Acts 8:1-13
INTRODUCTION: In Acts 1:8, we read the following words of Jesus Christ, the Lord of Glory,
“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses, both in Jerusalem, and in Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest parts of the earth.”
This great and glorious command of the Risen Lord had been given to His disciples just before His ascension. Had it been carried out? No! In the first seven chapters of the Book of Acts we see the early community of saints growing and ministering in the City of Jerusalem. They had not ventured out as commanded by Jesus. In the seventh chapter of Acts we saw the preaching of Stephen, one of the seven. He was brought before the Sanhedrin, tried and condemned. The Sanhedrin overstepped its authority when they executed Stephen. The first sentence in Acts 8:1 belongs in the previous chapter. It is a key verse in understanding the change that was to occur in the life of Saul of Tarsus. The verse reads, “And Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death.”
The early community of saints was facing a time of great persecution. But God Almighty used this persecution to help fulfil His Son’s words in Acts 1:8. We invite all, who read, to study along with open Bibles, as we undertake to study the eighth chapter of the Book of Acts.
THE SCATTERING OF THE CHURCH AT JERUSALEM: ACTS 8:1a-4
As we said before, the first sentence of the eighth chapter of Acts really belongs with the narrative of he seventh chapter. We are going to begin our study with second sentence of the verse 1. This verse continues with the mention of the persecution that arose from the preaching of Stephen. It tells us that most of the saints in Jerusalem were forced out of the city because of the persecution. They were forced into the outlaying areas of Judea and Samaria. So, we see God using this persecution of His people to help fulfil the words of Acts 1L8. We’re told that the Apostles stayed behind.
Verse 2 informs us about the burial of Stephen. It says that devout men buried him. It is the view many that these devout men were Jews. Concerning Stephen’s burial, Garreth Reese, in “New Testament History, Acts,” has this to say,
“That devout men would bury Stephen’s body is equivalent to an avowal of their belief that he was innocent. Commonly when a man was stoned to death on a charge of blasphemy, he would have no funeral honors, but would be buried with ‘the burial of an ass.’”
We’re told that they made loud lamentation over him. This was common at most Jewish funerals.
In verse 3 we read of the results of the persecution of Saul. The narrative informs us that he was wreaking havoc on the church. He went house to house seeking out those who professed to belong too the Body. He found many and cast them into prison. We must remember that although Saul thought he was doing the will of God, he was, in reality, acting contrary to the will of God. It is encouraging to note that once Saul became a Christian, he displayed the same zeal.
In verse 4 we have the scattering of the Jerusalem church. We’re told that everywhere they went they preached the Word. So, God used the persecution of Saul to help bring about the evangelization in the areas where the Christians went. Just think, everywhere the Gospel was being presented people were coming to a knowledge of Christ. The fact that Jesus died and rose again was being proclaimed. Let’s be preaching the Good News wherever we may be.
PHILIP’S MINISTRY IN SAMARIA; ACTS 8:5-13
As you will remember, Philip was one of the seven chosen by the Jerusalem church in Acts 6. In this passage, we find him in the area of Samaria, acting as an evangelist. Here in verse 5, we find him preaching to the inhabitants of Samaria. By doing so he was helping fulfill the prophecy of Acts 1:8. The narrative tells us that he began proclaiming Christ to them. He was found sharing the terms of salvation. Believing that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God is the only fact that one must believe in order to be a candidate for immersion into Christ. Let’s imitate Philip and go and preach Christ.
Verse 6 informs us that he found a receptive audience. They were giving attention to what was being presented. This reminds us of the Bereans in the 17th chapter who searched the Scriptures daily.
In verse 7 we see Philip casting out many unclean spirits. It is evident by this verse that it was a result of the laying on of hands of he Twelve that Philip possessed the ability to do miracles and signs. The passage relates that many were healed. In verse 8 we’re told that there was much rejoicing in the city. There is always rejoicing because of sins being forgiven. In verse 9 and following we have the account of Simon the sorcerer. We’re told that before the arrival of Philip in Samaria, Simon was practicing magic and astonishing the people. He was boasting and claiming to be someone great. According to verse 10 the people were paying attention to him. They were saying, “This man is what is called the Great Power off God.” Concerning the explanation of this phrase, Garreth Reese writes,
“The word ‘power’ is the name of the order of angels, whether godly or demonic. Thus, some have suggested Simon was claiming to be an angel that had become incarnate. As the ASV has it, ‘he is the power (angel) of God that is called great (i.e. and archangel.’”
Verse 11 shows that the people were giving him attention. The reason was that he had been astonishing them with his magical arts. Today, we must be aware of the magical arts. Although they may seem innocent in the beginning, they will lead to subjection to Satan. Let us steer away from anything that remotely suggest the occult.
One thing that can be said of the Samaritans is that, when they were confronted with the preaching of the gospel, they responded to its simpleness and accepted Jesus as the Christ. True Gospel preaching will lead converts to be immersed into the Lord of Glory. Remember, baptism alone can save no one. As a result of hearing the good news, men and women will be willing to be immersed into Jesus because it is after immersion that one receives the remission of sins and the promise of the indwelt Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38)
In verse 13 we’re told that Simon, himself believed and was baptized. Was he converted or was he just faking it? From the text, it would appear that Simon really believed the message that was presented. He responded in the same way the rest did. It appears that he was impressed with the fact that Philip could really perform the miracles that Simon had just pretended to do.