ACTS 8:1_ B_ - ACTS 8:4. PERSECUTION AND DISPERSION. There has been no great persecution of the believers as yet. A night's imprisonment and beating was all they had to suffer. Now we are told that on the day of Stephen's death, a great persecution arose against the Church at Jerusalem, as if the pa... [ Continue Reading ]
PHILIP AT SAMARIA. Philip's activity is given here beside that of Stephen. He belongs to the Seven, not to the Twelve, who remain at Jerusalem except when specially called elsewhere (Acts 6:1 *). More is heard of him in Acts 21:8. Samaria presented a very open field for every kind of doctrine, lying... [ Continue Reading ]
SIMON MAGUS. This man had been for some time at Samaria. This is the only account of him in NT; but in the early Fathers and in Christian legend he occupies much space, and he has been the occasion during the last century of voluminous controversy; see Baur, _Church History,_ i. 91- 98, Schmiedel in... [ Continue Reading ]
PETER AND SIMON. No more is heard of Philip at Samaria; the Jerusalem apostles appear, represented by Peter and John, who have got over the prohibition of Matthew 10:5. The baptism of Philip appears to be regarded as imperfect; the apostles only can impart the full rite; the privilege of a Church or... [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS 8:25. RETURN OF PETER AND JOHN TO JERUSALEM. The Church founded by Philip at Samaria is further strengthened by the apostles, who also preached in many villages of the Samaritans, whether before they arrived at Jerusalem or afterwards is scarcely clear. It is not likely that Philip is to be und... [ Continue Reading ]
PHILIP AND THE ETHIOPIAN EUNUCH. Philip appears again; we are not told where, but the instruction given him by the angel shows that he was not at Jerusalem; he is to go southward (_mg._ at noon; not suitable for a long journey) to the Jerusalem-Gaza road. That the road was forsaken _was in its favou... [ Continue Reading ]