Acts 8: Persecution of the Church Set Afire
1 Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea 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 havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison. 4 Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.
Stephen –"Stephen ( Στέφανον ) name meaning crown. He was the first who received the martyr's crown." (Vincent's Word Studies) "Their adversaries having tasted blood, were the more eager." (Wesley) There was no reforming the Old Testament church. Thus, the keys to true religion now belonged to the fold of Jesus.
"The Jews having rejected Stephen's witness to, and of, them, the Gospel now begins to go out to 'all nations.'Cf. Luke 24:47." (Scofield's Reference Notes) "The final testimony to the rulers of the people had been given. It was rejected, and the Spirit filled messenger killed. The last offer had therefore been completely rejected. The Gospel is now to be sent to the Gentiles. The eighth chapter gives the record how Samaria heard the Gospel.” (Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible)
Now Saul was consenting to his death… "It is all one to hold the sack and to fill it, to do evil or to consent to it." (Trapp) There is a prophetic word to the church here about turning a blind eye to the persecution of Christians around the world.
We see here how far Saul “consented to his death, the text tells us, He kept the garments of them that stoned him, 'they laid down their clothes at his feet.' Acts 7:58. His hand did not throw one stone at the holy martyr's head, but his will concurred with others in that bloody act: and this denominated him guilty.
Learn hence, That God chiefly inspects the heart, and if the vote be passed there, he looks upon the man as guilty, though he proceeds no farther. 'Tis easy to murder another by silent wish, or passionate desire. In all moral actions God values the will for the deed, and reckons that man an actor, that is an applauder. Consent unto the sins of others makes their guilt our own: Saul was consenting unto his death.
Observe here, how the spite and cruelty of the church's adversaries was not quenched, but rather inflamed by the blood of Stephen: From whence arose a bitter persecution against the church at Jerusalem, upon which the multitude of believers fled from thence.…” (Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament)
They all scattered, except the apostles for "whether or no they were exposed to danger, they felt they had no right to quit the holy city, which they regarded as their post of duty." (Schaff's Popular Commentary on the New Testament)
Stephen’s funeral. “These men were in danger of sharing their friend’s fate. They might have said, ‘What is the use of risking that now Stephen is dead?’ But the instinct of friendship was stronger than the fear of danger, and they went forth confessing that they were followers of Him in whose name Stephen had died.” (J. Marratt)
Saul made havock of the church. “He ravaged it, like some furious beast of prey. This is the proper signification of the word ελυμσινετο, which is often applied to the ravages of the desert..." (Coke), "being (as some think) that ravening wolf of the tribe of Benjamin, prophesied of by Jacob, Genesis 49:27." (Trapp)
Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. “Persecution scatters the professors of religion; but God makes scattering the way to increasing, and what was intended for the hindrance, God over-ruled for the furtherance of the gospel.” (Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament) “The sacred fire, which might have burnt low on the hearth of the upper chamber of Jerusalem, was kindled into fresh heat and splendour when its brands were scattered over all Judaea and Samaria, and circumcised Gentiles were admitted by baptism into the fold of Christ.” (Archdeacon Farrar)
Even if some do not murder, they hate. "The efforts of wicked men to stop the progress of the gospel are often overruled for its advancement; and yet their wickedness is as great, and without repentance their punishment will be as dreadful, as if their actions had not been overruled for good." (Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament)
“There was a tendency in our humanity at first to remain together; hence the first grey fathers endeavoured to build a central tower around which the race should rally. But God confounded their language, and scattered them that they might people the world. Jerusalem was first the central point of Christianity, and the tendency doubtless was to keep the centre strong. I have often heard the argument, ‘Do not have too many out-stations, keep up a strong central force.’ But God’s plan was that the holy force should be distributed; the holy seed must be sown--to do this the Lord used the rough hand of persecution. One went this way, and one the other; and the faithful were scattered.” (C. H Spurgeon)
Acts 8: Christ Preached to Samaria – The Half Jews
5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. 6 And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. 8 And there was great joy in that city.
The first stop was the land of the religious archenemy of the Jews – the half Jews-- the Samaritans. "After Assyria had conquered the central and northern parts of Israel and taken the people into captivity (722BC), it moved people from other parts of its empire into Samaria and surrounding towns. These settlers intermarried with Israelites still left in the land and combined the Israelite form of worship with their own. This resulted in a race of mixed blood and mixed religion known as the Samaritans ( 2 Kings 17:5-6; 2 Kings 17:24-33; Ezra 4:9-10). When the Jews returned from captivity and settled in and around Jerusalem (538 BC), tension arose between Jews and Samaritans ( Ezra 4:1-4), and this tension lasted into New Testament times ( Luke 9:52-53; John 4:9).” (Bridgeway Bible Commentary)
“Philip was apparently a Hellenistic Jew like Stephen. This was Philip the evangelist who was one of the Seven (cf. Acts 6:5), not the Philip who was one of the Twelve [for they all stayed in Jerusalem]. He travelled north from Jerusalem to Samaria and followed Jesus’ example of taking the gospel to the Samaritans (cf. John 4).” ( Constable)
"Philip preached things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ.” (Box) "... and, at the same time, performed many miracles of healing, as well in the case of persons that were possessed, from whom the unclean spirits (demons) came out with loud cries, as also in the case of those who were lame and paralytic." (Lange)
And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake,... "a corrupt place, and bewitched by the sorceries of Simon Magus; yet even there God had a people. Justin Martyr was of this city.
And there was great joy… So there was at Berne; for when the reformation was first received they pardoned (for joy) two condemned persons and called home all their banished. So there was at Geneva; the inhabitants whereof, upon the like occasion, stamped new money with this inscription, Post tenebras lux. After the night, daybreak. So also there was among the Helvetians, who caused the day and year when reformation began among them to be engraved in a pillar, in letters of gold, for a perpetual memory to all posterity, A. D. 1528.” (John Trapp)
Acts 8: Simon the Sorcerer
9 But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great, 10 to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the great power of God.” 11 And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time. 12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. 13 Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done.
14 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, 15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16 For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
Simon had practiced sorcery in the city. The practice of sorcery or witchcraft "has always been a substitute for divinely revealed religion. Involved some more and some less, would be all these occultic practices--astrology, fortunetelling, spiritism (alleged communication with the souls of the dead)...and many others.." (Reese)
It has always been a lucrative business whereby its practitioners obtain powers and knowledge by speaking to spirits or to the dead, but Satan or antichrist is the source of this revelation instead of Christ. Sorcery is "the ability to foretell the future and to summon evil spirits through charms and magical spells. Sorcerers were present in the high courts of Egypt (Ex 7:11), Assyria (Na 3:4), and Babylonia (Dn 2:2). Sorcery was forbidden in Israel (Dt 18:10) and was punishable by death (Ex 22:18). Nonetheless, Israel sought out sorcerers (2 Kgs 17:17; 2 Chr 33:6; Mi 5:12), provoking God's anger against her (Is 57:3; Mal 3:5). Paul included it in a list of sinful works (Gal 5:20), and the book of Revelation condemned its practitioners to the lake of fire (Rv 21:8) and to eternal separation from the righteous (22:15)." (Tyndale Bible Dictionary)
And astonished the people of Samaria... People haven't changed. They flock to anyone with supernatural powers. "Consider the number of people that will flock to some individual who claims that they can 'channel' for the illustrious dead. [He] 'kept the Samaritan people thrilled' (Wms)." (Mark Dunagan Commentary)
And the people with one voice said "This man is the great power of God."
"Simon himself also believed. Many have argued that Simon believed in the miracles, not in Christ. But we are not told this, and the Scripture makes no separation between he and the others. It is hard to believe a man with the fame Simon had, would yield himself to the Good News, unless he was sincere at the time. He was like the seed that fell among thorns, which grew up and choked out his spiritual life." (The Bible Study New Testament) Or more obstinately- the wicked and the highly reprobate often "taste the good gift of God, but they immediately spit it out again." (Geneva Study Bible)
"When the apostles heard of the events in Samaria, they sent Peter and John to the city... John and his brother, James, had asked the Lord if they should call down fire out of heaven to destroy an uncooperative Samaritan city which had refused to receive the Lord (Luke 9:51-56). Now, he and Peter prayed for the Samaritans and laid hands on them that they might receive the miraculous gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:14-17)…” (Gary Hampton Commentary) also described as fire in the Bible.
The apostles prayed for the believers, that the Spirit might come down on them. If the seed of the Word falls on fertile ground and it takes root... and the born again believer is obedient, receiving water baptism in the name of Jesus, they will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). The Scripture does not indicate that it will be immediate, nor always evidenced by speaking in tongues. I believe that the Spirit, here, tarried for the purpose of exalting the Lord, instead of His evangelist, for the purpose of edification. Every one has their part and are not to overstep it, as Simon would likely do. Calvin attempts to explain this phenomenon of delay by saying that the “gifts of the Spirit” are not the same as the “Spirit as a gift.” “Luke speaks not of the common grace of the Holy Spirit, but of those singular gifts with which God would have certainly endowed at the beginning of the gospel.” (John Calvin) But the text does not bear it. “The Holy Ghost - In his miraculous gifts? Or his sanctifying graces? Probably in both.” (John Wesley) The prayers of the apostles, as well as the laying on of their hands, speaks to me of the necessity in the the churches for the faith and baptism to based in the foundation of the apostles and prophets.
18 And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! 21 You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. 22 Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.” 24 Then Simon answered and said, “Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me.”
Someone, like Simeon, can believe enough and receive baptism and salvation… And yet not be saved. He too gave heed unto those things which Philip spoke. But perhaps, afterwards, he went the way of Balaam the prophet for a profit... or perhaps he believed that Jesus was just another trick in his hat- not receiving Him as King of kings and Lord of lords. If you can not do this, you can have no part or lot with Him.
Your heart is not right. And therefore your money perish with you.... "lit., be along with thee unto destruction. Destruction overtake thy money and thyself." (Vincent's Word Studies)
"How plainly St. Peter deals with him; he searches him to the quick, to the heart, sounds the depths of sin: lays open the core of his hypocrisy before his face, and tells him to his teeth, that his heart was rotten and unsound; ‘Thy heart is not right in the sight of God.’ The baptismal water had washed his outside, but his inwards were unclean.” (Burkett)
"Peter had urged him to pray for himself: he asks these wonder-working men to do it for him; having no confidence in the prayer of faith, but [still] thinking that such men as these must possess some special interest with Heaven." (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown)
Acts 8: The Ethiopian Obeys the Gospel
26 Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is desert. 27 So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, 28 was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet. 29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.”
30 So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 The place in the Scripture which he read was this:
“He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so He opened not His mouth. 33 In His humiliation His justice was taken away, and who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth.” [Isaiah 53:7, 8]
34 So the eunuch answered Philip and said, “I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him.
36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?”.... 38 So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. 39 Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea.
Are you willing to leave the spot light of service in the church to go to a lonely desert place to minister to a lost soul? "From the great city revival in Samaria Philip was led to the desert to minister to one seeking soul." (F.B. Meyer) “… ‘An angel of the Lord’ and afterwards ‘the Spirit,’ directed him to the Ethiopian statesman… Samaria was a borderland between Jew and Gentile, but in preaching to the eunuch Philip was on entirely Gentile ground. So great a step in advance needed clear command from God to impel to it and to justify it." (Alexander MacLaren) "Man versus angel- Why didn’t the angel go himself? Because this was a mission where a man was worth more than an angel. In the Lord’s plan of salvation there is a place for redeemed sinners as witnesses for Christ, to do a work that no angel could accomplish... As the plan stands, the man is needed for its execution. The best that an angel can do is to come as a messenger from God, and tell the man to arise and go." (H. C. Trumbull, D. D)
As for the Ethiopian Eunuch, he was a Gentile who had come to Jerusalem for corporate worship. "Whatever outward circumstance or inward motive induces us to leave the crowd and go down unto 'Gaza, which is desert,' for rest and meditation, we may be sure that it is the prompting of the angel of the Lord. We need to obey the Divine injunction more frequently, for our religious life is too social; it depends too much upon the excitement of meetings and associations, and is too often incapable of standing alone. It is urgently required, therefore, that not only in the enjoyment of the means of grace, but much more in their absence, we should work out our own salvation. We need more of the blessed solitude of prayer. It was at the back side of the mountain on which he fed his flock that the vision of the burning bush appeared to Moses. In the front he saw no door opened in heaven. And so, too, if we are to behold something of the sight which Moses beheld, and to be changed in some measure as he was changed, we must often retire to the background of the mountain on which we live and labour. If we refuse to go voluntarily unto 'Gaza, which is desert,' God will providentially compel us. He will make a desert around us, so that under its bitter juniper-tree we may learn the true lessons of life. The gain to individuals themselves and to society by the training of enforced loneliness cannot be overestimated; and wanting in the best and highest qualities is that man or woman to whom Christ does not say, at one period or other of life, 'Come ye yourselves apart into a desert-place and rest awhile.' (H. Macmillan, LL. D.)
"A striking conversion. Let us briefly turn our attention specially to the Ethiopian and his striking conversion... He is an earnest seeker after truth. Philip 'heard him reading.' He was reading aloud after the manner of Eastern nations. It is more easy for some minds to learn by the ear than by the eye. Its attention may have been called to this portion of Holy Scripture during his visit to the temple.... At any rate, he was making a diligent use of the means of grace. He used the light he had, and eagerly sought for more. What a contrast this man in high position presents to many in the upper ranks of society of to-day! 'Agnostics' many label themselves, and when they have spoken this word they appear to think that they have done everything that can be rightly expected of a human being. He is [also] a perplexed seeker after the truth. 'Understandest thou … ? 'How can I except some man should guide me?'
The passage in Isaiah was a difficult one, as taught by Jewish instructors, to understand. It seemed almost impossible to put together the idea of Christ as a sufferer, as despised and slain, and the promise that He should be a glorious King, triumphing over the world. Only the facts could solve the problem.
I would say to you, Do not be distressed if you meet with obscurities and are bewildered by religious mystery. Again and again every thoughtful man meets with 'things hard to be understood.' Difficulties we shall always have which our finite minds cannot solve.” (A. Wood, B.A.)
"The Book of Acts contains several cases of conversion. When all the case are studied we learn that those that were saved: (1) heard the word of God, (2) believed the salvation message about Jesus, (3) repented of sins, (4) confessed Jesus as Lord and Christ, (5) were baptized (immersed) into Christ, (6) received forgiveness of sins, and (7) received the ordinary gift of the Holy Spirit. The gospel of Christ, promptly and cheerfully obeyed, leads to rejoicing. The Ethiopia man rejoiced because his name was written in Heaven.
Are you willing to do whatever is necessary to go to heaven? Jesus said, 'He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.' (Mark 16:16) Truth must be heard, understood and obeyed in order to bring salvation. After man obeys the gospel he must remain steadfast in his service to God. 'Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.' (1 Corinthians 15:58) Once you learn the truth of God's word hold it with all your strength and heart." (Charles Box's Commentaries on Selected Books of the Bible)
"The Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip [to his next appointment at Azotus], and the eunuch went on his way rejoicing. Philip had been the instrument of converting the eunuch to Christ, not to the preacher. The soul that truly finds Christ does not backslide when the evangelist goes away, or when the minister changes his appointment. He is in possession of the Divine Comforter as Companion. The man has entered a life of trust whose elements are joy and peace in the Holy Ghost." (E. M. Taylor)
“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” (Deut 29:29)