Acts Chapter 8

Stephen, the Lord's martyr, has just been stoned to death. It was done by the very leadership of the nation of Israel. They had gnashed on him with their teeth, they had stopped their ears, ran upon him and cast him out of the city and stoned him.

The bible points out three times that Stephen was FULL of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 6:5, 6:8 and 7:55) So the leaders of Israel were not resisting Stephen, they were resisting the Holy Ghost and blaspheming. It was Israel's "unpardonable sin" according to the Lord in Matthew 12:31-32. Saul of Tarsus was right there with them. He too was a blasphemer. He says so in 1 Timothy chapter one. so Stephen has now been stoned to death.

His last words were:

Acts 7:60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Is it possible that the Lord would answer Stephen's prayer and "lay not this sin to their charge?" The answer to that is ONLY if there is a dispensational change. That is going to happen just one chapter later in Chapter nine.

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.

Notice that all of the disciples were "scattered abroad." But where were the apostles? They were STILL in Jerusalem. They didn't go anywhere. It was not time for them to "go into all the world and teach all nations," as in the so-called "great commission of Matthew 28 and Luke 24. They were still busy trying to get Israel converted. But at this point, Israel has fallen. Never again do we see national repentance offered to the nation of Israel.

Those that were "scattered" show up later in the book of Acts:

Acts 11:19 Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.

The books of 1 and 2 Peter are addressed to them and the book of James is written to the "twelve tribes scattered abroad."

Acts 8:2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.

Acts 8:3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

The fact that Saul made "havock" of the church indicates that he fits the bill as a "type" of the antichrist at this point in his life. In Revelation we see the antichrist doing exactly the same thing. Saul was "on the road to Damascus" as we will later see, but he certainly was not "on the road to repentance," as some suggest.

Acts 8:4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.

The phrase "every where" shouldn't be construed as being a fulfillment of the "great commission." That cannot be fulfilled until a future day when the Lord exercises "all power in heaven and earth." It was in connection with that that he told the Apostles to "Go ye therefore." (Compare Matthew 28:18-20) He had said "All power is given unto me in heaven and earth, go ye therefore." But we know that today, Jesus Christ is not exercising "all power." There is an individual that Paul calls "the god of this world" in 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 and today he is operating at full power. The "ye" in Matthew 28:19 cannot be thought of as the church, the body of Christ. The "ye" in the context is a reference to those 12 apostles and those who were with them.

So what we are seeing is not the great commission, but rather huge changes taking place.

Acts 8:5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.

Philip was one of the seven "table servers" from Acts chapter six. He is called "the evangelist" by Luke in Acts 21:8.

Acts 8:6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

Acts 8:7 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.

Acts 8:8 And there was great joy in that city.

"That city" could very well be the one referred to in John chapter 4.

John 4:39 And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did.

John 4:40 So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days.

John 4:41 And many more believed because of his own word;

Now Simon the sorcerer enters the picture:

Acts 8:9 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:

Acts 8:10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.

Acts 8:11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.

Acts 8:12 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.

This is water baptism. It is the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, the same as John the Baptist preached. Philip is continuing stedfastly in the apostles doctrine and this is the doctrine Peter preached.

Acts 8:13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

So Simon the sorcerer becomes a believer and is baptized. But, there is a difference between this man and the one named Annanias in Acts chapter five. Annanias HAD the Holy Ghost, Simon does not.

Acts 8:14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:

Notice WHERE the apostles are. They are still in Jerusalem.

Acts 8:15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:

Acts 8:16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

Notice that the Holy Ghost "falls upon them." Peter said that Jesus Christ "shed forth" this which ye now see and hear. The point is that this baptism is not the same as the one Paul refers to in 1 Corinthians 12:13, Galatians 3:27 and Ephesians 4:5.

Acts 8:17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

Acts 8:18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,

Keep in mind that Simon saw this, but he was not baptized with the Holy Ghost. The point is that the outcome is different than in the case of the man in Acts chapter five.

Acts 8:19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

Acts 8:20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

Acts 8:21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.

Acts 8:22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

Acts 8:23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.

In the case of Annanias in Acts chapter five he could not be forgiven. He fell away, he blasphemed, so there was no forgiveness in his case.

Acts 8:24 Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.

Acts 8:25 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.

Notice where Peter and John went? Not into all the world, but BACK to Jerusalem.

Acts 8:26 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.

Acts 8:27 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,

Some question who this man is. But in the light of Peter's statement in Acts 15:7 that the Lord had made choice among the 12 that "the Gentiles by my mouth should hear," then this man must not be a Gentile, but rather a Jew who had come to Jerusalem to worship, as the verse says.

Acts 8:28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.

Acts 8:29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.

Acts 8:30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?

Acts 8:31 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.

The only way to get spiritual understanding is through the leadership of the Holy Spirit. Paul says that "the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit God... because they are spiritually discerned." The only way to get spiritual understanding is either to have the Holy Spirit or have someone led by the Spirit to explain these things.

Acts 8:32 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:

Acts 8:33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.

Acts 8:34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?

Acts 8:35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.

The scripture is Isaiah 53, verse seven and eight. But notice what Philip does. He preached unto him Jesus. Isaiah 53 has 12 verses, and in those 12 verses an individual is referred to a total of 48 times. He is referred to as "he," "a man," "him," and so on but he is never named. Jesus, in his death has now fulfilled this prophecy. Hence Philip preached unto him Jesus. Again this is in one accord with Peter's doctrine.

Acts 3:17 And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.

Acts 3:18 But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.

Peter preached the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. The same as John the Baptist did. The idea was, to be identifed with the NAME. To be identified with their Messiah. The Eunuch understood that.

Acts 8:36 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?

Now there was something that hindered the impotent man in Acts chapter three from entering the Temple before Peter healed him. But the fact that this man is a eunuch doesn't seem to be a hinderance by this time. Also, this man is baptized with water, but there is no reference to his being baptized with the Holy Ghost. This could be because only the apostles could lay hands on people in order that they would receive the Holy Ghost, as was the case earlier in the chapter.

Acts 8:37 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.

Notice what the Eunuch believed. It was not the message that Paul delivered, "How that Christ died for our sins, according to the scriptures." It was simply that he believed that Jesus is the Christ of Isaiah 53. He is the Christ of prophecy, he is the Son of God. That's all it took. That's what all the disciples believed from John chapter one and onward:

John 1:49 Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.

To John chapter eleven:

John 11:27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

To Matthew 16:

Matthew 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

That was the message, to be baptized, to be identifed with the NAME. To believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Acts 8:38 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.

Acts 8:39 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.

He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning to Ethiopia where he had charge of all of the treasure of Candace the queen. Did he quit his job? All of those in the early part of the book of Acts had sold all of their goods and posessions. They continued daily in the temple and from house to house having all things common. They were doing what the Lord had told them to do, expecting his soon second coming. However things didn't turn out that way because God had a mystery which was to be revealed. So the bible never comments on what the Samaritans or this man did.

Acts 8:40 But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.