The Book of
Acts 8
39 verses≈ 6 min4 peopleBSB
Images are artistic interpretations.
Tap any post to go deeper
In this chapter
Saul Persecutes the Church
And Saul was there, giving approval to Stephen’s death.
Acts 8:1
Tap to go deeper: meaning, history and related Scripture
Philip in Samaria
Stylised map · locations approximate
Where it happened
Scattered
The believers fled Jerusalem “throughout Judea and Samaria,” the very places Jesus had named. Philip went north into Samaria, where Jesus had once stayed at Sychar, and preached in a city there.
Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ to them.
preached the word wherever they went
Acts 8:4
The crowds all paid close attention to Philip’s message and to the signs they saw him perform. With loud shrieks, unclean spirits came out of many who were possessed, and many of the paralyzed and lame were healed. So there was great joy in that city.
Question
Quick question
On the day of Stephen’s death, a great persecution broke out and the church in Jerusalem scattered.
Who stayed behind in Jerusalem?
Simon the Sorcerer
Prior to that time, a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and astounded the people of Samaria. He claimed to be someone great,
The people of Samaria
and all the people, from the least to the greatest, heeded his words and said, “This man is the divine power called the Great Power.”
They paid close attention to him because he had astounded them for a long time with his sorcery.
When Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money. “Give me this power as well,” he said, “so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
Peter
But Peter replied, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in our ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent, therefore, of your wickedness, and pray to the Lord. Perhaps He will forgive you for the intent of your heart. For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and captive to iniquity.”
Simon the sorcerer
Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me, so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”
And after Peter and John had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many of the Samaritan villages.
Pray
A gift, not a purchase
Simon wanted to buy what can only be received. Peter told him plainly that he “thought you could buy the gift of God with money.” Come to God with empty hands. Thank Him that the Holy Spirit is a gift, and ask Him for a heart that is “right before God.”
Philip and the Ethiopian
Stylised map · locations approximate
Where it happened
The desert road
Philip was sent south to “the desert road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” Afterward he appeared at Azotus and preached his way up the coast to Caesarea.
Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and go south to the desert road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official in charge of the entire treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. He had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and on his return was sitting in his chariot reading Isaiah the prophet.
The Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to that chariot and stay by it.”
So Philip ran up and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.
“How can I,” he said, “unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture:
“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,
and as a lamb before the shearer is silent,
so He did not open His mouth.
In His humiliation He was deprived of justice.
Who can recount His descendants?
For His life was removed from the earth.”
Acts 8:32–33
The Ethiopian official
“Tell me,” said the eunuch, “who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?”
Then Philip began with this very Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.
The Ethiopian official
As they traveled along the road and came to some water, the eunuch said, “Look, here is water! What is there to prevent me from being baptized?”
And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.
When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, but went on his way rejoicing.
0:15
Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain
But Philip appeared at Azotus and traveled through that region, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he came to Caesarea.
Further out
Whiteboard
Jesus said His witnesses would go from Jerusalem to Judea and Samaria and on to the ends of the earth. In one chapter the circle widens twice: to the Samaritans, and to a man from a kingdom far up the Nile.
Reflect
Someone to guide
The official could not understand Isaiah “unless someone guides me.” Philip started where he was, with “this very Scripture,” and told him the good news about Jesus. Who has guided you in reading the Bible? Is there someone you could sit beside in the same way?
You’ve experienced
Acts 8
0 of 28 chapters read
A verse to carry with you
Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.
Acts 8:4
or swipe left