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.
Listen to this chapter
0:00 0:00

Persecution Scatters the Church

1
And Saul was there, giving approval to Stephen’s death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. ​
2
God-fearing men buried Stephen and mourned deeply over him. ​
3
But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison. ​
4
Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.

Philip Preaches in Samaria

5
Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ to them. ​
6
The crowds gave their undivided attention to Philip’s message and to the signs they saw him perform.
7
With loud shrieks, unclean spirits came out of many who were possessed, and many of the paralyzed and lame were healed.
8
So there was great joy in that city.
9
Prior to that time, a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and astounded the people of Samaria. He claimed to be someone great, ​
10
and all the people, from the least to the greatest, heeded his words and said, “This man is the divine power called the Great Power.”
11
They paid close attention to him because he had astounded them for a long time with his sorcery.
12
But when they believed Philip as he preached the gospel of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
13
Even Simon himself believed and was baptized. He followed Philip closely and was astounded by the great signs and miracles he observed. ​

Apostolic Confirmation and Simon Magus

14
When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. ​
15
On their arrival, they prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit. ​
16
For the Holy Spirit had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.
17
Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18
When Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money. ​
19
“Give me this power as well,” he said, “so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
20
But Peter replied, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!
21
You have no part or share in our ministry, because your heart is not right before God. ​
22
Repent, therefore, of your wickedness, and pray to the Lord. Perhaps He will forgive you for the intent of your heart.
23
For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and captive to iniquity.” ​
24
Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me, so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”
25
And after Peter and John had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many of the Samaritan villages.

Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch

26
Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and go south to the desert road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” ​
27
So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official in charge of the entire treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. He had gone to Jerusalem to worship, ​
28
and on his return was sitting in his chariot reading Isaiah the prophet.
29
The Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to that chariot and stay by it.”
30
So Philip ran up and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.
31
“How can I,” he said, “unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
32
The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so He did not open His mouth. ​
33
In His humiliation He was deprived of justice. Who can recount His descendants? For His life was removed from the earth.”
34
“Tell me,” said the eunuch, “who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?”
35
Then Philip began with this very Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. ​
36
As they traveled along the road and came to some water, the eunuch said, “Look, here is water! What is there to prevent me from being baptized?”
37
Not present in the manuscripts this translation follows.
38
And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.
39
When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, but went on his way rejoicing. ​
40
But Philip appeared at Azotus and traveled through that region, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he came to Caesarea. ​

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.

Use ← → arrow keys to navigate
Settings

Reading Style

Typeface

Font Size 19px

Reading Width 45 chars

Options