Acts_9_10-31 Saul’s Conversion Part-2
9/28/08
The Conversion of Saul of Tarsus.
I. As we resume our study in the book of Acts we are at the point where Saul of Tarsus is converted from Judaism to Christianity.
He refers to his former conduct in Judaism
Galatians 1:13 (NKJV)
13 For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it.
Indicating that he is no longer practicing Judaism, though scripture tells us that he retains a great love for his people and desire for their conversion as well.
Romans 10:1-3 (NKJV)
1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved.
2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.
3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.
A. As we left off:
1. Saul had been knocked off his horse and blinded having heard the voice of Jesus speaking to him.
2. Saul had responded to the question Jesus had asked him, with two foundational questions of his own.
a. Who are you Lord?
(1) Jesus whom you are persecuting!
b. What do you want me to do?
(1) To which Jesus responded "Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."
3. And we left Saul sitting in the city of Damascus blind, praying and fasting.
Acts 9:8-9 (NKJV)
8 Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.
9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
II. Ananias sent to Saul
Acts 9:10-16 (NKJV)
10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”
11 So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying.
12 And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.”
13 Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem.
14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.”
15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.
16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”
A. In a vision God speaks to a man named Ananias and sends him to Saul to restore Saul's sight.
1. Ananias is understandably reluctant “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.”
a. Saul has been a dangerous man for Christians, and this would appear to be a crazy request, was this vision really from the Lord?
b. This is the first time Christian's are called saints.
(1) The Greek word is "hagios" holy or dedicated, and so we see that as Christians we are dedicated or set-apart from that which secular or common for the purposes of God.
We no longer belong to ourselves but have been purchased by the precious blood of Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NKJV)
19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
2. Go, for he is a chosen vessel of mine" and we see a summary of Paul's ministry in vv-15.
15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.
a. Saul would become Paul the apostle to the gentiles, and his ministry would indeed include governors, kings, and his own people.
3. Suffering (vv-16) for the name of Christ was indeed to be Paul's fate, but for him it was not a burden but a privilege.
B. Ananias goes to Saul
Acts 9:17-19 (NKJV)
17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.
19 So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.
1. The Obedience and faith of Ananias and the immediate embracing and encouragement of Saul.
a. He addresses him as "Brother Saul" an acknowledgment that there is now a family bond that exist because of their faith in Christ and the fellowship Christ has provided through redemption.
b. We see the obedience on the part of Ananias in spite of his fear, certainly this took faith.
(1) But there is something else I find noteworthy here and that is the fact that Ananias was Spirit led to do this.
(a) We have standing orders that we are always to observe or obey like a soldier is required to salute a superior officer without being told to do so.
i) The Great Commission is like this, it is a standing order.
Matthew 28:18-20 (NKJV)
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
(b) We share the gospel in our everyday life, and we bloom where we are planted, being involved in discipleship etc.
i) But I believe that we need to be Spirit led as we go out into hostile environments.
(1) A God given burden or plan, though it will involve faith, will have confirmation, it's more than a feeling.
ii) Can you imagine what might have been the result if this was the idea of Ananias and not God's and he had approached Saul a week earlier?
2. Sent that Saul might receive his sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.
a. So as Ananias laid his hands on Saul and prayed for him, something like scales fell off Saul's eyes, he was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he rose up and was baptized.
(1) More of what Ananias said to Saul is given to us in chapter-22
Acts 22:14-16 (NKJV)
14 Then he said, ‘The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth.
15 For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard.
16 And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’
3. Saul was strengthened through fellowship…
19 So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.
a. Obedience, Identification, Testimony. (This is true for both Saul and Ananias)
C. Verses 20-22
Acts 9:20-22 (NKJV)
20 Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.
21 Then all who heard were amazed, and said, “Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?”
22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ.
1. Immediately proclaiming the gospel (good news) in the synagogues there in Damascus, and he was growing in faith and understanding, and he was giving answers…
a. As he shared in the synagogues the Jews were confounded by his arguments because we read he was "proving that Jesus is the Christ".
[sumbibazo /soom·bib·ad·zo/] v.
From 4862 and bibazo (to force, causative [by reduplication] of the base of 939); TDNT 7:763; TDNTA 1101; GK 5204; Six occurrences; AV translates as ?knit together? twice, ?prove? once, ?assuredly gather? once, ?instruct? once, and ?compact? once.
1 to cause to coalesce, to join together, put together.
1a to unite or knit together: in affection.
2 to put together in one's mind.
2a to compare.
2b to gather, conclude, consider.
3 to cause a person to unite with one in a conclusion or come to the same opinion, to prove, demonstrate.
3a to teach, instruct, one.
Strong, James: The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible : Showing Every Word of the Text of the Common English Version of the Canonical Books, and Every Occurrence of Each Word in Regular Order. electronic ed. Ontario : Woodside Bible Fellowship., 1996, S. G4822
(1) He started to make sense out of items in the life of Jesus and what the scriptures taught concerning the Messiah and it was an irresistible argument.
(2) What a statement, even today, for the honest seeker the same is true the facts about Jesus and who He is are irrefutable.
III. Though Luke does not mention it, we know that Saul went from Damascus to Arabia for a short time then returned to Damascus for a few years, before going to Jerusalem. This probably took place between verses 22 and 23.
Galatians 1:10-18 (NKJV)
10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.
11 But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man.
12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.
13 For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it.
14 And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace,
16 to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood,
17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.
18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days.
A. During this time Jesus the resurrected Christ was teaching/revealing theology to Saul.
1. Without this Saul/Paul would have no right to claim apostleship, an apostle apparently had to be an eye witness to the resurrection
Concerning the replacement of Judas Iscariot
Acts 1:21-22 (NKJV)
21 “Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
22 beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.”
B. Saul was so effective and zealous that soon there is a plot to kill him.
Acts 9:23-25 (NKJV)
23 Now after many days were past, the Jews plotted to kill him.
24 But their plot became known to Saul. And they watched the gates day and night, to kill him.
25 Then the disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall in a large basket.
1. But God protected him, and we see that Saul has endeared himself to the disciples there in Damascus, they are willing to now risk their lives for this one who had been a risk to their lives.
a. What a complete turn around, Saul the persecutor entered the city blind, but now hidden in a basket he is snuck out of town now the persecuted one, persecution that Paul says was a joy to him that he was counted worthy to receive on behalf of Jesus whom he had persecuted.
IV. It is at this time that Saul heads to Jerusalem and the mother church.
Acts 9:26-30 (NKJV)
26 And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple.
27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
28 So he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out.
29 And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed against the Hellenists, but they attempted to kill him.
30 When the brethren found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him out to Tarsus.
A. That the disciples are still afraid shows us how vehemently Saul had persecuted the church.
1. Saul needed help in Damascus, and God had sent Ananias, now he is in need of another, someone who will brave the risk as to the genuineness his conversion, and it is Barnabas who steps in and open the door for Saul’s acceptance into the church in Jerusalem.
a. Barnabas = "son of encouragement"
b. What fruitful ministry encouragement can be.
2. It is through the ministry of Barnabas that Saul is accepted by the church and the door of ministry is open.
a. Saul spoke and debated with the Grecian Jews, and so frustrated with his debating abilities they plotted to kill him.
b. This would become a pattern for Saul/Paul as many attempts were made on his life, as he proclaimed the gospel so powerfully.
(1) Sauls movements in chapter-9 may be summarized as follows.
2. Damascus (vv. 3-22)
3. Arabia (Gal. 1:17)
4. Damascus (Acts 9:23-25; Gal. 1:17; 2 Cor. 11:32-33)
5. Jerusalem (Acts 9:26-29; Gal. 1:18-20)
6. Caesarea (Acts 9:30)
7. Tarsus (v. 30; Gal. 1:21-24)
3. We read in verse-31
Acts 9:31 (NKJV)
31 Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.
a. It would seem that Paul's ministry was so intense and the antagonism it raised actually brought some peace to a region after he left (vv31a).
b. And we see the church spreading and growing spiritually and in number.
B. We hook up with Paul the apostle to the gentiles again in ch-11, but first the door to the gentiles will be opened by God's sovereign plan, through Peter.
V. What a dramatic conversion was that of Saul of Tarsus, and as we will see what an adventure his life and ministry were.
I wonder had we encountered such difficulty as Saul did, I few would have pressed on???
People give up so easy today…When the slightest offense happens, they are on their way
A. We all have a testimony, and whether it is dramatic like Paul’s or not, God wants to use us and our lives, our testimony for His purpose and His glory, so start sharing.
1. Obedience, Identification, Testimony.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Acts_9_1-9 9/21/08 Saul’s conversion
Acts_9_1-9
9/21/08
Saul’s conversion
Acts_9
I. Saul's conversion on the road to Damascus.
A. Saul's purpose for traveling to Damascus
Acts 9:1-2 (NKJV)
1 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest
2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
1. Saul with incredible zeal is persecuting the church.
a. The word "still" points back to chapter 8:3 where we read
Acts 8:3 (NKJV)
3 As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.
b. So with intense religious energy Saul continues his persecution of disciples or followers of Jesus, breathing threats and murder against them.
(1) What a testimony for a man of God to have murders in his heart!
(a) Yet this is often true, and comes when we lose sight of God and have our eyes on a cause or a man.
(b) Often we are most vocal about things we struggle with… (a defense or a cover-up)
(2) Previously we read how Paul describes his persecution of the church as evidence of his zeal for God
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.
(a) But in Galatians he adds to this notion and informs us that he had actually set out to destroy the church!
Galatians 1:13 (NKJV)
13 For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it.
(b) Many have tried to destroy the church, but it is a thing of folly to try, in fact the persecuted church strengthens and grows.
c. Paul was so intent on destroying the church that he asked for letters of permission to travel all the way to Damascus 133 miles North of Jerusalem.
(1) A roughly six day journey, so that he might arrest christians and drag them back to prison.
2. Paul refers to the believers as those who were of the "Way" evidently an early term to describe the followers of Jesus.
a. What an appropriate title, for being a Christian is more than just belonging to a group, or holding a certain teaching, it is a way of life!
B. God meets Paul on that road as he headed toward Damascus.
Acts 9:3-6 (NKJV)
3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven.
4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”
5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”
6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
1. Light from heaven shone around him, he heard a voice calling him by name and asking him a question.
a. In Acts chapters 22 and 26 we are told that this took place at noon when the sun is at its highest and brightest, and so this heavenly light was far brighter than the midday sun could ever shine (very unusual way in which God confronts this man with such a light and speaking audibly)
b. And immediately Saul falls to the ground in terror hearing a voice that identifies Himself as Jesus.
(1) Saul, Saul…He knows my name; He knows your name; He calls out to us.
(a) As I thought about this I was reminded of a wonderful old hymn
Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling,
Calling for you and for me;
See, on the portals He’s waiting and watching,
Watching for you and for me.
Refrain
Come home, come home,
You who are weary, come home;
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
Calling, O sinner, come home!
Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading,
Pleading for you and for me?
Why should we linger and heed not His mercies,
Mercies for you and for me?
Refrain
Time is now fleeting, the moments are passing,
Passing from you and from me;
Shadows are gathering, deathbeds are coming,
Coming for you and for me.
Refrain
O for the wonderful love He has promised,
Promised for you and for me!
Though we have sinned, He has mercy and pardon,
Pardon for you and for me.
When the world-renowned lay preacher, Dwight Lyman Moody, lay on his death bed in his Northfield, Massachusetts, home, Will Thompson made a special visit to inquire as to his condition. The attending physician refused to admit him to the sickroom, and Moody heard them talking just outside the bedroom door. Recognizing Thompson’s voice, he called for him to come to his bedside. Taking the Ohio poet-composer by the hand, the dying evangelist said, “Will, I would rather have written ‘Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling’ than anything I have been able to do in my whole life.”
i) Saul, Saul not word of anger, but spoken with great emotion and love.
(2) And the question "Why are you persecuting me" (not why are you persecuting my church)?
(a) When you attack the church He takes it personally.
(b) A glimpse of the reality that we (the church) are in Him.
Romans 8:1-2 (NKJV)
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
Ephesians 1:3 (NKJV)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV)
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
c. Many things that when polled people say they would ask God if they were given the chance, most of which are already answered in the Bible if people would only read it and believe -
(1) But Saul asks two of the most important and foundational question that can possibly be asked and when embraced by faith make all the others fall into place.
(a) Who are you Lord?
i) Jesus whom you are persecuting.
(1) Jesus was a common name in that day, but notice Saul doesn't have to ask which Jesus, he already knows!
ii) It is hard for you to kick against…(goad a sharp stick)
(1) The harder you kick the deeper the prick goes and inflicts injury to you individually, and it is vanity to think the gospel can be crushed.
(b) If like Saul here we come to know that "Jesus is the Lord" and that is the reality that Saul now understands, then the second question is a natural follow on "Lord what do YOU want me to DO?"
i) Note that Saul ask the question in a personal way, what do you want "ME" to do.
ii) Arise go into the city and you will be told what you must do.
iii) Often God leads us one step at a time, we don't get the next instruction till in faith and obedience we have taken that step which He has presently revealed or commanded.
(1) As we walk with God we don't necessarily need, have, or get all the answers.
2 Corinthians 5:7 (NKJV)
7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.
(a) But we do have His word to guide us.
d. I would like you also to notice that as lay there on the ground, he trembling and astonished
(1) Why is Sail trembling?
Luke 12:4-5 (NKJV)
4 “And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.
5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!
(a) Saul understands that he is being addressed by the One who should be feared and at that He is the all powerful God of whom the Luke 12:5 speaks.
(2) Why is Saul astonished?
(a) Because in his religious zeal persecuting the church he actually thought he was doing God a favor, and a lot of what he thought he understood has just fallen apart in the light of true revelation.
(b) Also I believe that the fact that Jesus says it is hard for you to kick against the goads (added here by a scribe) indicates that Saul has been ignoring what God the Holy Spirit has been speaking to his heart.
i) I suspect today in this room or listening on the radio or over the internet that there are many, who know that you are resisting what God has been speaking to your heart for some time, just like Saul.
C. Saul in obedience takes this step as he was instructed.
Acts 9:7-9 (NKJV)
7 And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one.
8 Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.
9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
1. Others who were with Saul heard a sound but heard without understanding, we are told they saw no one but later we are told they saw a light.
2. Saul opened his eyes and was blind he could not see anyone, the others however were still able to see and so they led him by the hand to Damascus.
a. And Saul spent three days there blind for three days of waiting and fasting…
b. I am sure he sat there alone and quiet, his mind filled with thought, reflection, and begging God for help, not just for his physical eyes to open, but now with his spiritual eyes open, pleading with God to help to see and understand correctly begging for more truth.
(1) Do you want to know the truth, are you willing to let God show you, because He will if you let Him.
(2) He wants us to see and understand who He is, and He wanst us to be in the place where can follow, worship, and commune with Him,
Just before he led the children of Israel into the promised land,
not those who had left Egypt and refused to believe and trust Him (that generation had died in the wilderness wandering due to unbelief,
but concerning their children we read the following
Joshua 3:1-4 (NKJV)
1 Then Joshua rose early in the morning; and they set out from Acacia Grove and came to the Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they crossed over.
2 So it was, after three days, that the officers went through the camp;
3 and they commanded the people, saying, "When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests, the Levites, bearing it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it.
4 Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure. Do not come near it, that you may know the way by which you must go, for you have not passed this way before."
D. Consider:
1. Saul has been knocked off his high horse, and is now in a position of humility before the living God.
a. No place for pride, or religious zeal, but merely God I need your help!
b. He is physically blind, but now his eyes are open to God, he has spiritual eyes to see God and receive truth.
c. He is actively seeking God and asking God to show hime what to do, that is he is willing to be led of God, rather than dictate to God what should be done, etc...
2. God has called and he is responding:
a. God is calling some of you (to salvation and relationship)...
b. Others God is calling you to forsake some sin...
c. Still others He is calling you to some action of service or response of faith
d. Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling, won't you please respond right now???
9/21/08
Saul’s conversion
Acts_9
I. Saul's conversion on the road to Damascus.
A. Saul's purpose for traveling to Damascus
Acts 9:1-2 (NKJV)
1 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest
2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
1. Saul with incredible zeal is persecuting the church.
a. The word "still" points back to chapter 8:3 where we read
Acts 8:3 (NKJV)
3 As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.
b. So with intense religious energy Saul continues his persecution of disciples or followers of Jesus, breathing threats and murder against them.
(1) What a testimony for a man of God to have murders in his heart!
(a) Yet this is often true, and comes when we lose sight of God and have our eyes on a cause or a man.
(b) Often we are most vocal about things we struggle with… (a defense or a cover-up)
(2) Previously we read how Paul describes his persecution of the church as evidence of his zeal for God
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.
(a) But in Galatians he adds to this notion and informs us that he had actually set out to destroy the church!
Galatians 1:13 (NKJV)
13 For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it.
(b) Many have tried to destroy the church, but it is a thing of folly to try, in fact the persecuted church strengthens and grows.
c. Paul was so intent on destroying the church that he asked for letters of permission to travel all the way to Damascus 133 miles North of Jerusalem.
(1) A roughly six day journey, so that he might arrest christians and drag them back to prison.
2. Paul refers to the believers as those who were of the "Way" evidently an early term to describe the followers of Jesus.
a. What an appropriate title, for being a Christian is more than just belonging to a group, or holding a certain teaching, it is a way of life!
B. God meets Paul on that road as he headed toward Damascus.
Acts 9:3-6 (NKJV)
3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven.
4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”
5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”
6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
1. Light from heaven shone around him, he heard a voice calling him by name and asking him a question.
a. In Acts chapters 22 and 26 we are told that this took place at noon when the sun is at its highest and brightest, and so this heavenly light was far brighter than the midday sun could ever shine (very unusual way in which God confronts this man with such a light and speaking audibly)
b. And immediately Saul falls to the ground in terror hearing a voice that identifies Himself as Jesus.
(1) Saul, Saul…He knows my name; He knows your name; He calls out to us.
(a) As I thought about this I was reminded of a wonderful old hymn
Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling,
Calling for you and for me;
See, on the portals He’s waiting and watching,
Watching for you and for me.
Refrain
Come home, come home,
You who are weary, come home;
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
Calling, O sinner, come home!
Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading,
Pleading for you and for me?
Why should we linger and heed not His mercies,
Mercies for you and for me?
Refrain
Time is now fleeting, the moments are passing,
Passing from you and from me;
Shadows are gathering, deathbeds are coming,
Coming for you and for me.
Refrain
O for the wonderful love He has promised,
Promised for you and for me!
Though we have sinned, He has mercy and pardon,
Pardon for you and for me.
When the world-renowned lay preacher, Dwight Lyman Moody, lay on his death bed in his Northfield, Massachusetts, home, Will Thompson made a special visit to inquire as to his condition. The attending physician refused to admit him to the sickroom, and Moody heard them talking just outside the bedroom door. Recognizing Thompson’s voice, he called for him to come to his bedside. Taking the Ohio poet-composer by the hand, the dying evangelist said, “Will, I would rather have written ‘Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling’ than anything I have been able to do in my whole life.”
i) Saul, Saul not word of anger, but spoken with great emotion and love.
(2) And the question "Why are you persecuting me" (not why are you persecuting my church)?
(a) When you attack the church He takes it personally.
(b) A glimpse of the reality that we (the church) are in Him.
Romans 8:1-2 (NKJV)
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
Ephesians 1:3 (NKJV)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV)
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
c. Many things that when polled people say they would ask God if they were given the chance, most of which are already answered in the Bible if people would only read it and believe -
(1) But Saul asks two of the most important and foundational question that can possibly be asked and when embraced by faith make all the others fall into place.
(a) Who are you Lord?
i) Jesus whom you are persecuting.
(1) Jesus was a common name in that day, but notice Saul doesn't have to ask which Jesus, he already knows!
ii) It is hard for you to kick against…(goad a sharp stick)
(1) The harder you kick the deeper the prick goes and inflicts injury to you individually, and it is vanity to think the gospel can be crushed.
(b) If like Saul here we come to know that "Jesus is the Lord" and that is the reality that Saul now understands, then the second question is a natural follow on "Lord what do YOU want me to DO?"
i) Note that Saul ask the question in a personal way, what do you want "ME" to do.
ii) Arise go into the city and you will be told what you must do.
iii) Often God leads us one step at a time, we don't get the next instruction till in faith and obedience we have taken that step which He has presently revealed or commanded.
(1) As we walk with God we don't necessarily need, have, or get all the answers.
2 Corinthians 5:7 (NKJV)
7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.
(a) But we do have His word to guide us.
d. I would like you also to notice that as lay there on the ground, he trembling and astonished
(1) Why is Sail trembling?
Luke 12:4-5 (NKJV)
4 “And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.
5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!
(a) Saul understands that he is being addressed by the One who should be feared and at that He is the all powerful God of whom the Luke 12:5 speaks.
(2) Why is Saul astonished?
(a) Because in his religious zeal persecuting the church he actually thought he was doing God a favor, and a lot of what he thought he understood has just fallen apart in the light of true revelation.
(b) Also I believe that the fact that Jesus says it is hard for you to kick against the goads (added here by a scribe) indicates that Saul has been ignoring what God the Holy Spirit has been speaking to his heart.
i) I suspect today in this room or listening on the radio or over the internet that there are many, who know that you are resisting what God has been speaking to your heart for some time, just like Saul.
C. Saul in obedience takes this step as he was instructed.
Acts 9:7-9 (NKJV)
7 And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one.
8 Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.
9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
1. Others who were with Saul heard a sound but heard without understanding, we are told they saw no one but later we are told they saw a light.
2. Saul opened his eyes and was blind he could not see anyone, the others however were still able to see and so they led him by the hand to Damascus.
a. And Saul spent three days there blind for three days of waiting and fasting…
b. I am sure he sat there alone and quiet, his mind filled with thought, reflection, and begging God for help, not just for his physical eyes to open, but now with his spiritual eyes open, pleading with God to help to see and understand correctly begging for more truth.
(1) Do you want to know the truth, are you willing to let God show you, because He will if you let Him.
(2) He wants us to see and understand who He is, and He wanst us to be in the place where can follow, worship, and commune with Him,
Just before he led the children of Israel into the promised land,
not those who had left Egypt and refused to believe and trust Him (that generation had died in the wilderness wandering due to unbelief,
but concerning their children we read the following
Joshua 3:1-4 (NKJV)
1 Then Joshua rose early in the morning; and they set out from Acacia Grove and came to the Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they crossed over.
2 So it was, after three days, that the officers went through the camp;
3 and they commanded the people, saying, "When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests, the Levites, bearing it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it.
4 Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure. Do not come near it, that you may know the way by which you must go, for you have not passed this way before."
D. Consider:
1. Saul has been knocked off his high horse, and is now in a position of humility before the living God.
a. No place for pride, or religious zeal, but merely God I need your help!
b. He is physically blind, but now his eyes are open to God, he has spiritual eyes to see God and receive truth.
c. He is actively seeking God and asking God to show hime what to do, that is he is willing to be led of God, rather than dictate to God what should be done, etc...
2. God has called and he is responding:
a. God is calling some of you (to salvation and relationship)...
b. Others God is calling you to forsake some sin...
c. Still others He is calling you to some action of service or response of faith
d. Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling, won't you please respond right now???
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Acts_8_26-40 9/14/08
Acts_8_26-40
9/14/08
Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch
I. Review
A. In our last study believers had been driven out of Jerusalem by persecution, and God used this dispersion to spread the gospel geographically and expand the church.
B. Philip was one who went out, he had gone to the city of Samaria, and his ministry there was greatly received, many were coming to faith in Jesus.
II. Philip and the Ethiopian.
A. At the command of God Philip leaves this 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.
(1) There is a cost to this kind of success.
(a) Number one it often comes at great personal sacrifice, God's ways are altogether different than ours, and we don't have to look beyond the cross of Christ to see this.
(b) Also many will look down on you because their definition of success is different, and they won't understand what you’re doing or why you’re doing it the way you are. (They looked down on and didn't understand Jesus)
(2) Oh for a heart that consistently listens and is obedient to what God says, and for a value system that measures success by submission to Him, as well as to others in the fear of God.
Ephesians 5:17-21 (NKJV)
17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,
19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,
20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.
b. It can be difficult at times to know the will of the Lord concerning day to day events, but what if we simply had a heart to do what His word says?
1 John 2:3-6 (NKJV)
3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.
4 He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.
6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.
(1) You see we are not under the law anymore, but it is a much higher standard to keep His word than to merely keep His commands, but the point isn't to keep it with a motivation to be justified through our actions, but rather because we love Him, to let His life live in us.
Galatians 2:20-21 (NKJV)
20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”
c. Two roads and this is the least traveled road to Gaza from Jerusalem
2. This Ethiopian eunuch is a wealthy and successful man, who worshiped God.
a. But clearly his success and wealth left him empty, thus he was pursuing knowledge of God.
(1) Only fellowship with God who created us for fellowship with Him will ever satisfy the longing desire of our hearts.
(2) “Taste and see that the Lord is good”, in other words we are to experience Him and His goodness in our every day living.
(a) The more we experience His goodness the more readily we do what He instructs us to do.
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. What do you do when you don't understand what you read in God's word?
(1) Do you dive in for answers?
(2) Do you pray over it?
(3) Do you ask others who can teach you?
Luke 8:9-10 (NKJV)
9 Then His disciples asked Him, saying, “What does this parable mean?”
10 And He said, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that ‘Seeing they may not see, And hearing they may not understand.’
(4) Do you wait for answers (Isaac and Mary hid things in their hearts waiting for clarity)
(5) Or do you just blow it off in complacence.
b. How can I???
(1) But note he readily invited explanation; he is hungry for truth, hungry for the word of God.
Acts 17:11 (NKJV)
11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.
(2) Ask God to help take delight in His word.
Psalm 1 (NKJV)
1 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.
3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.
4 The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6 For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish.
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.
(2) The man had questions and Philip had answers, because he delighted himself in the word of God.
And it was limited to that small portion of Isaiah.
35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached 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 Ethiopian not only received the word of God, believing in Jesus as Messiah, but he acted on the word of God!!!
a. What stops me from being baptized?
2. Add as soon as he was baptized as they stood their in the water, the Spirit of God instantly caught Philip away and the Ethiopian was left standing there.
a. Philip was later found in Azotus a city of the Philistines also known as Ashdod.
b. But the Ethiopian went on his way rejoicing, knowing God had met him there in the Chariot as he read the word and responded to its truth.
3. God wants for you and I to know Him and know that He has met with us and to allow Him to fill those deep needs of our hearts, the question is will we let Him?
a. He is willing are we?
III. As we move into a time of communion the whole point is to meet with God, to enjoy connection, communion, fellowship with Him.
A.
B.
C.
9/14/08
Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch
I. Review
A. In our last study believers had been driven out of Jerusalem by persecution, and God used this dispersion to spread the gospel geographically and expand the church.
B. Philip was one who went out, he had gone to the city of Samaria, and his ministry there was greatly received, many were coming to faith in Jesus.
II. Philip and the Ethiopian.
A. At the command of God Philip leaves this 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.
(1) There is a cost to this kind of success.
(a) Number one it often comes at great personal sacrifice, God's ways are altogether different than ours, and we don't have to look beyond the cross of Christ to see this.
(b) Also many will look down on you because their definition of success is different, and they won't understand what you’re doing or why you’re doing it the way you are. (They looked down on and didn't understand Jesus)
(2) Oh for a heart that consistently listens and is obedient to what God says, and for a value system that measures success by submission to Him, as well as to others in the fear of God.
Ephesians 5:17-21 (NKJV)
17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,
19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,
20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.
b. It can be difficult at times to know the will of the Lord concerning day to day events, but what if we simply had a heart to do what His word says?
1 John 2:3-6 (NKJV)
3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.
4 He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.
6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.
(1) You see we are not under the law anymore, but it is a much higher standard to keep His word than to merely keep His commands, but the point isn't to keep it with a motivation to be justified through our actions, but rather because we love Him, to let His life live in us.
Galatians 2:20-21 (NKJV)
20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”
c. Two roads and this is the least traveled road to Gaza from Jerusalem
2. This Ethiopian eunuch is a wealthy and successful man, who worshiped God.
a. But clearly his success and wealth left him empty, thus he was pursuing knowledge of God.
(1) Only fellowship with God who created us for fellowship with Him will ever satisfy the longing desire of our hearts.
(2) “Taste and see that the Lord is good”, in other words we are to experience Him and His goodness in our every day living.
(a) The more we experience His goodness the more readily we do what He instructs us to do.
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. What do you do when you don't understand what you read in God's word?
(1) Do you dive in for answers?
(2) Do you pray over it?
(3) Do you ask others who can teach you?
Luke 8:9-10 (NKJV)
9 Then His disciples asked Him, saying, “What does this parable mean?”
10 And He said, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that ‘Seeing they may not see, And hearing they may not understand.’
(4) Do you wait for answers (Isaac and Mary hid things in their hearts waiting for clarity)
(5) Or do you just blow it off in complacence.
b. How can I???
(1) But note he readily invited explanation; he is hungry for truth, hungry for the word of God.
Acts 17:11 (NKJV)
11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.
(2) Ask God to help take delight in His word.
Psalm 1 (NKJV)
1 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.
3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.
4 The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6 For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish.
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.
(2) The man had questions and Philip had answers, because he delighted himself in the word of God.
And it was limited to that small portion of Isaiah.
35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached 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 Ethiopian not only received the word of God, believing in Jesus as Messiah, but he acted on the word of God!!!
a. What stops me from being baptized?
2. Add as soon as he was baptized as they stood their in the water, the Spirit of God instantly caught Philip away and the Ethiopian was left standing there.
a. Philip was later found in Azotus a city of the Philistines also known as Ashdod.
b. But the Ethiopian went on his way rejoicing, knowing God had met him there in the Chariot as he read the word and responded to its truth.
3. God wants for you and I to know Him and know that He has met with us and to allow Him to fill those deep needs of our hearts, the question is will we let Him?
a. He is willing are we?
III. As we move into a time of communion the whole point is to meet with God, to enjoy connection, communion, fellowship with Him.
A.
B.
C.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
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!
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!
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