CHAPTER 8

1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

We left chapter seven with Stephen being martyred.
He was stoned to death, and Saul was holding the coats of the men who stoned Stephen.

Saul was an influential Pharisee, headed religiously and politically for a seat on the Sanhedrin, the ruling body of the Jews.

Saul "made havock of the church" in Jerusalem and other places.
He obtained consent letters from the rulers to put Jews who had become Christians in chains and bring them to Jerusalem for trials.

Because of this "great persecution," believers were "scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria."
The "apostles," however, remained in Jerusalem - except for their travels of evangelistic ministry.

4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.

Those "scattered" Jewish believers carried the Gospel of Christ everywhere they went!

They were obedient to Christ's command! (See Matthew 28:18-20)

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 loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.
8 And there was great joy in that city.

This "Philip" was not the apostle by that name, but one of those chosen to serve as deacon (See Acts 6:5-7)

This "Philip" was an evangelist.
He had the gift of explaining Christ and drawing people to Jesus.

Philip first went from Jerusalem to the city of Samaria.
There, people had been ridiculed by Jews for many years.
Yet, Philip began to explain Christ, preaching the Gospel of Christ in Jesus' Name.

A great revival broke out!
People were being saved and baptized!
And "GREAT JOY" was in that city!!

NOTE: Later, Philip went to Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch (See Acts 11:19)
After that, Philip settled in Caesarea, where Paul visited with him (See Acts 21:8-9)

9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, 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 sorceries.
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.

Now Simon had been a sorcerer, and had influenced many of the people in that area.
He always promoted himself as "some great one."

The people had even believed that Simon was "the great power of God."
But Simon also believed Philip's preaching, and was baptized.

Now, in Simon, there is a story which reveals a central truth that is enigmatic even to this day.
EVERYONE who professes belief in Christ is NOT saved!
Be sure to READ ON!

14 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.

Some of the apostles heard about the great revival Philip was preaching.
They left Jerusalem and came to Samaria because they wanted to confirm the fact that these Gentiles were being saved.

When they arrived, they realized that the people had indeed been saved, for they exhibited joy and satisfaction in salvation.
They had indeed received the Holy Spirit of God through their salvation experience.
Why then, did the apostles "pray(ed) for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost?"

These had received the "sealing" of the Holy Spirit for salvation (Eph. 1:13), however they had not received the extraordinary power of proclaiming the Gospel.
Upon genuine repentance, and surrender to Christ as Lord, God's Holy Spirit is given to ANY and ALL professing believers!

Since this was the first area of evangelization after the "scattering abroad," the apostles prophetically realized that God's plan included them, and they should indeed exhibit salvation; but they should also exhibit the power to explain Christ in other languages and have the accompaniment of miracles.

So, the apostles prayed that they may receive that power (to explain Christ) through the Holy Spirit of God.
Take note, the apostles did not CONFER this power, but simply prayed the believers would RECEIVE the power.
Since it certainly was part of God's plan for the growth of Christianity, God DID confer that gift upon them.

Take note also, that ALL new believers did NOT receive this power.
The apostles had discernment about the PLAN of God for the growth of the church throughout the world.
The apostles did not ALWAYS pray for new believers to receive that power.

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 I 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.

Now, we return to the story of Simon and the exposition of the central truth that not ALL who profess Christ are saved.

Simon was at this time an unconverted sinner.
His profession of faith in Christ was simply to allow him to have identity with those whom he had formerly deceived.
This was evident to Peter, for Peter said, "20...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."

Simon was ambitious to be equal with the apostles and be able to confer power upon others.
But he was not surrendered to being Christ's servant and living in the manner of Christianity.
He was not influenced by the pure, disinterested motives of the gospel.
He was influenced by the love of power and of the world.

Note that Peter told him to "repent!"
All sinners are to be exhorted to "repent," as their first work.
They are not to be told to "wait," and "read," and "pray," in the expectation that repentance will be "given" them.
TRUE repentance must come FIRST, then genuine understanding of a servant/Master relationship begins!

Simon only wanted the ability to buy and confer power!
From this comes the term "Simony," which is an heretical teaching from unsaved sinners!

Peter also directed Simon to pray in genuine repentance (vs 22 above).
But Simon was not interested in praying himself, he wanted OTHERS to do it for him!
Unconverted sinners will often request prayer when they face difficult circumstances.
But they will be hesitant and even rebellious about praying genuine repentance for THEMSELVES!

My friend, you can believe:
That Jesus is God come in flesh,
That Jesus lived a perfect life, and offered that perfection on the cross to purchase redemption,
That Jesus died, was buried and rose again for the justification of lost sinners who come through repentance,
That Jesus is one day coming again, will judge all the human beings of all time, and give heaven to surrendered believers, AND STILL BE LOST!!!

REPENT!
THAT's the key!!
SURRENDER to Christ as LORD of your life (See Luke 9:23)

THEN, and ONLY then, will you receive the power to explain Christ to others!!

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.
26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.

The apostles preached the Gospel of Jesus to many places in Samaria and returned to Jerusalem.

The church in Jerusalem was in disarray.
Stephen had been martyred, and Saul was going from house to house dragging believers to trial and persecution - even death!

But this FRESH START of a NEW activity of God gave the Jerusalem believers HOPE!

A GREAT REVIVAL was going on in Samaria!

Just then, God sent His representation to Philip and said, "Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem to Gaza, which is desert!"

WOW!
I can imagine Philip being in dismay!
"WHAT? God, there's a GREAT REVIVAL going on here! People are getting saved! New and fresh work is being done by Your Holy Spirit. And, You want me to go to the DESERT?"

But LISTEN to this: Philip OBEYED!!
SOMETIMES, the place where God wants us MOST is NOT the place we most WANT to be!!

27 And he arose 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 sitting 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, Understandest 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 shearer, 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.

WOW!
WHAT a story!!
God wanted Philip to leave this big revival, and go to ONE man!!

This "Eunuch" was perhaps a Jewish convert, for he "had come to Jerusalem for to worship." (Vs 27 above)
Who was this "Candace?"
I don't know.
But Candace was a common name for the queens of Ethiopia.

The Holy Spirit of God spoke to Philip and told him to join the Ethiopian Eunuch.
Philip ran alongside the chariot, and overheard the Eunuch reading aloud the passage in Isaiah 53:7-9.
Philip asked if the man understood what he was reading.

The Eunuch responded that he needed someone to explain, and Philip did so.
But Philip, prompted by God's Holy Spirit went FURTHER!
He explained that the prophecy had been fulfilled in Jesus! (See vs 35 above)

The Eunuch immediately wanted to be baptized!
THAT prompting could only come by God's Holy Spirit to a repentant soul!

Philip told him if he genuinely believed, trusted, surrendered, he could indeed be baptized.
Just then they came to a small puddle of water - in the DESERT!
(Could have been a small oasis.)

Philip baptized the Eunuch, and was immediately led AWAY!

My friend, when you receive Christ and have a Bible to study, you need NO OTHER teacher than God's Holy Spirit!

This Eunuch went on his way REJOICING in salvation through Christ!

Now, Philip, being prompted again by God's Holy Spirit, did NOT return to Samaria.

40 But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through, he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.

Again, may I say: the place God wants us MOST is not necessarily the place we most WANT to be!

Philip went on to Azotus, which is about 18 miles North of Gaza.
Then, he continued traveling (and preaching) until he came to Caesarea.

WHEREVER you go, AS you are going: PREACH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS!!

PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US IN BIBLE STUDY TOMORROW.
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