Acts 8
1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
Saul was "consenting" = all for the killing of Stephen. All but the Apostles scattered from Jerusalem. The Apostles had work to do and are without fear.
2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.
They may have been thrown out, but it didn't stop them from spreading The Word. In today's world, most won't spread The Word in fear of offending someone, forget about offending God by staying silent.
5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
Although they're being persecuted they hold to spreading The Word of truth. They hold to it and won't waver to the false doctrines nor traditions of humans.
6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
God is working through Philip and the people's eyes are open to Truth. Don't ever believe it is the person that gives the miracle, it's always God.
7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.
This is what the power of God does. It changes everything around you when you see, hear and accept it. As in verse 6 they "gave heed."
8 And there was great joy in that city.
Because God was accepted into their lives! When you accept The Truth and apply it in your life, nothing is the way it was. Peace of mind and joy rises in you.
9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:
Simon here isn't the Apostle Peter but the opposite. The people of Samaria look to this man as of God, but because of their ignorance of Truth they don't see he is of the devil.
10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.
That is what happens when you fail to study. You end up believing lies.
11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.
Nothing like a great show to bring in the people to follow false doctrines. Seems many so-called churches of today are doing the same thing.
12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
When the people listened to Philip they awoke from the ignorance and in following The Truth, changed their hearts to seek Christ Jesus.
13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
When you erase the world from your mind as to hear The Truth, you can't help but change. That's the only way to understand The Word even to the 3rd level. You must forget the things of the world and flesh, then you can see the spiritual meaning.
14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
Reinforcements for The Truth †
15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit:
Peter and John prayed for all those that seek Truth to have The Holy Spirit come to them.
16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
When The Holy Spirit comes to them, they will know by the understanding they have gained.
17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
Peter and John laid hands on them; men and women alike received the Holy Spirit.
18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money,
Simon isn't letting go of the fleshly way of thinking. He believes it's a show. He wants to know how to have people do what they did by his hands.
19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit.
You can't buy the power of God nor can you buy your way into heaven.
20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
Peter is letting Simon know he might act like he is a Christian in front of the people, but you can't fool him, he is not.
22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
You must make a REAL change if you're going to call yourself a Christian. You may fool some, but not all and you'll never fool God. I know, some of you will say "you can't judge people" or "you don't know their heart", etc. I say you don't know The Word well enough to make those comments. Topic Study on judging.
23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.
"gall of bitterness" = jealousy and Peter is laying it down for Simon that he's on to him. Simon wants to be worshiped by the people.
24 Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.
Simon is still putting on a show. He doesn't even believe in God.
25 And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.
Peter and John preached The Word all the way back Jerusalem.
26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.
Philip is going to where the Palestinians are living today.
27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,
This eunuch worshiped YHVH in Truth but hadn't heard Christ Jesus Words as of yet.
28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
This eunuch is studying. This is what everyone that loves God should do more than an hour, once a week.
29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
Philip is going to open the eyes of this man to Christ his Lord and life.
30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
Do you understand what you read when you read God's Word? It's important to take your time and to erase the way of the world from your mind when you do. When you take away the worldly way, you take away satans chance to cause confusion.
31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
If you have a hard time in understanding The Word, that's when you seek someone's help. The eunuch asked and Philip was glad to help. Philip was placed in his path at a time he was in need of it.
32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:
Isaiah 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
33 In his humiliation his
judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is
taken from the earth.
Isaiah 53:8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. This prophecy was given over 600 years before Christ Jesus birth. It's speaking of the first advent and the crucifixion of Christ. The eunuch didn't know Christ had been crucified but Philip is teaching him The Truth.
34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?
The eunuch wants to know who this Person was that wouldn't defend himself and instead went to His slaughter as a lamb goes to slaughter.
35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
Philip continued from Isaiah 53 preaching of Christ Jesus. Isaiah 53:9-12 9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. 11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
The eunuch has heard about being baptized and is asking what should stop him from doing it?
37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
Condition! "If thou believest with all thine heart" and because he has heard about Christ, he desires to be baptized as Christ was. This is why we get baptized. We follow Christ and do as He does. Christian = Christ like †
38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
They hitched the horse next to water and both Philip and the eunuch went into the water to baptize the eunuch.
39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.
The Spirit told Philip it was time to go and off he went, his job was done and the eunuch rejoiced in all he had heard and done.
40 But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.
As God is The One in control, He lead Philip where he was needed to help bring The Truth to those in need of it and hungry for it. Our Father make sure He is there when evil is near. All we have to do is look and listen. Erasing the worldly way from our minds, opens our spirits to Him. When we are able to see and hear what it is He is saying to us. Rebuke satan and seek God †