PART TWO - Spread of the Gospel in Judea and Adjacent Countries (8:5 - 12:25)
I. The Labors of Philip (8:5-40)
A. He founds a church in the city of Samaria (vv. 5-13)
Philip is not the Apostle Philip, but one of the seven named in
Acts 6:5. He will be termed the evangelist in Acts 21:8.
v.5 According to Acts 1:8, Samaria was the next step in the spreading of the gospel, after Judea.
v.6 "Gave Heed" could be translated, "were spellbound." Philip's message was accompanied by miracles to confirm what he preached.
v.7,8 Philip removed unclean spirits and healed the sick. The preaching and curing caused joy among the healed, their families, their friends and all who heard it.
v.9 Simon did not have power from God, he was a trickster, a conjuror who had convinced the people that he was truly powerful.
v.10 Simon had everyone convinced, not just the lower class folk who tended to be superstitious.
v.11 The people listened to Simon because through his trickery he controlled their minds.
v.12 When the people contrasted the miracles of Philip with the tricks of Simon, there was no contest, they believed the Word of God and were baptized. Why were not the children mentioned as being baptized?
v.13 Even Simon was convinced. Did Simon truly believe or did he pre-tend to believe? Jn. 20:30,31 is seen working in Samaria.
B. The Mission of Peter and John to Samaria (vv. 14-17)
v.14,15 Philip had done everything in his power in Samaria. It would take the "laying on" of the apostles' hands to confer the Holy Spirit to anyone else.
v.16 The miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit are not simultaneously given with water baptism as some would teach.
v.17 This is not baptism of the Holy Spirit as in Acts 2:4-33 and Acts 10:44, That act took no "laying on of hands." This gift was not to make them Christians or give them forgiveness of sins, which had already been obtained through obedience to the word. From these verses (14-17) can you see what the apostles number one objective in coming to Samaria was? Were the Samaritans members of the church? Before the apostles arrived? Is there any connection between baptism in water and the reception of these special gifts?
C. A wicked proposal by Simon (vv. 18-24)
v.18,19 This verse proves that the bestowing of the gifts was an observable miracle. This offering of money was Simon's sin, it is not a reflection of his sincerity of his primary obedience. Simon's past caused him to stumble at the thought of possessing the real power that he only could fake in his previous career.
v.20 Strong language by Peter is used to rebuke Simon. The lesson is that the gift of God is a grace to be bestowed and not a commodity to be purchased.
v.21 "Part nor lot" in what matter? The bestowing of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Simon's heart was not straight.
v.22 Here we see that an erring Christian has the opportunity to repent and be returned to a right relationship with God. Even if Simon had never voiced his wishes concerning the purchase of the ability, he had sinned in his mind.
v.23 "Gall of bitterness" and "bond of iniquity" refers to Simon being out of grace with God. He had poisoned himself and chained himself to evil.
v.24 Simon seems to be repentant and asks for Peter's prayers in his behalf. We have no further record of the life of Simon.
D. Other labors of Peter and John and their return (v.25)
v.25 This shows that Philip was preaching in the city of Samaria, because Peter and John were only now covering the villages of the country of Samaria as they returned to Jerusalem.
E. Philip is sent to the Ethiopian Eunuch (vv. 26-31)
Philip is now called to another field of labor, which will show us in detail God's plan for man's salvation.
v.26 What is the purpose of the angel here? To put the preacher in contact with the possible convert. The angel will do nothing more than is stated here. The desert mentioned here is not a barren wasteland, but simply a deserted place, i.e. uninhabited. The journey that Philip will have to make to reach the appointed place is about 60 miles in a southwesterly direction.
v.27 The Eunuch was certainly a Jew or a Proselyte. He had risen to a place of prominence in the Ethiopian government, being in charge of the queen's treasury. A miracle had been initiated here because Philip would have to leave for the Gaza road before the Eunuch had left Jerusalem.
v.28 Reading denotes that he was reading aloud. This was not a war chariot, but one built for peacetime use.
v.29 The Holy Spirit guides Philip to the Eunuch. Again we see that the preacher is being put in contact with the potential convert. Rom.10:14. No direct operation of the Holy Spirit on the individual being approached.
v.30 Philip had to run to overtake the chariot, and when he heard the Eunuch reading aloud from Isaiah, he asked an important question. The question would have two purposes: 1) to draw the Eunuch into a discussion and 2) to find out what he knew about the scripture.
v.31 The Eunuch knew he needed a guide or tutor, he seemed
to recognize that Philip would be the one to help him in his understanding.