ACTS

Acts 8

• Acts 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 Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 

In reality the persecution of this early church helped to spread the gospel all over the earth. What Satan tries to destroy by persecution only causes it to spread out to other regions. Later he tries to destroy the church from within, with doctrines and commandments of men who have deviated from the word of God. This is why the early church desperately needed the word written down in all languages given to all people both individuals and local churches. 

Before the written word became available to the common people, they relied totally upon those that depended upon the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is still needed to help us get the correct understanding of scripture. Never are we to depart from depending on the Holy Spirit but we need the written down word to make sure those we hear preach and teach are speaking truth. The Holy Spirit is still the teacher but will not add to or take away from what is written by those inspired by the God. 

• Acts 8:2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. 

Naturally they loved one another seeing as they had the true faith and they were still in their first love toward Christ and one another. 

• Acts 8:3 As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. 

The truth is hated even today by not just other religions other than Christianity but those within the confines of Christianity will hate the truth even worse than others if they themselves are apostate from the truth and are deceived by doctrines and traditions handed down by men that are not in line with the scriptures. If we find ourselves hating and feeling threatened by someone who believes different, we need to check our spirit, give ourselves to prayer and seek God for assurance and love so that we don't lash out at people rather than share the truth of God's word. Our goal should always be to bring souls to Christ, not destroy them with cruelty. 

• Acts 8:4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. 
• 5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. 

Philip was also one of those appointed to care for the widows like Stephen was. Their ministry was never confined to just what they called, "Waiting on tables." They did the same works as the apostles. 

• Acts 8:6 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. 

Actually these things should follow believers today. A word of caution however, we are not to follow the signs. If someone professing to do signs and wonders teaches a doctrine contrary to the New Testament, we must avoid them even if there appear to be signs and wonders. The bible says we know them by their fruits. What kind of life do they lead when they are not in public? Jesus said, by this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. The fruits of the spirit are love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith. Romans says that without holiness, no one shall see the Lord. No one that truly loves the Lord and loves fellow believers will ever want to gain by their loss, to deceive or to teach anything falsely. 

Yet we still need the power of the Holy Spirit and signs to follow us to confirm the word we teach and preach. Signs are to follow but we are not to puff up one person and follow him or her because of signs. They have nothing that can't be given to any spirit filled believer. Philip was not one of the original 12 apostles yet he performed signs and wonders as he was preaching the gospel. They were given not just to relieve the suffering but to confirm the truth of the gospel and convince unbelievers that Jesus was the Christ, the savior from sin that all must believe in to be saved. 

• Acts 8:8 And there was great joy in that city. 

To find the truth in Jesus Christ brings joy. Our joy should be in Him and not in the signs themselves. When the signs confirm the truth, in this we should rejoice. Jesus warns of false signs and wonders and even warned against those that do signs and wonders but, they never knew Jesus Christ in reality but may use His name in pretense. Avoid the teaching that to gain is godliness. Majoring on wealth will pervert the gospel. Some have wealth but some do not. Being wealthy is not a sign that one is more spiritual than another. There are those that do not even believe in God that are wealthy.

• Acts 8:9 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. 

Notice Simon was a believer who was overly fascinated by the miracles. He didn't have the depth in Christ that we need. Miracles come and go. Sometimes because of unbelief they disappear for a season until someone is stirred up by the word enough to pray and seek the Lord thereby building up his faith and the miracles resume. They didn't cease with the death of the apostles, unbelief set in and the unbelief caused them to disappear until the latter day outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Even now though we need to take heed not to follow a person but Christ. 

• Acts 8:14 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.) 

This is stressing the need to be baptized in the Holy Ghost as well as water baptism. We need that power to teach, preach, witness, and have discernment with love. 

• Acts 8:17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. 
• 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. 

Freely we receive and freely we should give. Let us quit robbing people of giving because they need to support the ministry of the word by love. If we use force, intimidation, threats, or even promise them riches, we are robbing them of giving because they love. Talk about robbing God, this is true robbery. We take away their desire to give from the depths of their heart if we teach them to give because they may be cursed if they don't give. Jesus never taught this type of giving. 

• Acts 8:22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. 

If we desire to buy the gifts of God or desire to purchase a high standing in the church, or desire to receive gifts because of service rendered in holy things, we need to repent. 

There are poor pastors that are desperately in need of support and we will answer to God if we neglect them by living a good comfortable life while our pastor lives poorly. Something is wrong with our hearts if this happens. For this reason I very seldom talk about tithing. I pay tithes because I love my pastor and his family and I love the work of God but I really don't see any compulsory tithing in the New Testament. I don't like to say it though because some people would not give if they thought they didn't have to but it is a shame. To learn to give because we love to give is a blessing we rob ourselves of. If we want to have a local place to gather together to worship God and spread the gospel, we have to give in order to do that. 

I don't want anyone to misunderstand me here. I believe in giving but giving for the right reasons.  We give because we want to help spread the gospel, help the poor and provide for the ministers and their families who leave secular jobs to give their whole time to the work of the Lord.  It is actually fun to give if we give for the right reasons. 

• Acts 8:23 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. 

It doesn't say here whether the apostles prayed for this man for no more is said of him. 

• Acts 8:25 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. 

They had until 70 AD to preach the gospel in this area before the end would come upon the nation of Israel. It would be no longer in existence until 1948. 

• Acts 8:26 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.
• 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 Isaiah the prophet. 

Jesus can be preached by using the Old Testament prophets who foretold of His coming. 

• Acts 8:29 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 Isaiah, 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. 

We see this in Isaiah 53:7. Here is proof that Jesus is the Messiah spoken of in the Old Testament. Why would these disciples die for a lie? All the signs and wonders in that day were to prove that Jesus was this one promised by Moses and by Isaiah.  

• Acts 8:34 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? 

Water baptism was such a common religious ritual that the eunuch saw the need for it right away. Water itself does not save, it is an outward testimony to what has already taken place in the inner man. 

• Acts 8:37 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. 

God must have had further plans for this eunuch because Philip didn't stay around to instruct or teach him in any way. Philip was caught away to go somewhere else. Perhaps since this man was already reading the Old Testament, God knew that he would seek on his own without a mentor. Some people are like this. They are saved by believing in Jesus but they give themselves wholly to it without anyone prompting them. I have no doubt that his man spread this new gospel to all he knew. It would be interesting to learn what became of him. 

We must remember that apostles, prophets, teachers and preachers are gifts from God. He will plant them where it is needed. It is a gift. God must have seen that the eunuch didn't need any further help unless he sent someone else later. It is possible now that if we find Jesus Christ and are equipped with the written word, we can learn all we need to know on our own if we are determined to do so. If we happen to run across good bible teachers, we are even further blessed indeed. Our attitude toward Christian fellowship should always be "do I get to" rather than "do I have to". True fellowship in the spirit and in truth is a gift from God.

• Acts 8:40 But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea. 

Once they were baptized in the Holy Spirit, they went forth being equipped with the power from God. Because of these faithful men, we today have received the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ. DC

Acts 9