AND SAUL APPROVED OF HIS MURDER. He did not throw a stone, but he
agreed in spirit with what they did. See the description of Saul in
notes on Acts 9:1. THAT VERY DAY. Murdering Stephen was not enough!
These men, including Saul, wanted "blood" of the entire messianic
community. ALL THE BELIEVERS. Th... [ Continue Reading ]
SOME DEVOUT MEN BURLED STEPHEN. This implies they were not Christians,
but devout Jews, favorable toward the Gospel, yet not willing to obey
it. MOURNING FOR HIM. They showed their protest against Stephen's
murder by a public funeral, with the usual screaming and crying.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT SAUL TRIED TO DESTROY THE CHURCH. He did this because he BELIEVED
they were God's enemies. Saul always did what he thought God wanted
him to do. Compare Acts 23:1. [The Jews of the first century believed
they could bring the promised Messiah, by converting the world to
Judaism. Saul certainly mu... [ Continue Reading ]
PREACHING THE MESSAGE. The group was scattered, but the CHURCH of
Christ was not destroyed! They had been _schooled_ by the apostles,
and everywhere one of these believers found himself, a new community
of believers grew up.... [ Continue Reading ]
PHILIP WENT TO THE CITY OF SAMARIA. This is not Philip the apostle,
but rather Philip the "church helper" (Acts 6:5). The city of Samaria
was some ten miles northwest of Sychar. Herod the Great rebuilt it and
renamed it Sebaste.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CROWDS PAID CLOSE ATTENTION. The miracles got their attention.
_Compare_ Acts 19:10-12. Philip, one of the seven (Acts 6:5), had the
gift of miracles. This is the second recorded example of one, who was
not an apostle, having this gift. The miracles were similar to those
which Jesus did. Compare... [ Continue Reading ]
A MAN NAMED SIMON. A magician, who had built fame for himself through
his use of the magic arts. HE CLAIMED. He claimed to be more than
human, with supernatural powers.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE IS THAT POWER OF GOD. They believed God worked through him to do
these things.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WHEN THEY BELIEVED PHILIP'S MESSAGE. Note that: (1) Philip
preached to them; (2) the Good News of the Kingdom of God and the name
of Jesus Christ; (3) faith came from hearing the message (Romans
10:17); (4) when they believed, they were baptized. This is the
pattern found throughout Acts, includ... [ Continue Reading ]
SIMON HIMSELF ALSO BELIEVED. Many have argued that Simon believed in
the miracles, not in Christ. But we are not told this, and the
Scripture makes no separation between he and the others. It is hard to
believe a man with the fame Simon had, would yield himself to the Good
News, unless he was sincer... [ Continue Reading ]
THE APOSTLES IN JERUSALEM HEARD. Philip was not an apostle. He had the
gift of miracles, but could not pass it on to others. (1) On
Pentecost, the Spirit came down on the first Jewish Christians. (2)
The Samaritan Christians received the gifts of the Spirit from the
apostle. (3) When the first Genti... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY PRAYED FOR THE BELIEVERS. That the Spirit might come down on
them. The "gifts of the Spirit" are not the same as the "Spirit as a
gift." These had already been born of water and the Spirit (John 3:5),
but had not yet been given the supernormal gifts of the Spirit. See
notes on Acts 19:1-7_. Cal... [ Continue Reading ]
SO HE OFFERED MONEY TO PETER AND JOHN. This implies he was not one
whom the apostles gave the gifts of the Spirit. His sin is not that he
wanted this power, but that he tried to buy it! [1 Timothy 6:5 may
apply here.]... [ Continue Reading ]
MAY YOU AND YOUR MONEY GO TO HELL. This is a _literal_ translation.
_Johnson_ thinks this is not an _anathema_ [God's curse], but the word
is APOLEIAN, which is translated "destined to hell" in 2 Thessalonians
2:3. However, Simon is not completely beyond hope, as Peter shows. FOR
THINKING THAT YOU C... [ Continue Reading ]
AFTER THEY HAD GIVEN. Peter and John did not rush back to Jerusalem,
but used every opportunity to spread the Good News of Jesus.... [ Continue Reading ]
AN ANGEL OF THE LORD. Gaza was on the south-west seacoast of Judea.
The road went through the hill-country of Judea. Note the angel speaks
to _the preacher_ and sends him to preach Jesus.... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW AN ETHIOPIAN EUNUCH. Ethiopia was the part of Africa south of
Egypt. It was common in the East to _"desex"_ strong, intelligent
young men, and train them for positions of leadership. This
"mutilated" man was probably a Gentile converted to Judaism, although
he could never be a "full Jew" because... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HOLY SPIRIT SAID TO PHILIP. Notice the Spirit sends Philip to this
man.... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW CAN I UNDERSTAND? He needed help to understand the prophecies.
Compare 1 Corinthians 2:13-14,... [ Continue Reading ]
32-33. THE PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE. Isaiah 53:7-8 from the Septuagint.
This quotation from Isaiah shows the voluntary sacrifice which Christ
would make; the wickedness and guilt of the people who killed him; and
also the "spiritual children" [followers] he would have.... [ Continue Reading ]
OF WHOM IS THE PROPHET SAYING THIS? Philip used this opportunity to
show how the prophets predicted God's act in Christ to set men free.
He showed the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. He told how
they had been ordered to preach this Good News and baptize believers
by the authority of Christ... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY CAME TO A PLACE. The exact spot where this baptism took place is
unknown. Jerome and Eusebius place it at Bethsura [Bethzur, Joshua
15:58], about twenty miles from Jerusalem, in a deep pool at the foot
of a hill. Others think Acts 8:40 implies it was near Ashdod. HERE IS
SOME WATER. Note it is... [ Continue Reading ]
IF YOU BELIEVE. Philip asks for a formal declaration of faith. 1
BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE SON OF GOD. This is the "Ultimate
declaration!" See Romans 10:9-10; 1 Peter 3:21.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BOTH OF THEM. WENT DOWN INTO THE WATER. _The Expositor's Greek
Testament_ says: "HIS TO HUDOR: even if the words are rendered unto
the water' (Plumptre), the context ANEBESAN EK indicates that the
baptism was by immersion, and there can be no doubt that this was the
custom in the early Church.... [ Continue Reading ]
UP OUT OF THE WATER. "Christian baptism" involves both _water_ and
_Spirit._ See note on John 3:5. FULL OF JOY. This man had been unable
to find full acceptance in Judaism because of his mutilation
(Deuteronomy 23:1). Try to picture his great happiness in discovering
that none of that was important... [ Continue Reading ]