Acts 8:1
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 8:1 THEY WERE ALL SCATTERED. See note on John 7:35. This “dispersion” led to the fulfillment of the promise in Acts 1:8 (see James 1:1; 1 Peter 1:1). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsBy [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 8:1 THEY WERE ALL SCATTERED. See note on John 7:35. This “dispersion” led to the fulfillment of the promise in Acts 1:8 (see James 1:1; 1 Peter 1:1). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsBy [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 8:3 Saul (later called Paul) was instrumental in the persecution, as he testifies later in Acts 1:1 (Acts 22:4; Acts 26:10) and in his epistles (1 Corinthians 15:9; Galatians 1:13, Galatians 1:23;... [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 8:5 PHILIP most likely visited Sebaste, the main city of the Samaritans, located at the foot of their holy mountain Gerizim. The Samaritans were a racially and religiously mixed group of partly Jewish and partly Gentile ancestry. They were disliked by both Jews and non-Jews (see no... [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 8:6 The Samaritans had their own expectation of a prophetic Messiah. They believed he would come to Mt. Gerizim (see John 4:20). John the Baptist and Jesus had previously ministered in this area (John 3:23; John 4:4). Like the apostles, PHILIP had received the Holy Spirit’s power t... [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 8:9 On ancient MAGIC, see note on 13:6. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 8:13 Commentators differ over whether SIMON had genuine saving faith. Peter’s strong rebuke of Simon suggests that he did not (see vv. Acts 8:20). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 8:14 THE APOSTLES AT JERUSALEM retained their authority over the entire church. When they heard of Philip’s mission, they sent Peter and John to confirm the accuracy of his message. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 8:17 THEY RECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRIT. The Lord waited to demonstrate the full power of the Holy Spirit (vv. Acts 8:15) until some of the apostles themselves could be present. This way there would be no question at all that the Samaritans had received the Holy Spirit in the same way t... [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 8:18 SIMON SAW THAT THE SPIRIT WAS GIVEN. Since Simon observed this, there must have been some outward evidence of the Spirit. This may have been speaking in tongues, prophesying, or both (see Acts 10:46; Acts 19:6). OFFERED THEM MONEY. Magicians often exchanged secrets for money.... [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 8:21 NEITHER PART NOR LOT is OT language for having no share in something (see Deuteronomy 14:27). This seems to indicate that Simon has now shown the condition of his heart and that he does not belong to God’s people (but see note on Acts 8:13). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getEle... [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 8:24 Whether Simon truly repents is unclear. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 8:25 The apostles’ preaching in MANY VILLAGES OF THE SAMARITANS fulfills Acts 1:8. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 8:26 Gaza was the last watering place before the desert on the road from Jerusalem to Egypt. Ethiopia was the ancient Nubian Kingdom, south of Aswan on the Nile. EUNUCH. In the OT and NT, eunuchs were royal officials. Some were emasculated, but not all. He had been TO JERUSALEM TO... [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 8:30 People usually read aloud in those days, so Philip would recognize that the eunuch was reading Isaiah 53:7. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 8:39 CARRIED... AWAY. Compare 2 Kings 2:11. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 8:40 PHILIP was sent to the coastal region, first to AZOTUS (OT Ashdod), then to CAESAREA, where he seems to have settled (see Acts 21:8). Caesarea had a large Greek-speaking population. Originally a small harbor town, it was rebuilt by Herod the Great with a greatly improved harbo... [ Continue Reading ]