verse 39 continues, “and when they came up out of the water…” This passage shows that b5aptism, in New Testament times, was by immersion.

          We’re told that the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away and that the Eunuch went on his way rejoicing because of his new-found faith. J. W. McGarvey wrote,

          “It is impossible that Philip failed to tell him, as Peter did his converts, the connection of remission of sins with repentance and baptism. Now that he had complied with the conditions of pardon, he rejoices in the experience of it.”

          The next mention of Philip is him preaching in Azotus. It was about 60 miles from Azotus to Caesaria. He preached to many cities on the way. It seems he made Caesarea his home an9d the base of operations. The next mention of Philip is in Acts 21:8.

          In the eighth chapter of Acts we have seen the teachings of Christianity spread outside the city of Jerusalem as commanded by Jesus. We would ask that all read the ninth chapter in preparation for the next lesson. It will be titled “Saul Meets Jesus, the Lord of Glory.” Until next time, MARANATHA!