Acts 8:26

But an angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza: the same is desert.

'BUT'-'The tense of the verbs in the preceding verse and here implies that the events that follow synchronized with the journey of Peter and John through Samaria.' (Reese p. 330)

'AN ANGEL OF THE LORD SPAKE UNTO PHILIP'-

Point to Note:

The book of Acts is filled with various communications from God via angels, the Holy Spirit or Jesus Himself (Acts 5:19; Acts 8:29; Acts 9:4; Acts 10:3; Acts 10:10; Acts 16:6; Acts 16:9; Acts 18:9). Let us be impressed that never did God directly tell anyone what to do to be saved. When. communication was made, it was made either to the individual who would then teach people the gospel or as in the case of Cornelius, the message revealed where to find such. preacher.

Hence today, when various religious people claim that God communicated to them and told them they were saved or told them what to do to be saved, we must remember that God has never operated in such. manner.

'ARISE, AND GO'-'Soon after the departure of Peter and John...Philip was given another evangelistic commission.' (Stott p. 159) 'The congregation in Samaria has been endowed with spiritual gifts so that it has inspired leadership, so men like the apostles or Philip are no longer needed there.' (Reese p. 330) 'From his great work in the city of Samaria, Philip was suddenly summoned to the... hills of southern Judea. Instead of addressing multitudes he was to bring the gospel message to one man...The man who preaches Christ to eager crowds is no more truly an evangelist than he who testifies for his Lord to. chance acquaintance on. lonely journey.' (Erdman p. 84)

Points to Note:

Again we see the purpose for the spiritual gifts. They were to equip. congregation in the absence of. completed New Testament (1 Corinthians 13:8). Note: The spiritual gifts didn't reveal truth in addition to what is found in the New Testament! (1 John 4:1; 2 John 1:9; 1 Corinthians 14:37).

Notice the value that God places upon just one soul (Matthew 16:25). God sent. preacher (who could of been using his time and talents in preaching to large crowds) to preach to. specific individual.

Observe also, that if. person is looking for the truth, God will give them the chance to hear it (John 7:17). In view of the following facts: (a) God is all-powerful. (b) God can bring about His purposes, despite human rebellion and opposition. (c) God desires that all would be saved (2 Peter 3:9). (d) God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34). It would be hard to conceive of. person who didn't get at least one opportunity to hear the Gospel.

'TOWARD THE SOUTH'-South of the city of Samaria.

'UNTO THE WAY THAT GOETH DOWN FROM JERUSALEM UNTO GAZA'-In New Testament times various roads connected Jerusalem with Gaza. 'Archaeology has shown that there was. road built by the Romans that led from the south-western corner of Jerusalem in. westerly and southerly direction toward Gaza, some traces of which are still visible.' (Reese p. 331)

Writing about 100 years ago, McGarvey noted, 'The whole distance from city to city is about fifty miles...Some five or six miles from the latter city (Jerusalem) the road begins to descend from the central ridge, which is follows that far, through. rough and narrow ravine...After traversing this valley. few miles nearly due south, the road turns to the west, and rises through another wady (dry river bed) to the level of the great Philistine plain, which it follows the rest of the way to Gaza.' (p. 151)

'GAZA'-Which is one of the oldest cities in the world (Genesis 10:19). 'Travellers to and from Egypt used to supply themselves with provisions there..' (Reese p. 331) It was the southernmost of the five chief Philistine cities, located about. miles inland from the Mediterranean, and 12 miles south of Ashkelon. It occupied. very strategic location on an important caravan and military route that extended to the SW and then. through the sands close to the Mediterranean Sea..to the Egyptian Delta. 'It was vital, in any military campaign, for opposing enemies to hold this city as. rest area to or from the desert.' (Zond. Ency. p. 662)

'THE SAME IS DESERT'-2048. eremos er'-ay-mos; of uncertain affinity; lonesome, i.e. (by implication) waste (usually as. noun, 5561 being implied): -desert, desolate, solitary, wilderness.

-'This is. desert road' (NASV).

-The word desert can speak of. sandy, arid region, such as the wilderness of Judea. But it also can refer to. region that is uninhabited (Matthew 14:15; Matthew 14:19).

McGarvey notes, 'The passage along the mountain ravine must be the part called desert, for all the rest of the way the road passes through the midst of villages, pastures, and cultivated fields.' (p. 151)

Point to Note:

'Many have said (before men knew the geography of Palestine) that the Eunuch could not have been immersed because he was in. dry, arid region where there was no water.' (Reese pp. 331-332) This is based on. misunderstanding of the word "desert", and also. denial of what the text says. They found enough water, in which both of them could go down into it (Acts 8:38).