Acts 8 - Introduction

THE BOOK OF ACTS. CHAPTER.

OUTLINE AND COMMENTARY. MARK DUNAGAN

I. OUTLINE OF CHAPTER 8:

I. Persecution Against The Church: Acts 8:1

II. Philip Preaches In Samaria: Acts 8:5-13

III. Peter And John/Simon's Request and Rebuke: Acts 8:14-25

IV. Philip Preaches To The Eunuch: Acts 8:26-40

II. INTRODUCTORY COMMENTS:

'Luke seems to have regarded Stephen and Philip as. pair. Both men belonged to the Seven, and so had social (physical/benevolent-MD) responsibilities in the Jerusalem church (Acts 6:5). Yet both were also preaching evangelists (Acts 6:10; Acts 8:5), and both performed public signs and wonders (Acts 6:8; Acts 8:6). In addition, Luke saw the ministry of both men as helping to pave the way for the Gentile mission. Stephen's contribution lay in his teaching...and in the effects of his martyrdom, while Philip's lay in his bold evangelization of the Samaritans and of an Ethiopian leader. For the Jews regarded the Samaritans as heretical outsiders and Ethiopia as "the extreme boundary of the habitable world in the hot south"....Effective evangelism becomes possible only when the church recovers both the biblical gospel and. joyful confidence in its truth, relevance and power.' (Stott p. 144)

III. COMMENTARY ON CHAPTER EIGHT: