College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
Acts 8:5-13
B.
THE FIRST WORK OF PHILIP. Acts 8:5-13.
And Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and proclaimed unto them the Christ.
And the multitudes gave heed with one accord unto the things that were spoken by Philip, when they heard, and saw the signs which he did.
For from many of those that had unclean spirits, they came out, crying with a loud voice: and many that were palsied, and that were lame, were healed.
And there was much joy in that city,
But there was a certain man, Simon by name, who beforetime in the city used sorcery, and amazed the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:
to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is that power of God which is called Great.
And they gave heed to him, because that of long time he had amazed them with his sorceries.
But when they believed Philip preaching good tidings concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
And Simon also himself believed: and being baptized, he continued with Philip; and beholding signs and great miracles wrought, he was amazed.
Acts 8:5-8 The Bible is geographically accurate for when we read in Acts 8:5 that Philip went down to Samaria although he journeyed northward we know by the topography of the land that he was making a descent. Who was this man who is here introduced as a special case among the many who scattered? It is not Philip the apostle, but rather Philip the deacon one of the seven (cp. Acts 21:8). By the press of circumstances he became an evangelist of Christ Jesus. Philip's work was like that of all others who fled the city of David to preach the word.
Coming in his journey to the city of Samaria he proclaimed unto them the Christ. This preacher was not without divine evidence to confirm his word. The Samaritans not only heard his word but also beheld signs and great miracles performed to show the divine approval of his message. Luke, with his customary precision, tells us that the signs consisted in the healing of those possessed, the palsied and the lame. The first response was one of intense interest, then of great joy as a result of both the healing and the good news.
243.
What do you know of Philip previous to his mention in Acts 8:5 a?
244.
What relation did the signs and wonders performed by Philip have to do with his preaching?
Acts 8:9-12 In verse nine Luke refers to an incident that must have confronted Philip upon entering the city. He says that in this city there was a certain man named Simon. This one had for a long period of time carried out a program of deception. Through the means of sorcery he had amazed and confounded the people. This deception was believed by both the small and the great. All had accepted him as the fulfillment of a superstitious idea that one was to come who would be an offshoot of deity. His position was so generally recognized because he had carried out this practice over such a long period of time.
But in spite of this condition in the city they believed Philip preaching good tidings concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. It would seem that the more they thought of the message of the kingdom of God the less they thought of the words of Simon. The more they considered the signs of Philip the less they thought of the tricks of the sorcerer. Philip probably told them that there was but one manifestation of God's power and person and that was in and through Jesus Christ. Thus it came to pass that they believed Philip and they were baptized, both men and women. (Note the obvious fulfillment of Mark 16:15-16).
Acts 8:13 The most astounding part of this whole event is that the very ringleader of the opposition Simon himself was taken as a trophy for King Jesus. The account of the conversion of Simon is an exact counterpart of the Great Commission as given by Mark, He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. (Mark 16:15-16). Whatever else could be said of this man Simon we must say that at this time he evidenced honesty and humility; for it must have taken real humility and honesty to make this public profession of his acceptance.
There has been no little discussion as to whether Simon was truly converted or only made a pretense of faith. It seems to the writer that all hesitancy of accepting Simon's conversion as genuine would be removed if we could but remember that Luke is writing the account quite some time after the events, and with a personal contact with those who were eye-witnesses of the events. If Simon were pretending then would not Luke have so stated it when he recorded his belief and baptism? It is unthinkable that if Luke knew of the hypocrisy of Simon (and he surely must have if it were so) that he would not have so recorded it when writing this history. There is as much reason to discount the conversion of the rest of the Samaritans as that of Simon for their acceptance is described in the same words as that of Simon. Indeed Simon is said to have continued with Philip. He did this at least for the length of time it took for the news of the conversion of the Samaritans to reach Jerusalem.
245.
What was the first problem to face Philip upon entering Samaria?
246.
Why was the deception of Simon the sorcerer so readily accepted?
247.
How do you imagine it came to pass that the people turned from Simon to Philip?
248.
What scripture did the conversion of Simon and the Samaritans fulfill?
249.
Do you believe the conversion of Simon was genuine? Why yes or no?
THE APPROACH TO NABLUS, THE ANCIENT SHECHEM
Through the olive groves on the eastern side of the city the gate is shown beneath the minaret.
Here is a town in the country of Samaria to which Philip went to preach unto them Jesus. After Vespasian destroyed the Samaritan temple on Mt. Gerizim, he built his new city (Neapolis) farther up the valley, leaving the ancient Shechem in ruins. Archaeology has shown that Shechem was Tell Balatah, not the site of the later Roman city Neapolis or Nablus, which was considered for a long time to be Shechem, but is N.W. of it. Unger's Bible Dictionary p. 1008. It was near this town that Jesus taught the Samaritan woman of the water that was not in the well.