Acts 8 (Click title for audio access)
"Saul, Phillip, Simon And A Eunuch" • 7.24.11 • Calvary Christian Fellowship, Sunday Morning Service
Intro.
- Stephen's voice echoes loudly in the minds of his listeners: "Lord do not charge them with this sin!" Stephen's plea for their forgiveness rang in their ears and in their souls.
- Whatever conviction they may have had, was quickly buried deep under the weight of their hatred for this new and powerful sect of Judaism, which sought to name Jesus as their Master.
- Some scholars estimate that the church was anywhere between 20 and 30 thousand people in it, all located within the city of Jerusalem.
- For some time, they have enjoyed the blessing of God's Spirit in the Apostle's doctrine, but they have been sitting on a command as well that they are about to fulfill.
Text
• Acts 8:1 : "Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles." : The word "consenting" would better be translated "approving" of Stephen's death with pleasure.
- This delighted him. Finally, their actions would equal his zealous feelings against this sect. Stephen's death inspired Saul, who sought to take things to the next level.
- Stephen's martyrdom opened the door for a great wave of persecution against the church in Jerusalem, with Saul at the very front of the wave. As a result the church was scattered.
- The word "diaspeiro" refers to seed that is thrown out onto the wind and into a field.
- The church was being scattered and within them lay the seed of God's word that would spread now from Jerusalem into these other regions!
- God was taking what was born in the church of Jerusalem and was now taking it on the road!
- Note where they are going: Judea and Samaria, to the South and North respectively.
- We are in Acts 8:1, but the reciprocal verse, Acts 1:8 contains the instruction of the Lord, who commanded that they witness in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the ends of the earth!
- Saul tried to stamp out the church's influence, but God turned it around for his own purpose, where the gospel came en force to these regions.
- Saul stepped on the dandelion, but the wind carried the spores distances far beyond control!
- This took place against the church members, but not against the Apostles. Why? It's likely that the persecution was carried out against those who were of Hellenistic descent.
- Remember that since the beginning of the church, that many were pilgrims and non-citizens.
- Ultimately, God was not done with the Apostles in Jerusalem. They still had work to do, but it was time to spread this church out for it's mission.
• Acts 8:2-4 : "And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison. Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word." : Stephen was gone from the church and his presence was mourned. Some see these devout, pious, God-reverencing men as non-Christian men who by their chest beating, were actually protesting Stephen's death.
- Saul, by contrast, experiencing no remorse, made "havoc" of the church a word used for the sacking of a city, or the effect of a wild beast's attack.
- He hated the church and could see no other end except for it's destruction. This was his motive and then there was his method.
- He went from house to house putting men and women into prison. He thoroughly ran after the church, looking for more people to harm. Saul was relentless, zealous.
- It's amazing to consider that this same determination will one day make this man a hero for the faith, and yet, what a horrifying trait to have when pointed in the wrong direction!
- Notice the word "therefore." It speaks to the natural conclusion. With Saul going beserk, the natural conclusion might be that the church then shut itself down, taking the long view of things.
- However, for every act of violence against the church, there came an equal response of vigilance by the church! Instead of getting defensive, the church went on the offensive!
- Today it is no different. There are death sentences hanging over our brothers and sisters all over the world today, as they take the gospel to countries that are inhospitable to the Gospel.
- I would commend each of you to take some time and visit the Voice Of The Martyrs website for some sobering news regarding the persecuted church. It's just as real today as it was then.
˚ "According to the World Evangelical Alliance, over 200 million Christians in at least 60 countries are denied fundamental human rights solely because of their faith... If current trends continue, Barrett, Johnson and Crossing estimate that by 2025, an average of 210,000 Christians will be martyred annually." [i]
- Those that went running went everywhere preaching the word. In any place that they landed, their mission was the same: They spoke out the Word of God.
- "Preaching" comes from the word "euangelizo," meaning to announce something good or joyful. The person who spoke such things would be an evangel, sharing news that he had received.
- The members of the church were busy announcing the good news of the word, the Logos.
- What is the logos? John's gospel identifies Jesus as the logos in John 1.
- For the Jewish people, the word "logos" was a synonym for God. In the thinking of the Greek mind, the logos referred to the ultimate reason which linked the creation with the creator.
- They went announcing the good news of Jesus, the one who links creator and the creation! They announced the good news of God bringing order to chaos!
• Acts 8:5-8 : "Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. And there was great joy in that city." : Luke turns our attention to the other stand out member of the "Wait On Tables Club," Philip.
- When the dispersion took place, Philip went down to Samaria, a hated place by the Jews. Samaria had been a port for the ancient Assyrians, who coupled conquered peoples together there.
- Samaria had become an amalgamation of cultures and religious ideas, which was entirely offensive to the Jewish populace. This is why making a Samaritan good was a shocking idea!
- What a wonderful idea to send a Hellenistic, Holy Spirit filled Jew, who would be less offended! God really knows how to deal with conundrums!
- Philip announced to the Samaritans the news concerning Christ. What happened? They listened after hearing and seeing the miracles he did!
- His miracles included included the freeing of the demon possessed, healing of the paralyzed and healing of the lame, all the same power that Jesus displayed.
- The same power that worked in Peter and the Apostles was seen in Philip as well. God's work through Philip's ministry brought great joy to that city.
- What a prayer to have for our ministry: Lord, do such great work through us that people would be healed and delivered and filled with Your joy!
• Acts 8:9-11 : "But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great, to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, 'This man is the great power of God.' And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time." : Philip's story works right alongside the life of this man Simon, who had been a sorcerer, literally a Magi.
- Things of the occult, drug usage and other demonic practices were his forte. He had impressed the people of Samaria with his powers, ever boasting of his own greatness.
- The people were buying what he was selling, as they claimed that he had the power of God to do these things. He was the main attraction in this city, but was soon to be displaced.
• Acts 8:12,13 : "But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done." : The people of Samaria believed Philip. He had announced the coming of God's Kingdom and the power of the Lord's name.
- God was delivering the people of Samaria from the power of darkness, to the power of light. How did He do this? By the power of the gospel announcement of the Kingdom of God and Christ!
- Men, women and even Simon believed and was baptized. From that point, Simon followed Philip around, spending all of his energies to stay near Philip.
- Simon was impressed perhaps even obsessed, literally being beside himself with wonder. He had never seen anything like this before. The miracles and signs were daily wonders to him.
• Acts 8:14-17 : "Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit." : The Samaritan people had "received" the word of God, meaning that they "accepted," "approved of" or were "hospitable toward" Philip's message.
- They had believed it and had been baptized, but they had not yet received the Holy Spirit.
- This cannot mean that they did not receive the indwelling of God's Spirit. This means that they had not yet received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and His filling power.
- The second time we see the word "received" is a different word in the Greek. It means to take hold of, to procure or to lay hold of. God's Spirit had not filled them as He had the Apostles.
- There are many who have attempted to explain why, with one of the more notable explanations being that God waited for the Apostles to come to show solidarity.
- There was not going to be a Jerusalem blessing AND a Samaritan blessing! This was the SAME Holy Spirit that had come upon the Apostles.
- When the Apostles came, they prayed for the Samaritans and they received the Holy Spirit with some visible manifestation that Simon could see.
• Acts 8:18,19 : "And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying, 'Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.'" : Simon reveals what had been keeping him all along. He wanted a share of the power that he was observing. He wanted a part of it! He thought that he could simply buy this new magic.
- His motives were based purely on getting himself back on top, as the great power of God.
˚ "He regarded the Holy Spirit as a 'power' he could use as he willed, instead of a Person who would rule his life. 'The sin was a desire to possess spiritual power for personal ends." David Guzik / G. Cambell Morgan
- Simon, for all of his outward show, shows himself to be a real charlatan. He had believed and been baptized! He hung out with Philip! This man was a dangerous imposter.
• Acts 8:20-25 : "But Peter said to him, 'Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.' Then Simon answered and said, 'Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me.' So when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans." : Peter looked right through Simon and diagnosed his issue. He was filled with greed for power.
- His heart was hopeful for what Christianity could bring to him and how he could be enriched by the power of God. He was poisoned by the bitterness of losing his fame to Philip.
- Peter tells him that he was bound by iniquity. The word "bound" is also translated "ligament." He was tied up, held together by iniquity.
- When Simon heard this he called out to Peter to pray thath God would intervene on his behalf. Simon himself did not have the relationship with the Lord.
- He just hung on to ones with power, never experiencing it for himself.
- In the meantime, the Apostles continued to support the work of Philip, preaching the gospel all the way back to Jerusalem.
• Acts 8:26-29 : "Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, 'Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.' This is desert. So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet. Then the Spirit said to Philip, 'Go near and overtake this chariot.'" : Philip has been experiencing a wonderful revival. Samaria has opened itself to the gospel and has received the Holy Spirit.
- What does God do? He says, "Let's go to the desert!" Everything is happening around Philip, but God says that it's time for something different.
- From a bustling city full of people, to the desert, where there will be little traffic, if any at all!
- Write in your Bible's margin: God's ways are not our ways!
- Philip does not argue with God. Luke tells us in a matter of fact sort of way, "So he arose and went!" It seems to be such a simple statement, but what a profound action.
- Are you willing to go only when it makes sense to you? Are you willing to go only if you see the potential for what might take place? If so, you're not ready to be used like Philip.
- God called Him and he went! Simple, but difficult. Whatever He calls you to do, especially when it makes little sense, must be your chief goal to follow!
- When Philip came down the road, he came upon one chariot with one man in it! There were not scores of chariots or men. Just one man and one chariot!
- God pulled Philip away from the masses to bring him to this one man! What divine esteem!
- This man turned out to be a high ranking treasury official for an Ethiopian Queen. The name Candace is a dynastic name.
- She was the leader of Ethiopia at a time when they were busy protecting their borders from Rome and Egypt, both of whom she had recently given military spankings to!
- One of her top officials was among those who were devout enough to make a pilgimage to Jerusalem. Like 3other men, this man desired to worship the true God.
- He was a Gentile and when Philip saw him, he wondered if this is what God had brought him to do. The Spirit ministered that he was to overtake the chariot.
• Acts 8:30-34 : "So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, 'Do you understand what you are reading?' And he said, 'How can I, unless someone guides me?' And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him. The place in the Scripture which he read was this: 'He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before its shearer is silent, So He opened not His mouth. In His humiliation His justice was taken away, And who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth.' So the eunuch answered Philip and said, 'I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?'" : Understand something of great importance: When God is working on you, He is also working on them! This guys is primed to hear the gospel!
- "How can I unless someone guides me!" What a great universal line that is still true today! He is sitting there pondering this scripture, but he has nobody to explain it to him.
- There are people in your world who have a Bible, would like to understand it, but have nobody to help them really understand it!
- The man was reading Isaiah 53, which is one of the greatest Messianic scriptures in the Bible! What a set up for Philip!
• Acts 8:35-38 : "Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, 'See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?' Then Philip said, 'If you believe with all your heart, you may.'
And he answered and said, 'I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.' So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him." : He began right there where the eunuch was and he brought the man up to the current time, preaching Jesus.
And he answered and said, 'I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.' So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him." : He began right there where the eunuch was and he brought the man up to the current time, preaching Jesus.
- One imagines that Philip must have come to the point that we know of as Mark 16:15, which says, whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.
- When they came down the road, they came to some water and the natural progression to the Eunuch's inner belief was to be baptized. He had agreed in his heart, but had not said anything.
- Philip is thinking, "Hey, let's not skip to the end! Do you believe that Jesus Christ is God's Son?" The eunuch could not answer quick enough. I believe!
• Acts 8:39,40 : "Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing. But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea." : After the baptism, God literally picked Philip up from his place and translated him somewhere else.
- The word is the same word found in Thessalonians translated in the latin as "rapturos."
- The eunuch was standing there alone, but not lonely! The Lord's Spirit took Philip, but had not left the Eunuch, who just walked away rejoicing!
- Just to make sure that we don't get the wrong idea, Luke makes sure that we see Philip again. He was not raptured to heaven. Sadly, he was found at Azotus!
- If I get raptured, I really don't want you to be able to find me in Fontana! When he got there, Philip got right back to business, preaching all the way to Caesarea!
Conclusion
- If historical tradition is to be believed, Simon helped to co-found one of the most nefarious doctrines to afflict the early church: Gnosticism.
- The Eunuch went on to found an evangelical movement in his home country, which became very famous. In the church, there will be wheat like the Eunuch and Tares like Simon.
- God will sort them out. Like Philip, we're to do our job and let the Lord reveal who are His.
- In the Kingdom, things are not always what they seem. The big revival gives ample place for the imposter to hide and the seemingly lonely and desolate road provides a wonderful opportunity.
- The key is faithfulness, obedience and trust that wherever we scatter, God will bring His increase!
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