Acts8

Following Stephen's death, a great persecution scattered believers from Jerusalem, prompting Philip to preach Christ in Samaria, where many, including the sorcerer Simon, believed and were baptized. Peter and John were sent to impart the Holy Ghost, rebuking Simon for attempting to purchase this spiritual power. Later, Philip was divinely led to an Ethiopian eunuch, whom he instructed in scripture and baptized, before being supernaturally transported away.

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Persecution Scatters the Church

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 Judæa 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.

Philip Preaches in Samaria

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.

Apostolic Confirmation and Simon Magus

Now when the apostles that were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:

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 the 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 the 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.

Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch

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?

Not present in the manuscripts this translation follows.

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.

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

Study Notes for Acts 8

Verse 1

The violent persecution following Stephen’s martyrdom, orchestrated by Saul, ironically served to fulfill Jesus’ command to spread the gospel beyond Jerusalem into Judea and Samaria (Acts 1:8).

Verse 2

The 'devout men' were likely Jewish believers who risked their own safety to provide Stephen with a proper burial, demonstrating honor and solidarity amidst the widespread hostility.

Verse 3

This verse emphasizes the intense zeal and destructive nature of Saul (later Paul) before his conversion, illustrating the depth of God’s grace in transforming him into the greatest missionary.

Verse 5

This Philip is one of the seven deacons (Acts 6:5), not the Apostle. His ministry in Samaria, a region viewed by Jews as ritually impure, marks the first major step in crossing ethnic boundaries with the gospel.

Verse 9

Simon represents false spiritual power, using 'sorcery' (magic arts) to gain influence. Luke contrasts his self-exaltation with the genuine, Christ-centered power demonstrated by Philip.

Verse 13

Simon’s belief appears superficial; he is captivated by the powerful signs and wonders, suggesting a focus on the miraculous power itself rather than true repentance and submission to Christ.

Verse 14

The sending of Peter and John ensured that the new Samaritan converts remained unified with the original Jewish church in Jerusalem, preventing schism and validating the expansion of the gospel.

Verse 15

The Holy Spirit’s delayed arrival (after baptism) in Samaria is unique; it demonstrated that the apostolic leaders held the authority to officially sanction the inclusion of non-Jewish groups into the church.

Verse 18

Simon’s attempt to purchase spiritual authority gives rise to the term 'simony,' which describes the sin of buying or selling church offices or spiritual gifts.

Verse 21

Peter exposes Simon’s corrupt motives, emphasizing that true participation in God’s kingdom requires a heart devoted to God, not personal gain or earthly power.

Verse 23

The metaphors 'gall of bitterness' and 'bond of iniquity' describe a state of profound moral corruption and spiritual slavery, confirming that Simon’s repentance was likely insincere.

Verse 26

The Spirit directs Philip from a successful mass revival in Samaria to a desolate road to reach a single individual, highlighting the importance of personal, directed evangelism in God’s plan.

Verse 27

The eunuch was a high official from Ethiopia (Kush) and a 'God-fearer,' having traveled to Jerusalem to worship. His conversion represents the gospel reaching the African continent and the 'ends of the earth' (Acts 1:8).

Verse 32

The scroll passage is Isaiah 53:7-8, one of the 'Servant Songs.' This specific text was pivotal in demonstrating how Jesus fulfilled the prophetic requirements of the suffering Messiah.

Verse 35

Philip’s method is the standard apostolic practice: beginning with the Old Testament scriptures to demonstrate that Jesus is the Christ, the central subject of prophetic history.

Verse 37

This verse, affirming the necessity of belief before baptism, is absent from most of the earliest Greek manuscripts but reflects the ancient church’s understanding of the prerequisite for Christian initiation.

Verse 39

Philip’s miraculous disappearance emphasizes the divine direction of the mission and leaves the newly converted eunuch, now filled with joy, to carry the gospel back to his homeland.

Verse 40

Azotus (Ashdod) and Caesarea were major Gentile centers on the coast. Philip establishes Caesarea as his new base, continuing the westward expansion of the gospel toward the Roman world.

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Acts8

Persecution Scatters the Church

Philip Preaches in Samaria

Apostolic Confirmation and Simon Magus

Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch

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