It is now six years since the church started, and God allows persecution in order to , among other things, to spread the church. Chapter eight sees the persecution of the church led by Saul, Phillip in Samaria encountering Simon, a charlatan, and his subsequent encounter with an Ethiopian court official, and his genuine conversion.

And so persecution goes on to this day. Persecution.org estimates there are around 200 million Christians suffer some form of persecution for their faith. That day may not be long in coming for us. So while we are able, we must  be “Phillips”, used and usable of the Holy Spirit, to share the Good News.

Antsal, wife of one of the 21 men killed in Libya shares how she found peace.

Acts 8:2 – Does this mean we should make lamentation? Devout men means God fearers, not necessarily even Christians. These men did not understand about the fate of those who died in Christ until Paul explained this in 1Th 4:13-18.

Either way, may God give us more stout hearted men like these!

Acts 8:3 – Havoc – lit. describes the wounding of a wild boar. The boar loses all sense of sanity. Paul moves beyond consent to a frenzy of Satanic activity.

Acts 8:4 – They scattered, but look, they also preached the Word.

Acts 8:5-39 shows two back to back seeming conversions.  How can we be sure?

Re Simon, unsaved:

1. Wrong view of self (v9-10). He projected himself with great pride, even to his conversion. i.e. his conversion too was proud and pompous
2. Wrong view of supernatural power (v18-19). This is the practice of simony, trying to buy one’s way into power. He did not want power to change his character, but to further his ambitions. A true conversion is done in humility. “Make me a servant.
3. A wrong view of the Spirit (v18-21). That purchase may be attempted by money, or through the flesh,
4. Wrong view of sin. (v24) The conversion doesn’t take, he doesn’t want the sin rooted out, but to avoid the consequences. Simon  believed in signs and wonders and not God, to his own ends. His attitude was, what will it do for me.

Contrast this with the Ethiopian’s conversion:

1. It was a sovereign work of the HS (v26) – note the HS working took Phillip out of a revival in Samaria to one guy out in the desert. The eunuch was cultured enough to be able to read Hebrew though he himself was a Gentile. The HS draws us, not vice versa Rom 3:10-12
2. The searching heart of a sinner. We respond to the HS after HE seeks us out.,
3. Scriptural basis for salvation (v35) – As opposed to being drawn by signs and wonders as was Simon. Rom 10:17
4. The sincere expression of a servant(v37)  – The Eunuch’s response was ass a faithful response, not for his personal gain.

Persecution.org

Acts 8:6 – Here is Phillip, another table server-deacon we saw in Acts 6:5. If we are faithful in the little things, God will give you bigger and bigger responsibilities. And now Phillip followed Jesus example by going into the area were Jews would avoid John 4:4-42

Hearing miracles – the word of wisdom spoken as Jesus did to the woman at the well.

Acts 8:7 – 2Ki 17:7-41  This chapter of 2 Kings outlines the origin of the Samaritans. After reviewing this chapter, one can see the Pharisees calling the kettle black! (Being hypocrites)

Demons fled as Phillip was preaching and ministering. Demons are still alive and well in the 20th century. We offer psychological excuses for the present day work of demons and evil.

Acts 8:8 – Mat 2:10, Luke 2:10 The power of sin is broken. The joy of Christianity.

Acts 8:17 – Perhaps Phillip wasn’t gifted in the laying on of hands, reemphasizing the importance of the Body. Peter and John were empowered in this area, so they lay on hands. 1Co 1:14

And don’t get hung up on Baptism. It’s necessary, but it happens in various ways, (Acts 10)

Acts 8:18 – Simon does not appear to be possesed demonically, but wants to purchase a magic trick, as magicians do to this day.

Acts 8:20 – This absolutely refutes the buying of popeships during the Middle Ages. And Protestants are no better, as when the pastor is deeded the pastor, and the congregation buys back the church, or when an a person buys an “elder” position.

Acts 8:24 – HE didn’t ask for his heart to change, but to avoid the consequences of his sin.

Acts 8:25 – Tradition says that Simon went insane and buried himself alive, but not before starting the heresy of Gnosticism

Acts 8:26 – Revival is happening. People are being saved, and now the HS sends Phillip elsewhere. Note that the HS didn’t say why to go. Why go to a rock and sand filled desert? Go do step 1, and then you’ll get step 2.

Acts 8:27 – This was perhaps the second most important man in Ethiopia. He desired to know God, hence the trip to J-lem, but came back empty, as shown here.

God will do whatever it takes to tell a hungry person about Jesus. God will reach them. No one will be able to say they sought God and did not find Him.

Acts 8:30 – Wow! He ran! Enthusiasm is En-Theos, full of God.

Acts 8:32 – Isa 53:8f

Acts 8:35 – He spoke of Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. He also hopped right into Isaiah, connoting his knowledge of Scripture.

Acts 8:37 – Earlier, Simon believed with his head, and here the eunuch believes in his heart.

This is verse not in the NIV or RSV (See nivmiss.inx)

Acts 8:38 – Note immersion baptism here and elsewhere.

Acts 8:40 – He stayed there and raised 4 daughters who became prophetesses. A beautiful place on the beach. Phillip started waiting on tables, became a deacon, then an evangelist, then raised a family.