Acts 8 marks a significant transition in the early church's history. Following Stephen's martyrdom, intense persecution breaks out against the believers in Jerusalem, leading to their dispersion throughout Judea and Samaria. This chapter fulfills Jesus' command in Acts 1:8 to be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. The narrative focuses on Philip's ministry in Samaria and his encounter with an Ethiopian eunuch, demonstrating the gospel's power to cross cultural and ethnic boundaries.
The chapter also introduces Saul (later known as Paul) as a key persecutor of the church, setting the stage for his dramatic conversion in the next chapter. Additionally, we encounter Simon the magician, whose attempt to purchase spiritual power serves as a warning against treating God's gifts as commodities.
Outline of Acts 8
I. Persecution and Dispersion of the Church (Acts 8:1-4)
A. Saul's approval of Stephen's execution (v. 1a)
B. Intense persecution in Jerusalem (v. 1b-3)
C. Scattered believers preach the word (v. 4)
II. Philip's Ministry in Samaria (Acts 8:5-25)
A. Philip preaches Christ and performs miracles (vv. 5-8)
B. Simon the magician believes and is baptized (vv. 9-13)
C. Peter and John's visit to Samaria (vv. 14-17)
D. Simon's attempt to buy spiritual power (vv. 18-24)
E. The apostles' return to Jerusalem (v. 25)
III. Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:26-40)
A. Divine guidance to meet the eunuch (vv. 26-29)
B. Philip explains Isaiah's prophecy (vv. 30-35)
C. The eunuch's baptism (vv. 36-38)
D. Philip's continued ministry (vv. 39-40)
Key Themes and Theological Insights
God's Sovereignty in Persecution: The persecution of the church leads to the spread of the gospel, fulfilling Jesus' command in Acts 1:8.
The Universality of the Gospel: Philip's ministry to Samaritans and the Ethiopian eunuch demonstrates that the gospel is for all people, regardless of ethnicity or social status.
The Importance of Biblical Interpretation: Philip's explanation of Isaiah's prophecy highlights the need for proper understanding and application of Scripture.
The Role of the Holy Spirit: The Spirit guides Philip and empowers the believers' ministry throughout the chapter.
Baptism and Faith: The chapter presents multiple instances of baptism following belief in Christ, emphasizing its importance in early Christian practice.
The Danger of False Motives: Simon's attempt to buy spiritual power serves as a warning against treating God's gifts as commodities.
Verse-by-Verse Exegesis
"And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles." (ESV)
The Greek word for "approved" (συνευδοκῶν, syneudokōn) implies Saul's active agreement with Stephen's execution. The "great persecution" (διωγμὸς μέγας, diōgmos megas) marks a significant escalation of opposition against the church.
2-3. "Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison." (ESV)
The "devout men" (ἄνδρες εὐλαβεῖς, andres eulabeis) who buried Stephen were likely God-fearing Jews rather than Christians. Saul's actions are described with the strong verb "ravaging" (ἐλυμαίνετο, elymaineto), which can also mean "destroying" or "maltreating."
"Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word." (ESV)
The Greek verb for "preaching" (εὐαγγελιζόμενοι, euangelizomenoi) specifically refers to proclaiming the good news of the gospel, emphasizing the positive outcome of the persecution.
5-8. "Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs that he did. For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was much joy in that city." (ESV)
Philip's ministry in Samaria is marked by both proclamation and demonstration of the gospel's power. The phrase "with one accord" (ὁμοθυμαδὸν, homothymadon) emphasizes the unity of the Samaritans' response.
9-13. "But there was a man named Simon, who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was somebody great. They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, 'This man is the power of God that is called Great.' And they paid attention to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic. But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed." (ESV)
Simon's previous influence is contrasted with the genuine power demonstrated through Philip's ministry. The phrase "the power of God that is called Great" (Ἡ δύναμις τοῦ θεοῦ ἡ καλουμένη μεγάλη, Hē dynamis tou theou hē kaloumenē megalē) suggests that Simon may have been viewed as a divine manifestation.
14-17. "Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit." (ESV)
The apostles' visit to Samaria confirms the legitimacy of the Samaritan believers' faith. The phrase "laid their hands on them" (ἐπετίθεσαν τὰς χεῖρας ἐπ' αὐτούς, epetithesa tas cheiras ep' autous) signifies the impartation of the Holy Spirit.
18-24. "Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money, saying, 'Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.' But Peter said to him, 'May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.' And Simon answered, 'Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.'" (ESV)
Simon's attempt to purchase spiritual power reveals his misunderstanding of God's gifts. Peter's rebuke is severe, using the phrase "gall of bitterness" (χολὴν πικρίας, cholēn pikrias) to describe Simon's spiritual condition.
"Now when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans." (ESV)
The apostles' return journey becomes an opportunity for further evangelism among the Samaritans.
26-29. "Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, 'Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.' This is a desert place. And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. And the Spirit said to Philip, 'Go over and join this chariot.'" (NIV)
Divine guidance directs Philip to this specific encounter. The Ethiopian eunuch's high position and his journey to Jerusalem for worship indicate he was likely a God-fearer, a Gentile attracted to Judaism.
30-35. "So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, 'Do you understand what you are reading?' And he said, 'How can I, unless someone guides me?' And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this: 'Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opens not his mouth. In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.' And the eunuch said to Philip, 'About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?' Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus." (ESV)
Philip's explanation of Isaiah 53 demonstrates how the Old Testament prophecies point to Jesus. The phrase "opened his mouth" (ἀνοίξας τὸ στόμα αὐτοῦ, anoixas to stoma autou) is a Semitic expression indicating the beginning of an important discourse.
36-38. "And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, 'See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?' And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him." (ESV)
The eunuch's eagerness for baptism demonstrates his immediate response to the gospel message. The phrase "went down into the water" (κατέβησαν ἀμφότεροι εἰς τὸ ὕδωρ, katebēsan amphoteroi eis to hydōr) suggests immersion baptism.
39-40. "And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea." (ESV)
Philip's supernatural transport (ἥρπασεν, hērpasen, "snatched away") emphasizes divine involvement in his ministry. The eunuch's joy (χαίρων, chairōn) indicates the transformative power of the gospel.
Reflection Questions
How does the persecution of the church in Jerusalem contribute to the fulfillment of Jesus' command in Acts 1:8?
In what ways does Philip's ministry to the Samaritans and the Ethiopian eunuch challenge cultural and religious boundaries?
How does Simon the magician's attempt to buy spiritual power serve as a warning for believers today?
What can we learn from Philip's approach to explaining Scripture to the Ethiopian eunuch?
How does the Holy Spirit's guidance of Philip demonstrate the importance of divine leading in evangelism?
What does the Ethiopian eunuch's immediate desire for baptism tell us about the early church's understanding of this practice?
How does this chapter illustrate the universal nature of the gospel message?
In what ways does Philip's obedience to God's leading challenge our own willingness to share the gospel?
Applications for Believers Today
Trust in God's Sovereignty: Even in times of persecution or difficulty, remember that God can use challenging circumstances to advance His kingdom.
Cross Cultural Barriers: Be willing to share the gospel with people from different cultural or social backgrounds, recognizing that the message is for all people.
Cultivate Biblical Understanding: Develop a deep knowledge of Scripture and the ability to explain it to others, as Philip did with the Ethiopian eunuch.
Be Sensitive to Divine Guidance: Remain open to the Holy Spirit's leading in your daily life and ministry opportunities.
Embrace Baptism's Significance: Understand and appreciate the importance of baptism as a public declaration of faith in Christ.
Guard Against Wrong Motives: Be cautious of treating spiritual gifts or positions as commodities, remembering Simon's negative example.
Seize Opportunities: Like Philip, be ready to share the gospel in unexpected situations and with diverse individuals.
Rejoice in God's Work: Celebrate the transformative power of the gospel in people's lives, as seen in the joy of the Samaritan believers and the Ethiopian eunuch.
Conclusion
Acts 8 presents a pivotal moment in the early church's expansion beyond Jerusalem. Through persecution, the believers are scattered, leading to the gospel's spread in Samaria and beyond. Philip's ministry serves as a powerful example of obedience to divine guidance and crossing cultural boundaries for the sake of the gospel. The chapter highlights the universality of the Christian message, demonstrating its power to transform lives across diverse cultural and social backgrounds.
The narrative also provides important lessons on the proper understanding of spiritual gifts and the danger of wrong motives, as seen in Simon's attempt to buy spiritual power. Furthermore, the Ethiopian eunuch's conversion emphasizes the importance of Scripture interpretation and the immediate response of baptism following belief.
Overall, Acts 8 challenges believers to trust in God's sovereign plan, even in the face of persecution, to be open to divine guidance in evangelism, and to boldly share the gospel with all people, regardless of cultural or social barriers. It reminds us that the message of Christ is for all nations and that God can use various means, including hardship, to accomplish His purposes in spreading the good news of salvation.
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father, we come before You with grateful hearts for the lessons we learn from Your Word in Acts 8. We thank You for demonstrating Your sovereign power to advance the gospel even through persecution and hardship.
Lord, we ask for the courage and obedience of Philip, to cross cultural and social barriers in sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. Give us wisdom to interpret and apply Your Word faithfully, as Philip did with the Ethiopian eunuch.
Father, we pray for sensitivity to Your guidance in our daily lives. May we be attentive to the opportunities You provide for us to share Your love and truth with others. Help us to be ready, like Philip, to respond promptly to Your leading.
We ask for discernment to guard against wrong motives in our spiritual lives. Keep us from treating Your gifts as commodities, and help us to serve You with pure hearts.
Lord, we pray for the spread of Your gospel to all nations. Use us as instruments of Your grace, crossing boundaries and reaching out to those who are different from us. May our lives and words testify to the transforming power of Your love.
We thank You for the gift of baptism and its significance in the life of believers. Help us to appreciate and honor this public declaration of faith in our communities.
Finally, we pray for joy in our walk with You and in our service to others. May we, like the Ethiopian eunuch, rejoice in the good news of salvation and share that joy with those around us.
We offer this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.