Acts 8 General outline
1. Introduction of Saul's exploits against the church
2. The result of persecutions against the church
3. Philip's ministry in Samaria
4. The Baptism in the Holy Ghost
5. Simon (the sorcerer) vs Simon (Peter)
6. Christ's Ambassador meets Ethiopia's Secretary of the Treasury
7. Philip's continued ministry
Act 8:1-8 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. 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. 5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. 6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 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. 8 And there was great joy in that city.
Saul was most likely a member of the synagogue of the Libertines being a native of Tarsus in Cilicia. Saul must have entered into argument with Stephen and came out the worst for it because "...they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake. Act 6:10
Can you imagine that?...Saul being bested in an theological argument? It's speaks much for the power of the Holy Ghost in the life of a believer who has spent time actually studying the word of God! Being unable to resist Stephen they resorted to the usual violence, the weakest trick in the book! If you can't win them beat them up and kill them!!!
Have you ever wondered about the inclusion of the longest address in Acts ? How did it get there? I know Luke wrote but who dictated it? Paul? Was it burned into his mind the day he heard it?
Someone once said "They tried to stamp the fire of God out in Jerusalem, but they scattered the embers all over the world."
Acts 7 became a turning point in the ministry of the church at Jerusalem.
Prior to that it appears that the ministry was confined to Jerusalem.
With the murder of Stephen the persecution began in earnest resulting in many believers being scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.
Funny but it takes my mind back to Act 1:8 where Jesus said: But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
It is possible that the gospel was being spread elsewhere in small measures maybe but the focus was on Jerusalem where things were really happening. Also the big guns of the faith, the apostles, were there! It seems as though even back then people liked to hang around the big names of the ministry.
It also seems as though no one was doing much about the command of Jesus to be witnesses in all Judea and Samaria and the uttermost parts of the earth.
1. IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT YOU START OUT AS. WHAT MATTERS IS THE USE YOU MAKE OF YOUR OPPORTUNITIES.
A deacon (Stephen) stirred up the great controversy in Jerusalem and supplied the igniting spark that exploded the powder of the gospel message all over the world.
Another deacon Philip did some tremendous evangelistic work in Samaria and elsewhere.
Saul (Paul) started out the greatest persecutor of the church...he ended up being the greatest messenger for Christ! Act 9:10-16 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. 11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, 12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. 13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: 14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. 15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: 16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.
2. WE CAN CHOSE TO LIVE A SELFISH LIFE ALONE IN OUR KERNEL OR WE CAN DIE TO SELF SO THAT CHRIST CAN BE REVEALED
Sometimes it seems as though God stirs up the church by "unpleasant experiences" when it becomes complacent and comfortable with the status quo.
Jesus said in John 12:24-25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. 25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
Stephen's death was like that grain of wheat that catalyzed the spread of the gospel. It was not obvious yet but the greatest result of Stephen's death is Saul's salvation and call to the ministry
As can be seen from Luke's account of Stephen's ministry and death Saul never forgot what happened in Jerusalem that day! Acts 22:17-20 And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance; 18 And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me. 19 And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee: 20 And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him.
3. IN OUR PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL THERE SHOULD BE NO DISCRIMINATION OF RACE, CULTURE, CREED OR SOCIETY.
Philip's trip down to Samaria was a decision that went across a culture and race and tradition. John 4:9 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.
There is no place in the gospel of Christ for prejudice, partiality and exclusiveness. it belongs to everyone because Christ died for all...the whole world! We must needs go through Samaria!
Paul wrote: Col 1:21-29 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled 22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: 23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; 24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church: 25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; 26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: 29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. Gal 3:28
4. IN OUR PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL THE FOCUS MUST ALWAYS BE ON CHRIST FOR NO ONE ELSE CAN SAVE!
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Act 4:12
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Joh 14:6
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. 1Ti 2:5-6
