Introduction: Acts 8 contains two events in the life of Philip, most likely another one of the original seven men called deacons. This first section relates how believers were “scattered abroad” after the death of Stephen (see Acts 7) and how Philip went to two very different places.
Prologue: The persecution intensified
Text, Acts 8:1-4, KJV: 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. 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.
--Apostles had been persecuted by religious leaders (chapters 3-5). Apparently there had been some freedom or liberty between then and the martyrdom of Stephen.
-- Second mention of Saul of Tarsus. He had stood by the clothing of the men who stoned Stephen (Acts 7:58). Now he seems to be taking the lead on the persecution of believers.
--Note how the believers are called “the church”, not yet Christians. This title wasn’t given or bestowed on them until later (Acts 11) in Antioch.
--The Resurrection was the key to salvation. Pentecost was the day when the Church began. Now the persecution drove the believers away from Jerusalem “everywhere”!
--A missionary organization translated Mark 16:15 for a previously unreached tribal group as “Upstream, downstream, go everywhere!”
1 Philip’s arrival:
Text, Acts 8:5-8, KJV: 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.
--This Philip was probably not the Apostle with the same name. Like Stephen, he could and did perform miracles (see Acts 6:8). Note the various types of miracles Philip was able to do, from casting out demons to healing various diseases.
--Luke does not state which city in or of Samaria where Philip ministered. Jesus and the disciples had spent some time in Sychar (John 4) and later in another village where they were not at all welcomed (Luke 9:51-56) so the Samaritans may have already known something about Jesus. But now they not only heard but saw what the disciples could do in the power of the Holy Spirit.
2 Philip’s adversary
Text, Acts 8:9-13, KJV: 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: 10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. 11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries. 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.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.
--Simon was a magician who used various means to basically control the people where he lived. The people were greatly deceived by the things Simon used, even saying he was “the great power of God” even though God never used anything “magical”.
--We are not told how many people in this city believed the Gospel. Those who did believe were baptized, following the pattern all the way to Acts 2: they believed first, and then were baptized.
--Luke mentions that women, too, were baptized. The reason is not given but proves the Gospel is for all people and any person who believes may be baptized.
--Simon himself believed but the sincerity of his “belief” has been debated for many years. To be fair, he did at
least follow Philip and did see the miracles Philip could perform by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Could Philip have done any of this by any other means?
--According to some of the interlinear translations, “sorcery” in verse 9 meant “to practice magic”. In verse 11, the word “sorceries” is based on this same word, meaning “magic arts”. I have heard there is another Greek word for “sorceries” which is the basis for our English word “pharmacy” but that isn’t used in this passage. The Samaritans, Simon, and Philip knew exactly what was going on but the Holy Spirit did not permit Luke to describe these things in detail.
3 Philip aided by the apostles
A The apostles ministered to these new believers
Text, Acts 8:14-17, KJV: 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: 15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: 16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
--This is the second time the Holy Spirit came on new believers (Pentecost was the first).
--No mention that these new believers spoke with other tongues. Samaritans were the offspring of many peoples from many lands, perhaps speaking any number of languages, who were forcibly moved into Samaria (the land of the Ten Northern Tribes) after the native Hebrews were carried away by Assyria (2 Kings 17). They had nothing to do with Jews (John 4:9) and there is no mention of any Samaritans at Pentecost (Acts 2:9-11).
--Despite these differences, the Holy Spirit fell on the genuine believers. One can only wonder what Peter and John were thinking after some of the experiences they had endured before. Someone said man makes barriers but God knocks them down.
B The apostles confronted Simon, an alleged believer
Text, Acts 8:18-24, KJV: 18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, 19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. 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. 22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. 23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. 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.
--What was Simon’s motive for asking? Was he sincerely anxious to help others? Or was he only in it for the money or power? He had “bewitched (amazed)” the people beforehand; did he miss the “power” he had once had over them? Perhaps he was trying to fool the apostles Peter and John? Only he and God know for sure.
--Peter promptly challenged Simon and his request. Some translations are quite vivid (Phillips, e.g.,) in trying to convey what could have been Peter’s literal statement.
--Note Peter’s recommendations (commands?): Repent of your wickedness (how did Peter know this?) and then pray for forgiveness. He also perceived Simon was suffering from bitterness and “iniquity”, but Peter didn’t elaborate further.
--Simon’s reply is not easy to understand. He asked Peter (and John? And others?) that nothing they had spoken of would happen (again not specified). If he was a genuine believer, he was new in the faith, and may not have known exactly what to do or how to ask. He could also have known exactly what he was doing, and why, and was simply sorry he was caught or called out. Again, only he and the Lord know for sure.
--This is still a warning for every believer: God knows the heart and will make it clear to us not if but when we do something that doesn’t square or match with His will for us.
Conclusion: The preaching of the Word continued
Text, Acts 8:25, KJV: 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.
--“They” here most likely means or refers to Peter and John. Note how they preached the Gospel in many of the Samaritans’ villages.
--Nothing more is said of Simon or the believers here. We pray they remained faithful to the Lord even to the point of death (Rev. 2:10).
--Philip’s story doesn’t stop here. In the next portion of this chapter, Luke describes a much different type of ministry to a specific person.
Epilogue: the Gospel was beginning to spread in many directions from Jerusalem as a result of the persecution rising after Stephen’s death. Philip went to Samaria and led many people to faith in the Lord. Other things happened and we all should take notice.
The same God Who worked with disciples in those days wishes to work with us in these days!
Scripture quotations were taken from the King James Version of the Bible (KJV).
