Teach It!

Teach It!

Acts 8

Introduction

Sometimes people describe a relationship with God as “better felt than told” - but as we read the Scriptures we see that people were teaching the Gospel at every opportunity. This often resulted in people becoming followers of Jesus. 3,000 did in Acts 2, and in today’s text we see that as the Gospel is taught, it opens doors for people to say ‘Yes’ to Jesus!

In our look at the book of Acts we have talked about the Gospel of Jesus and what to do with it! Tell it! The Apostles were instructed to tell it in ever-widening circles. Give it! Peter and John gave what they had and changed a beggar’s life! Live it! Barnabas models the concern and care that was so obvious in the early church. Teach It! Philip is called ‘The Evangelist’ and we want to see how he teaches in Acts 8, but first we want to know a little about him.

Acts 8 begins with the distressing news that persecution against the church has broken out (Acts 8:1-3).

Acts 8:1-3

And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.

Stephen has been stoned. Saul of Tarsus is the catalyst of persecution - looking for opportunities to stamp out the Jesus people. Bravely, those who were scattered went out preaching! (8:4 Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.).

Acts 8 follows the actions of a man named Philip. Philip was one of the seven deacons appointed to care for the Grecian widows. He is described in Acts 6:3 as one of the “men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom”. His ministry in a city in Samaria was accompanied by miraculous signs - exorcisms, healing of the lame - which resulted in much joy among the people!

Acts 8:5-8

Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs that he did. For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was much joy in that city.

Luke tells us of two encounters Philip had in his ministry of teaching.

1. The Encounter With Simon The Magician (Acts 8:9-25)

Acts 9:9-11

But there was a man named Simon, who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was somebody great. They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the power of God that is called Great.” And they paid attention to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic.

Simon the magician was well known - people said he was somebody great. His skills of magic had them believing he was empowered by God! He had been there a long time (vs 11). Magician Jerry Andrus said, "If I don't fool you, I'm not doing my job as a magician." Simon appeared to be someone with amazing powers. Philip’s miracles made Simon’s look hokey - and they believed! Philip’s spiritual gifts and his teaching led people to the Lord.

Acts 8:12-13 - even the magician was amazed!

But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed.

Accounts of Philip’s teaching and the reception of it reached back to Jerusalem and Apostles Peter and John came to pray for them to receive the Holy Spirit. (14-15)

Acts 8:14-17

Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.

This erupts in several directions for commentators and theologians. If they were baptized, they should have received the Spirit as promised. Bruce: “In general, it seems to be assumed in NT that those who believe and are baptized have also the Spirit of God.” Yet, apparently not in this unique case. The Jews and Samaritans typically hated one another. Willimon writes, “…The Samaritans were considered by many Jews to be racially impure and religiously inferior, they did worship Israel’s God, observed Moses’ laws, and looked forward to the arrival of a messianic figure.” This episode demonstrates at least two things: