1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church which was in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.
This stoning of Stephen marked the rejection of the second sign of Jonah, which was the resurrection. The first sign of Jonah was the resurrection of Lazarus, which the Sanhedrin rejected. The second sign of Jonah was the resurrection of Jesus, which was rejected at the stoning of Stephen by both Sadducees and Pharisees. The third sign of Jonah will be the future resurrection of the two witnesses in Revelation 11.
After this event, persecution split and spread out against the large church in Jerusalem. The Greek word for "scattered abroad" is διασπείρω (diaspeiro), meaning that the Church was scattered like seeds in a field. Seeds produce crops. For the first time, the gospel went out to the non-Jewish world. In chapter 8, it will go out to the Samaritans. In chapter 10, it will go out to the Gentiles. The Samaritans and Gentiles will be the crops of the διασπείρω (diaspeiro).
When the Church was meeting in Jerusalem, all of the apostles were present. Any believer could directly ask the apostles a question, because they were all there. However, after the dispersion, the apostles were scattered as well. They had to write books and letters to communicate the Word of God to those in the dispersion. Matthew was written as a gospel to the Jews. James, 1st and 2nd Peter, Jude, and Hebrews were letters written to the Jews. Most of the other gospels and letters were written to the scattered Gentile churches spread across the Roman Empire. Until these gospels and letters were complete, God communicated with his scattered churches by local prophets in local churches. Once the written Word was complete, these prophets disappeared. Satan began to place false prophets in the churches, so Paul, Peter, and Jude warned the Church about this demonic infiltration. All three of these apostles commanded that the Scriptures were to be studied, because eventually, the signs and prophets would disappear. Paul even gave the date of the discontinuation of these sign gifts in 2 Corinthians 14. The miraculous sign gifts would disappear after the temple destruction in 70 A.D.
2And devout men buried Stephen, and made great lamentation over him.
The Greek word for "devout" is εὐλαβής (eulaba), meaning to do good outwardly. These devout men may or may not have been believers. They could have been unbelievers who disagreed with the verdict of the Sanhedrin and decided to bury Stephen.
The Greek word for "lamentation" is κοπετός (kopeks), meaning to beat the breast. According to the Jewish law of that day, a criminal was to be buried without public lamentation. However, contrary to that law, Stephen received a funeral tribute.
3 But Saul laid waste the church, entering into every house, and dragging men and women committed them to prison.
The Greek word for "laid waste" is λυμαίνομαι (lumainomai), meaning to defile and destroy. In Psalm 79:7, it is used of a wild boar destroying a vineyard. Luke was implying that Saul was a wild animal attempting to destroy God's vineyard.
Paul was a Pharisee, meaning that the Pharisees and Sadducees had joined together to destroy the Church. Gamaliel's advice was not being followed.
The houses that Paul entered were house churches, organized by the apostles, who were acting as elders at that time. Paul dragged out both men and women, meaning that women were present in the house churches. This was a taboo in Jewish and Roman culture. Notice also that the persecution was now effecting the women as well.
Philip in Samaria
4 They therefore that were scattered abroad, went about preaching the word.
Jesus commanded that the gospel was to be taken unto Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the outer most parts of the world. Instead, the Church was stationary, with all 12 apostles residing in Jerusalem. God used Saul to scatter the Church into the diaspora so that the Samaritans and Gentiles could be reached with the gospel.
The Greek word for "preaching" is εὐαγγελίζω (euangelize), meaning to proclaim the good news. They were teaching the good news of Christ.
5 And Philip went down to the City of Samaria, and proclaimed unto them the Christ.
Philip was one of the seven deacons appointed by the Apostles in Acts 5. Philip "went down", because you always go down from Jerusalem. Knowing the details of this geographical fact means that Luke was Jewish.
This is not the same ancient Old Testament City of Samaria. Samaria was a region of Ephraim during the time of Philip. He visited some unknown city in this region.
The Greek word for "proclaimed" is κηρύσσω, an imperfect verb, meaning that the message was continually proclaimed publicly with conviction.
6 And the multitudes gave heed with one accord unto the things that were spoken by Philip, when they heard, and saw the signs which he did.
The Greek word for "gave heed" is προσέχω (pros echo), another imperfect verb, meaning to continually pay attention and devote themselves continually to the teaching.
The Greek word for "signs" is σημεῖον (samson), meaning a sign of authentication. The signs of authentication were given to show that the gospel message came from God. Only the apostles and their legates could perform signs of authentication. Philip was a legate because of his appointed deacon status.
7 For from many of those that had unclean spirits, they came out, crying with a loud voice; and many that were palsied, and that were lame, were healed.
There were two kinds of people who needed physical healing. There were some who were inflicted by demons. There were others who were inflicted by the frailty of humanity. It is possible for demons to inflict diseases upon people, and then take them away at the word of a charismatic faith healer. Witch doctors have been doing this for centuries. This is a demonic deception that has seeped into many charismatic churches today.
8 And there was much joy in that city.
Samaria heard the gospel and received divine authentication that it was the truth from God. This good news caused them to rejoice, because they now understood in their spirit that they were called by God for eternal life.
9 But there was a certain man, Simon by name, who had previously been in the city, He had used sorcery, and amazed the people of Samaria, giving out that he himself was some great one.
Simon is a Hebrew name, meaning "to hear". The Greek word for "sorcery" is μαγεύω, meaning magic. He called himself μέγαν (megan), meaning the Great One.
Dr. Merrill Unger give some interesting insight into Simon the Sorcerer:
The Samaritan magician living in the age of the apostles and usually designated in later history as Simon Magus. According to Justin Martyr (Apol. 1.26) he was born at Gitton, a village of Samaria, identified with the modern Kuryet Jît, near Nablus. He probably was educated at Alexandria and there became acquainted with the various tenets of the Gnostic school. Either then or subsequently he was a pupil of Dositheus, who preceded him as a teacher of Gnosticism in Samaria and whom he supplanted with the aid of Cleobius. He is first introduced in the Bible as practicing magical arts in a city of Samaria (perhaps Sychar; Acts 8:5; cf. John 4:5), with such success that he was pronounced to be “the Great Power of God” (Acts 8:10). The preaching and miracles of Philip excited him, and he became one of his disciples and was baptized. Subsequently he witnessed the effect produced by the laying on of hands, practiced by the apostles Peter and John, and, desiring to acquire a similar power, he offered money for it. His object evidently was to apply the power to pursuing magical arts. The motive and the means were equally to be condemned, and his proposition met with a severe denunciation from Peter. It was followed by a petition on the part of Simon, the tenor of which revealed terror but not penitence (v. 24). The word simony is derived from his endeavor to obtain spiritual functions by bribe. There are many stories concerning his subsequent career that are, without doubt, fictitious.
Unger, M. F., Harrison, R. K., Vos, H. F., Barber, C. J., & Unger, M. F. (1988). In The new Unger’s Bible dictionary. Chicago: Moody Press.
10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, "This man is that power of God which is called Great."
Simon had deceived the rich and poor into thinking that he was a great one of God.
11 And they gave heed to him, because that of long time he had amazed them with his sorcerees.
The Greek word for "gave heed" is προσέχω (prosecho), meaning to pay attention and devote oneself. They had been amazed at his magical powers for a long time.
12 But when they believed Philip preaching good tidings concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
When the 10 tribes of the North were defeated by the Assyrians, they were assimilated into the Assyrian culture. The Jewish captives intermarried with the Assyrians and with other conquered nations and became the Samaritans. They still worshiped Jehovah, but they mixed Judaism with paganism and formed a new hybrid-religion. This mixture of multi-religions is called syncretism. To the Samaritans, Jehovah was just one god of many.
Philip is the first evangelist to mention the Kingdom of God. The Samaritans believed that the kingdom would consist of Samaritans. Therefore, Philip taught them that it was a Kingdom of God for Jews, Samaritans, and Gentiles. He also informed the Samaritans that they must believe in Jesus alone for salvation. Their salvation must come from a Jewish Messiah, which they despised. Many of the Samaritans overcame this anti-semitic hatred. They believed Philip. They were baptized into the faith.
13 And Simon also himself believed, and being baptized, he continued with Philip; and beholding signs and great miracles wrought, he was amazed.
Simon believed that the power of Philip and this Christ was stronger than his power. Simon did not believe in the substitutionary atonement of Christ.
14 Now when the apostles that were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John.
This mass conversion of Samaritans caused concern among the apostles. The apostles had authority over the Church. The Samaritans despised the Jews and the City of Jerusalem. Now the Church of Jerusalem would have to authenticate the Church of Samaria.
Peter must be sent, because he had the keys of the kingdom. There must be two witnesses to observe their conversion, so another witness was needed. John hated the Samaritans. John and his brother wanted Jesus to call fire and brimstone down upon the Samaritans. John would be a good second witness, because he was a hostile witness. The most powerful witness in a court of law is a hostile witness.
This is the last mention of John in the Book of Acts. The Book of Acts is primarily the story of Peter and Paul. Peter used his keys to open the doors to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the world. After Peter used his keys to open the last door, Paul will take the gospel to the Gentiles.
15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit?
No Samaritan had yet received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The baptism of the Holy Spirit comes upon all who believe immediately at conversion. No where in Scripture is there mentioned a second baptism. This second baptism is an invention of charismatics who are ignorant of Scripture.
16 For as yet it was fallen upon none of them, only they had been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.
The Samaritans believed, and then they were baptized by water in the name of Jesus. However, the baptism of the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon them. Peter had the keys to the kingdom. The Holy Spirit was delaying the baptism of the spirit until Peter arrived. This is not a current condition of the modern church today. This is simply the method that God chose at this time in history. The doctrine of the baptism of the Holy Spirit is found in Paul's epistles.
17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
The Samaritans must have despised these Jews from Jerusalem. However, they allowed these Jews to lay hands on them. After the laying on of hands,then the Samaritans received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The door was now open to the Samaritans. All Samaritans who believed in the future would now be baptized by the Holy Spirit immediately at conversion.
Dr. Fruchtenbaum has some good insight on these issues:
In Acts 2, the Jews received Spirit baptism, and now, in Acts 8, the Samaritans receive it. Since many people try to build a doctrine of the Holy Spirit from these historical incidents, it might be wise to note the differences in the order by which the baptism of the Holy Spirit was received by the different groups of humanity.
In the case of the Jews, the order was: first, repentance; secondly, water baptism; thirdly, Spirit baptism. In the case of the Samaritans the order was: first, they believed; secondly, they received water baptism; thirdly, the laying of hands by the apostles from Jerusalem; and fourthly, Spirit baptism.
In chapter 2, water baptism followed Spirit baptism; in chapter 8, water baptism preceded Spirit baptism. Also, there was the laying on of the apostles’ hands in chapter 8, but no laying on of anyone’s hands in chapter 2. This shows that there was no consistent pattern in the Book of Acts, so one cannot take an historical incident and make a theology out of it.
Dr. Fruchtenbaum also offers some interesting insights on the gift of tongues:
What about the gift of tongues in Acts 8? Let us ask the same six questions here that we did in chapter 2, and answer them.
The first question: Who received the gift of the Spirit? The answer: The believers in Samaria.
The second question: What nationality were they? The answer: They were Samaritans, who, historically, did not like Jews. They were so antagonistic to Jerusalem and Judaism that they went through the five Books of Moses and deleted any possible reference to Jerusalem, such as Mount Moriah, and replaced it with Mount Gerizim. As Luke 9:51–53 shows, they often attacked and killed Jews trying to get to Jerusalem through Samaria. This was the reason that Galilean Jews often had to detour through Perea in order to bypass Samaria.
The third question: What were the circumstances? The answer: Philip came to Samaria and preached to the Samaritans who believed and were saved. But this raised some questions among the Jerusalem apostles, who had the old Samaritan antagonism in mind, so Peter and John were sent to investigate and authenticate these reports.
The fourth question: What was the means? The answer: Spirit baptism came in some visible way by means of the laying on of hands by Peter and John. The baptism of the Spirit came through the apostles from Jerusalem.
The fifth question: What was the purpose? The answer: The purpose was authentication. For the Jerusalem apostles, it authenticated Samaritan salvation, proving that Samaritans were savable. For the Samaritans, it authenticated apostolic authority, because they received Spirit baptism by the laying on of hands by Jewish apostles from Jerusalem. That meant they were not to set up a separate, rival Samaritan Church, as they had set up a separate, rival Samaritan temple.
And the sixth question: What were the results? The answer: First, the Samaritans received Spirit baptism and entered the Body of the Messiah; and secondly, there was no rival, separate church was set up.
18 Now when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money,
Simon wanted to purchase apostolic authority.
19 saying, "Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay my hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit."
Simon wanted to purchase the magic hands of the apostles.
20 But Peter said unto him, "Thy silver perish with thee, because thou hast thought to obtain the gift of God with money."
Simon was in danger of perishing, so he was not a saved man. Simon's view on God was materialistic. He desired to become the first prosperity preacher.
21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter, for thy heart is not right before God.
The "part" is salvation. The "lot" is the kingdom of God. Simon had neither. His heart was not right with God, meaning that he was unsaved.
22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray the Lord, if perhaps the thought of thy heart shall be forgiven thee.
Repent has to do with the repentance into salvation. Repentance of sins is not a condition of salvation, as some denominations falsely claim. If a person must confess his sins, then this is an addition to grace plus faith plus nothing. If one must repent from his sins, this this is an addition to grace plus faith plus nothing. If one must be water baptized, then this is an addition to grace plus faith plus nothing. Repentance meant that one needed to change their attitude about the identity and purpose of Jesus. Faith plus nothing equals salvation.
23 For I see that thou art in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.
Peter could see with his apostolic gift of discernment that Simon's condition was one of un-regeneration.
24 And Simon answered and said, "Pray ye for me to the Lord, that none of the things which ye have spoken come upon me."
Simon was unregenerate, so he asked Peter to pray for him. Simon was not looking for salvation. Therefore, he could not make this prayer himself. He was looking for escape from the judgement of his sins.
25 They therefore, when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.
Peter used his keys to open the door of salvation to the Samaritans. The Samaritans and Jews were joined once again as brothers in Christ.
Philip and the Ethiopian
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."
An angel told Philip to leave Samaria and head south towards the desert in Gaza. Notice that Luke must be Jewish, because he again mentioned "going down" from Jerusalem.
27 And he arose and went, and behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure, who had come to Jerusalem to worship.
Ethiopia is present Nubia. Dr. Fruchtenbaum gives some interesting insight on the position of eunuchs:
Eunuchs were often employed by Oriental rulers in positions of high office. They were also male servants of female dignitaries, but only placed in such positions after being castrated. According to Deuteronomy 23:1, a eunuch could not enter into the assembly of Jehovah, so he was not allowed to become a full proselyte. he was limited to becoming only a “proselyte of the gate” or a God fearer, but not a full proselyte.
This was a man of great authority. Politically, he was a highly influential official under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. The name Candace was not a proper name, but the title of the queen of Ethiopia, much like the word “Kaiser” was the title of the king of Germany, and “Czar” was a title of the king of Russia. Because the king of Ethiopia was considered to be a child of the sun, and therefore a person too sacred to be involved with secular functions of the royal court, all such duties fell to the queen mother, who had the title of Candace. As a result, she was the real power behind the throne; that is why Ethiopia was a matriarchy.
This man was in charge of her treasure, which means he held one of the highest governmental positions. His influence in Ethiopia would therefore have been very considerable. He was the royal treasurer. He had come to Jerusalem to worship, which shows that, at least, he was a proselyte of the gate. This had been a private, religious visit, not a state visit.
28 And he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah.
The eunuch was most likely riding in a royal chariot with an escort. If he was a proselyte or a Jew of the diaspora, then he was most likely reading the Greek Septuagint.
29 And the Spirit said unto Philip, "Go near, and join thyself to this chariot."
Earlier, an angel had spoken with Philip. Now, he received a direct message from the Holy Spirit. The Greek word for "join" is κολλάω (kollao), meaning to glue yourself in a soul-knit relationship.
30 And Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, "Understandest thou what thou readest?"
The eunuch was reading Isaiah aloud, which was a common Oriental practice. This also meant that he was not driving the chariot.
31 And he said, “How can I, except someone shall guide me? And he besought Philip to come up and sit with him.
No one can understand the Scriptures unless he is guided by a gifted pastor-teacher.
32 Now the passage of the Scripture which he was reading was this, "He was led as a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before his shearer is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth."
The eunuch was reading Isaiah 53, the strongest prophecy of the Suffering Servant in the entire Old Testament. Isaiah 53 was written 700 years before Jesus was born. The sheep led to the slaughter was Jesus. The lamb that did not open his mouth before his shearers was Jesus. This is Hebrew parallelism, a poetic device used in the Old Testament. Both verses parallel each other and give the same meaning.
33 "In his humiliation his judgment was taken away, his generation who shall declare? For his life is taken from the earth."
The prophecy continued, Jesus was humiliated, judged, and taken away. His generation was the people of Israel who rejected him. The Messiah was to be killed, like a sacrificial lamb on the altar of atonement.
34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, "I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this, of himself, or of some other?"
The eunuch needed a gifted pastor-teacher to reveal the meaning of the passage. Philip was prepared, and the Holy Spirit sent him to the eunuch.
35 And Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, preached unto him Jesus.
Philip witnessed Jesus not only through Isaiah 53, but from the entire New Testament. Can modern deacons do this today?
36 And as they went on the way, they came unto a certain water, and the eunuch saith, "Behold, here is water. What doth hinder me to be baptized?"
A proselyte would understand the meaning of water baptism. This eunuch became a believer.
37 And Philip said, "If thou believest with all thy heart, thou mayest." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."
This is a statement of faith. Christ is the Messiah mentioned in Isaiah 53. The Son of God is the deity of Christ.
38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still; and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.
Since the eunuch commanded the chariot to stand still, then he must of had a driver. The baptism was by immersion, not sprinkling.
39 And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip; and the eunuch saw him no more, for he went on his way rejoicing.
The Greek word for "caught away" is ἁρπάζω (harpazo), meaning to snatch away suddenly and quickly by force. This is the same Greek word used when Paul was caught up to the third heaven in 2 Corinthians 12:2. It is also the same Greek word for the Rapture of the Church in 1 Thessalonians 4:17. Philip was not raptured to heaven, but to some location away from the eunuch. Charismatics cannot imitate this type of miracle.
40 But Philip was found at Azotus, and passing through he preached the gospel to all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.
Philip was raptured from Gaza to Asdod. Both of these cities once belonged to the Philistines. Philip evangelized all of the cities of the old Philistine Empire.
Caesarea, the capital of Judea, was the headquarters of the Procurator. In Acts 21, we find that Philip is still dwelling in this city. This city will become the headquarters of Hellenistic evangelism and discipleship until 66 A.D.
