AND SAUL WAS CONSENTING ... - Was pleased with his being put to death and approved it. Compare Acts 22:20. This part of the verse should have been connected with the previous chapter. AND AT THAT TIME. - That is, immediately following the death of Stephen. The persecution arose on account of Stephen... [ Continue Reading ]
AND DEVOUT MEN - Religious men. The word used here does not imply of necessity that they were Christians. There might have been Jews who did not approve of the popular tumult, and the murder of Stephen, who gave him a decent burial. Joseph of Arimathea, and Nicodemus, both Jews, thus gave to the Lor... [ Continue Reading ]
AS FOR SAUL - But Saul. He took no interest or part in the pious attentions shown to Stephen, but engaged with zeal in the work of persecution. HE MADE HAVOC - ἐλυμαίνετο elumaineto. This word is commonly applied to wild beasts, to lions, wolves, etc., and denotes the “devastations” which they co... [ Continue Reading ]
WENT EVERYWHERE - That is, they traveled through the various regions where they were scattered. In all places to which they came, they preached the Word. PREACHING THE WORD - Greek: “evangelizing,” or announcing the good news of the message of mercy, or the Word of God. This is not the usual word wh... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN PHILIP - One of the seven deacons, Acts 6:5. He is afterward called the “evangelist,” Acts 21:8. THE CITY OF SAMARIA - This does not mean a city whose “name” was Samaria, for no such city at that time existed. Samaria was a “region,” Matthew 2:22. The ancient city Samaria, the capital of that r... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH ONE ACCORD - Unitedly, or with one mined. Great multitudes of them did it. GAVE HEED - Paid attention to; embraced. HEARING - Hearing what he said.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR UNCLEAN SPIRITS - See the notes on Matthew 4:24. CRYING WITH LOUD VOICE - See the notes on Mark 1:26. PALSIES - See the notes on Matthew 4:24.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THERE WAS GREAT JOY - This joy arose: * From the fact that so many persons, before sick and afflicted, were restored to health. (2)From the conversion of individuals to Christ. (3)From the mutual joy of “families” and “friends” that their friends were converted. The tendency of a revival of... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THERE WAS A CERTAIN MAN CALLED SIMON - The fathers have written much respecting this man, and have given strange accounts of him; but nothing more is certainly known of him than is stated in this place. Rosenmuller and Kuinoel suppose him to have been a Simon mentioned by Josephus (_Antiq._, boo... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GREAT POWER OF GOD - Probably this means only that they believed that he was “invested with” the power of God, not that they supposed he was really the Great God.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SIMON HIMSELF BELIEVED ALSO - That is, he believed that Jesus had performed miracles, and was raised from the dead, etc. All this he could believe in entire consistency with his own notions of the power of magic; and all that the connection requires us to suppose is that he believed this Jesus... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY SENT - That is, the apostles “deputed” two of their number. This shows conclusively that there was no “chief” or ruler among them. They acted as being equal in authority. The reason why they sent Peter and John was probably that there would be a demand for more labor than Philip could render; a... [ Continue Reading ]
WERE COME DOWN - To Samaria. Jerusalem was generally represented as “up,” or “higher” than the rest of the land, Matthew 20:18; John 7:8. PRAYED FOR THEM - They sought at the hand of God the extraordinary communications of the Holy Spirit. They did not even pretend to have the power of doing it wit... [ Continue Reading ]
HE WAS FALLEN - This expression is several times applied to the Holy Spirit, Acts 10:44; Acts 11:15. It does not differ materially from the common expression, “The Holy Spirit descended.” It means that he came from heaven; and the expression “to fall,” applied to his influences, denotes the “rapidit... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN LAID THEY THEIR HANDS ... - This was an act of “prayer,” expressing an invocation to God that he would impart the blessing to “them.” On “how many” they laid their hands is not said. It is evident that it was not on “all,” for they did not thus lay hands on Simon. Perhaps it was done on a few o... [ Continue Reading ]
SIMON SAW ... - That is, he witnessed the extraordinary effects, the power of speaking in a miraculous manner, etc. See the notes on Acts 8:15. HE OFFERED THEM MONEY - He had had a remarkable influence over the Samaritans, and he saw that the possession of this power would perpetuate and increase hi... [ Continue Reading ]
THY MONEY PERISH WITH THEE - This is expressive of the horror and indignation of Peter at the base offer of Simon. It is not to be understood as an imprecation on Simon. The main idea is the apostle’s contempt for the “money,” as if he regarded it as of no value. “Let your money go to destruction. W... [ Continue Reading ]
NEITHER PART - You have no “portion” of the grace of God; that is, you are destitute of it altogether. This word commonly denotes the “part” of an inheritance which falls to one when it is divided. NOR LOT - This word means properly a portion which “falls” to one when an estate, or when spoil in wa... [ Continue Reading ]
REPENT, THEREFORE - Here we may remark: * That Simon was at this time an unconverted sinner. (2)That the command was given to him “as such.” (3)That he was required to “do the thing”; not to wait or seek merely, but actually to repent. (4)That this was to be the “first step” in his conversion.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR I PERCEIVE - That is, by the act which he had done. His offer had shown a state of mind that was wholly inconsistent with true religion. One single sin “may” as certainly show that there is no true piety as many acts of iniquity. It may be so decided, so malignant, so utterly inconsistent with j... [ Continue Reading ]
PRAY YE ... - Here remark: (1) That Simon was directed to pray for himself Acts 8:22, but he had no disposition to do it, but was willing to ask others to do it for him. Sinners will often ask others to pray for them, when they are too proud, or too much in love with sin, to pray for themselves. (2... [ Continue Reading ]
IN MANY VILLAGES ... - They went at first directly to the “city” of Samaria. On their return to Jerusalem they travelled more at leisure, and preached in the villages also - a good example for the ministers of the gospel, and for all Christians, when traveling from place to place. The reason why the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE ANGEL OF THE LORD - The word “angel” is used in the Scriptures in a great variety of significations. See the notes on Matthew 1:20. Here it has been supposed by some to mean literally a celestial messenger sent from God; others have supposed that it means a “dream”; others a “vision,” etc. T... [ Continue Reading ]
A MAN OF ETHIOPIA - Gaza was near the confines between Palestine and Egypt. It was in the direct road from Jerusalem to Egypt. “Ethiopia” was one of the great kingdoms of Africa, part of which is now called Abyssinia. It is frequently mentioned in Scripture under the name of “Cush.” But “Cush” compr... [ Continue Reading ]
AND, SITTING IN HIS CHARIOT - His carriage; his vehicle. The form of the carriage is not known. In some instances the carriages of the ancients were placed on wheels; in others were borne on poles, in the form of a “litter” or palanquin, by men, mules, or horses. See Calmet’s “Chariot” article. READ... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SPIRIT - See the notes on Acts 8:26. The Holy Spirit is evidently intended here. The thought in Philip’s mind is here traced to his suggestion. All good thoughts and designs have the same origin. JOIN THYSELF - Join him in his chariot. Go and sit with him.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND PHILIP RAN ... - Indicating his haste and his desire to obey the suggestions of the Spirit. A thousand difficulties might have been started in the mind of Philip if he had reflected a little. The eunuch was a stranger; he had the appearance of a man of rank; he was engaged in reading; he might b... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAID ... - This was a general acknowledgment of his need of direction. It evinced a humble state of mind. It was an acknowledgment, also, originating probably from this particular passage which he was reading. He did not understand how it could be applied to the Messiah; how the description o... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PLACE ... - Isaiah 53:7. HE WAS LED ... - This quotation is taken literally from the Septuagint. It varies very little from the Hebrew. It has been almost universally understood that this place refers to the Messiah; and Philip expressly applies it to him. The word “was led” ἤχθη ēchthē imp... [ Continue Reading ]
IN HIS HUMILIATION - This varies from the Hebrew, but is copied exactly from the Septuagint, showing that he was reading the Septuagint. The Hebrew text is: “He was taken from prison and from judgment.” The word rendered “prison” denotes any kind of “detention,” or even “oppression.” It does not mea... [ Continue Reading ]
ANSWERED PHILIP - That is, “addressed” Phil The Hebrews often use the word “answer” as synonymous with “addressing” one, whether he had spoken or not. OF HIMSELF ... - This was a natural inquiry, for there was nothing in the text itself that would determine to whom the reference was. The ancient Jew... [ Continue Reading ]
OPENED HIS MOUTH - See Matthew 5:2. AT THE SAME SCRIPTURE - Taking this as a “text” to be illustrated. PREACHED UNTO HIM JESUS - Showed him that Jesus of Nazareth exactly corresponded to the description of the prophet, and that therefore he referred to the Messiah, and that the Messiah was Jesus o... [ Continue Reading ]
AS THEY WENT ON THEIR WAY - In their journey. A CERTAIN WATER - The expression used here does not determine whether this was a river, a brook, or a standing pool. And there are no circumstances to determine that. It is well known, however, that there is no large river or very considerable stream in... [ Continue Reading ]
AND PHILIP SAID ... - This was stated by Philip as the proper qualification for making a profession of religion. The terms are: * “Faith,” that is, a reception of Jesus as a Saviour; yielding the mind to the proper influences of the truths of redemption. See the notes on Mark 16:16. (2)There is r... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY WENT DOWN BOTH INTO THE WATER - This passage has been made the subject of much discussion on the subject of baptism. It has been adduced in proof of the necessity of immersion. It is not proposed to enter into that subject here (see the Editors’ Notes at Matthew 3:6, Matthew 3:16). It may b... [ Continue Reading ]
OUT OF THE WATER - ἐκ ek. This preposition stands opposed to εἰς eis, “into”; and as that may mean to, so this may mean From; if that means into, this means here out of. THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD - See Acts 8:29. The Spirit had suggested to Philip to go to meet the eunuch, and the same Spirit, now t... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT PHILIP WAS FOUND - That is, he came to Azotus, or he was not heard of until he reached Azotus. The word is often used in this sense. See 1 Chronicles 29:17, margin; 2 Chronicles 29:29, margin; Genesis 2:20; see also Luke 17:18; Romans 7:10. In all these places the word is used in the sense of to... [ Continue Reading ]