Acts_8

Acts_8
9/7/08

Acts_8 (Our Text today opens with Saul and persecution of the church)
I. Saul the Pharisee
A. In Acts 7:58 we were introduced to a young man by the name of Saul who came to be the man we know better as the Apostle Paul.
Acts 7:58 (NKJV)
58 and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.
1. Stephen's sermon and martyrdom begins the segue from the ministry of Peter to that of the Apostle Paul here introduced to us by his Hebrew name Saul, before his conversion to Christianity.
2. And as chapter-8 opens up we get a little more insight into this young Pharisee's zeal.
a. Saul (Paul) himself used his persecution of the church as an evidence of his religious zeal prior to his conversion to Christianity.
Philippians 3:4-6 (NKJV)
4 though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so:
5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee;
6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
(1) Saul had a lot of religious zeal.
(2) Saul had tremendous religious zeal as a Jew, but he had even greater zeal as a Christian but it manifest itself differently in that- instead of taking the lives of others, Paul is constantly laying His life down for others.
(a) What a difference Jesus Christ makes in the lives of those who trust Him!
II. Saul and persecution of the church.
Acts 8:1-4 (NKJV)
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.
A. Saul was consenting, more literally he was approving of his death (much stronger statement), that is to say it pleased him.
1. He was not a reluctant persecutor as some are, but took pleasure in attacking Christians.
2. It says that he made havoc of the church (to ravage as an animal tears its prey, or destroy a city).
a. He was vicious against Christians both men and women.
B. We read that devout men came and took away Stephens body after he was stoned to death in order to bury him and there was much grieving within the church over his death.
1. Stephen's martyrdom opened the floodgates of persecution against the church.
C. Persecution and Scattering.
1. The last words Jesus spoke moments before ascending to heaven in the sight of believers who were eye witnesses to resurrection.
Acts 1:8 (NKJV)
8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
a. And so we find that this persecution had the effect of scattering the church and spread it out geographically just as Jesus had predicted.
2. Giant Sequoias (Require fire to spread seed and grow)...
3. The five missionaries in Ecuador.
4. With the exception of the apostles many Christians were driven out of Jerusalem into the surrounding regions where they proclaimed the gospel.
III. Philip
A. One of those who was scattered abroad was Philip on of the seven men who were appointed to serve tables as was Stephen (Philip and Stephen are the only ones of the seven who we have any further biblical record of).
Acts 8:5-8 (NKJV)
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.
1. Philip went to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them.
a. Some interesting passages about the Samaritans.
When Jesus had sent the twelve disciples out
Matthew 10:5-6 (NKJV)
5 These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans.
6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

As He was making His way to Jerusalem from Galilee for the last time
Luke 9:52-54 (NKJV)
52 and sent messengers before His face. And as they went, they entered a village of the Samaritans, to prepare for Him.
53 But they did not receive Him, because His face was set for the journey to Jerusalem.
54 And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?”

At His encounter with the woman at the well who was a Samaritan she said to Him after He asked her for a drink:
John 4:9 (NKJV)
9 Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.
b. So who were the Samaritans?
Guzik (but summarize)

Who were the Samaritans?

Six hundred years before this, the Assyrians conquered this area of northern Israel (North is typically up un the map, but Luke says Philip went down to Samaria because it was at a lower elevation) and they deported all the wealthy and middle-class Jews from the area.

Then they moved in a pagan population from afar.

These pagans intermarried with the lowest classes of remaining Jews in northern Israel, and from these people came the Samaritans.
(1) The Jews hated the Samaritans because they were half-breeds who they believed to have compromised the faith and corrupted the worship of the true God.
(a) For instance they had built a Temple on Mt. Gerazim to rival the one in Jerusalem:
Jesus and the woman at the well.
John 4:20 (NKJV)
20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.”
(b) We see the prejudice against them in the words of James and John “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?”
i) As Guzik points out they believed "that the Samaritans were only good for being torched by God’s judgment "
2. But Jesus had lifted the prohibition concerning preaching the gospel in the cities of Samaria, they were now to go throughout the world, and here is Philip preaching to the Samaritans who had once rejected Jesus.
a. And the multitude heeded or gave heed to the things spoken by Philip, heeded is an imperfect tense and active voice, so as A.T. Robertson states "They kept on giving heed or holding the mind on the things said by Philip, spell-bound, in a word."
Robertson, A.T.: Word Pictures in the New Testament. Oak Harbor : Logos Research Systems, 1997, S. Ac 8:6
b. The emphasis is on the giving of the word, but it was accompanied by God's power demonstrated through miracles and many Samaritans believed the words which Philip spoke, and put their trust in Jesus Christ to save them.
(1) Samaritan's lived with a messianic expectation based on Deut.18:15, so they were looking for a "taheb" a prophet like messiah who would come and restore true worship on Gerazim.
Deuteronomy 18:15 (NKJV)
15 “The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear,
(a) Keep this in mind as we move on to Simon the sorcerer.
IV. Simon the Sorcerer
A. Simon's profession of faith.
Acts 8:9-13 (NKJV)
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.
1. Where ever you find a true work of God, most often you will also find a false or counterfeit work. (Simon represents the counterfeit)
a. So prior to Philip bringing the true gospel of Jesus Christ (The true Messiah) there was a man named Simon who previously practiced sorcery in the city and amazed the people of Samaria.
(1) The word translated sorcery here is the Greek mag-yoo-o which comes from mag-os and is also translated magi.
(a) In a good sense it refers to the wisemen astronomers from the east who followed the star prophesied in Numbers a sign of the Messiah which led them to Jesus after His birth, to whom they came bearing gifts in order to worship Him.
(b) But many sorcerers and wizards in the lower sense laid claim to this word.
i) Sorcery in scripture is always associated with the occult and with drug use, and is proclaimed to be evil.

(2) A.T. Robertson translates the phrase "who previously practiced sorcery" this way "Simon was existing previously practicing magic"
(a) So Simon supported himself by practicing magic.
i) Where Philip performed miracles empowered by God, Simon did tricks empowered by Satan and the demonic realm.
b. And we are told that Simon claimed to be someone great and his magic cause the people to heed him, they were astonished by his tricks for a long time, and in fact thought him to be the great power of God.
2. But when they heard the truth taught by Philip concerning the kingdom of God (referring to the coming kingdom) and concerning the name of Jesus Christ (which looks to His position as Messiah) they believed in Jesus and were baptized.
a. And we are told that even Simon professed to believe in Jesus and was baptized.
b. Scholars are divided as to whether Simon was really saved or not, because of some things that come up concerning Simon a little further on in this chapter.
(1) Make note here that the basis for Simons belief appears to be the miracles and signs that followed Philip, rather that the words that he preached.
(2) He appears at least to have become a disciple of Philip...
V. The Samaritans receive the Holy Spirit.
Acts 8:14-17 (NKJV)
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.
A. Now hearing that the Samaritans had received the word of God, believing on Jesus they sent Peter and John to them to welcome them into the church, the family of God.
1. This would give a wonderful affirmation to the ministry of Philip as well as to these new converts.
2. Now when Peter and John arrived they laid hands on them and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because at that point none of them had yet received the Holy Spirit, which did come upon them as a result of the prayer and laying on of hands.
a. Much debate has gone on concerning this passage, some say they were not yet saved, so they had not received the Holy Spirit; other say they were saved but didn't receive the Spirit until the apostles came and prayed for them in order to avoid schisms, or they received special gifts at this time when the apostles came and prayed for them etc.
(1) It would seem that they received the Holy Spirit in a subsequent experience to their salvation just as the first believers did on Pentecost, and the Spirit came upon them (epi) at this time in order to empower them to be witnesses.
(2) Now this event takes us back to Simon the Sorcerer and what is referred to as his sin.
VI. The sin of Simon the Sorcerer.
Acts 8:18-25 (NKJV)
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.”
25 So when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.
A. There was obviously some external manifestation when the Spirit of God came upon the Samaritans which affirmed it was in response to the prayer and laying on of hands by the apostles and it impressed Simon.
1. Simon it would seem was not interested in receiving the Spirit himself as much as he desired the ability to impart the Spirit to others at his will, in essence he wanted to control the Holy Spirit.
a. And he offered money to purchase the right to do so.
b. The term simony which is the buying or selling of things considered religious or sacred, such as an ecclesiastical office comes from this event.
2. Peter’s response is one of outrage, he says “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money!
a. And it seems that Peter is saying that Simon is on the road to destruction! (your money persish with you)
b. Peter appears to confirm this in verse-21
21 You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God.
(1) Evidently Simon’s belief was only superficial.
3. The solution Peter says is that you need to repent
22 Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.
a. When there is wickedness in the heart the solution always involves repentance, and when Peter says pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven, the question is not as to whether or not God will forgive, the question is will your heart repent!
b. Peter further discerned that Simon had a heart poisoned with bitterness and tied up in sin.
(1) It seems so far off the track from what Simon has done, but pride leads to many problems and the attention Simon was given and then lost when people believed the truth may have played a part in making him bitter.
(a) Or it may be an allusion to Deut. 29:18
Deuteronomy 29:18 (NKJV)
18 so that there may not be among you man or woman or family or tribe, whose heart turns away today from the Lord our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations, and that there may not be among you a root bearing bitterness or wormwood;
(b) A root of bitterness is potent poison, a powerfull evil that consumes a person, watch out for it, it may not always be obvious as bitterness.
i) Husbands and wives be on guard!!!
(c) Bitterness is something to be turned away from, and requires the cross to sweeten
Exodus 15:23-25 (NKJV)
23 Now when they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter. Therefore the name of it was called Marah.
24 And the people complained against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?”
25 So he cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree. When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet. There He made a statute and an ordinance for them, and there He tested them,
B. Simon asks Peter to pray for him
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.”
1. We see evidently real conviction by the Holy Spirit in Simon, but instead of actually humbling his heart and going to God himself, he asks Peter to pray for him that he won't experience the consequences of his sin.
a. No one can humble our hearts for us, we must respond to the work of God on our hearts.
2. After this Peter and John return to Jerusalem preaching the gospel along the way.
VII. Philip and the Ethiopian.
A. Philip leaves a successful work and goes out to the desert.
Acts 8:26-29 (NKJV)
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.”
1. This might seem hard to do, but we see Philip is submissive to what God wants him to do.
a. This is an altogether different measure of success than is typical of man.
b. Two roads and this is the least traveled road to Gaza from Jerusalem
2. This Ethiopian eunich is a wealthy and successful man, who worshiped God.
3. And he is reading from Isaiah the prophet while sitting in his chariot.
a. Would have cost him a lot of money, so he must really have desired to have it!
(1) How much do we desire and appreciate God's word in our lives?
4. The Holy Spirit instructs Philip to catch up with the chariot, God has a mission for Philip and a plan for this Ethiopian.
B. Philip preaches to the Ethiopian
Acts 8:30-35 (NKJV)
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.”
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.
1. Do you understand what you are reading?
a. How can I???
2. Jesus as the suffering servant. (From Isaiah 53:7-8)
a. Paul said:
1 Corinthians 2:2 (NKJV)
2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
(1) And Philip proclaimed Jesus to him.
C. The Ethiopian responds to the gospel
Acts 8:36-40 (NKJV)
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?”
37 Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
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.
1. The man is saved through the preaching of Philip, and as they come up out of the water, Philip is immediately caught away by the Holy Spirit and transported elsewhere!