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Persecution of the Church/Ministry of Philip/Simon the Sorcerer/Peter and John Arrives/the Eunuch
The murder of Stephen by the Jewish leaders was a great blow to the church. The church must have felt that it could not afford to lose a man of Stephen’s caliber. As a leader, he exemplified being filled with the Spirit. As an evangelist, he possessed boldness and an eloquence of speech that few at that time could match. Therefore, after his death, “devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made lamentation over him”. Stephen’s death was just the beginning of more persecution to come. The leaders who stoned Stephen turned their vicious wrath against the whole church in Jerusalem. The one in charge of this persecution was a young man named Saul. Saul went throughout the city, house to house rounding up all believers and throwing them in jail. This persecution of death drove thousands out of the city (Jerusalem). Although the Apostles remained in Jerusalem (as they were commanded by Jesus ( Luke 24:46-48; Acts 1:8), those fleeing the persecution spread throughout the region.
While the church was suffering persecution, it is reasonable to presume that the believers felt the cause of Christ was suffering a set back. But in fact the persecution assisted the work of the gospel. Before all the trouble started, the church was almost entirely confined to one place, Jerusalem. By the believers scattering beyond the borders of Jerusalem, the gospel of Jesus Christ went with them. Wherever they went they preached the “gospel”. They won many to Christ who never would have heard the gospel if the church had remained shut up in one city Jerusalem. As a result, the assemblies of believers appeared throughout Judea and Samaria, the first two places that Jesus commanded the Apostles to reach after evangelizing Jerusalem (1:8). Although the persecution made it seem that the forces of evil were winning, the real victor was the church. The persecution was God’s tool for scattering believers and spreading the gospel to new places.
Right after Stephen died, the church must have felt that he was irreplaceable. Was there any one else with the boldness in confronting the lost with the gospel of Christ. But God being all powerful and full of grace, immediately rose up a successor. He was Philip—not Philip the Apostle (John.1:43-44), but Philip one of the seven chosen to help out with the distribution of the food (6:5). When the seven was chosen it was Stephen named first then Philip was named second. Within a short time, Philip brought the gospel message to three new regions. He was the first to preach to the Samaritans (vs.5) with signs and wonders, he then witnessed to an Ethiopian eunuch who was traveling home from Jerusalem. The man believed and took the gospel message back to Africa. Afterward, Philip spread the gospel to cities along the Mediterranean coast. When the Samaritans heard Philip and saw the miracles, all believed with joy. In obedience to the great commission, all who believed were baptized.
Among those listening to Philip was a man named Simon the sorcerer. He claimed to be a great person, and all the people of Samaria believed in him describing him as the “great power of God”. In the days of the early church, sorcerers and magicians were numerous and influential. They worked wonders, performed healings and exorcisms and practiced astrology. Their wonders may simply have been magic tricks or the sorcerers may have been empowered by Satan. Whatever powers Simon had, they could not match the power of the Holy Spirit. He knew that what Philip could do was far beyond the reach of sorcery. When the news of Philip’s success reached Jerusalem, the Apostles decided to send Peter and John on a follow-up mission to Samaria. Upon arriving, Peter and John found that none of the believers had received the Holy Spirit. No doubt they were truly saved, because the Apostles did not seek to rebaptize them. Yet the Holy Spirit had not come to indwell them. To remedy their lack of Spirit, Peter and John laid hands on them, and they immediately received the Holy Spirit. The evil in Simon came to the surface. Seeing the supernatural change in those who received the spirit, his reaction showed that he still had the heart of a sorcerer rather than the heart of a believer. A sorcerer’s driving motive is lust for power. He wanted the power to control people. Now, after his supposed conversion, he envied the Apostles how they communicate the Spirit through the laying on of hands. He wanted the same power for himself. Without the least shame for his arrogance, Simon approached Peter and John as if they were fellow sorcerers. Simon proposed to cut a deal with them, that if they would give him the power to lay hands and give the Spirit, he would pay them handsomely.
Peter being appalled, was quick and blunt in his response. Peter understood exactly what Simon’s problem was. He was not saved. Therefore, unless he repented, he would perish just as his money would perish. Peter counseled Simon to seek the Lord’s forgiveness. Simon’s response shows that he was without guilt or remorse. Instead of admitting that he had done wrong, he said only that he wanted to escape the consequences. But to escape them, he refused to do what Peter commanded. Rather than praying on his own behalf, he asked the Apostles to pray for him. He did not want to humble himself before God and confess his sins. He was still a lost man.
After his triumphant evangelistic campaign in Samaria, an angel of the lord directed Philip to journey south to the road from Jerusalem to Gaza. Gaza was a desert along the coast between Jerusalem and Egypt. Philip went without delay to the appointed place, and saw a chariot coming from Jerusalem. The man in the chariot was reading a scroll out aloud. Philip soon came to realize that the man was of considerable importance. He was a high official in the government of Candace, Queen of the Ethiopian, who committed all of her treasure into his care. He was on the road through Gaza because he was returning home after worshiping at the temple in Jerusalem. His allegiance to the God of the Jews makes it likely that he was a convert to the Jewish religion (a proselyte). As he was returning home he was reading aloud from the scroll of Esaias (Book of Isaiah). With precise timing the Spirit ordered Philip to go to the chariot. Philip was first directed by an angel (vs.26), and then by the Holy Spirit (vs.29).
The text he was reading, was the wonderful prophecy telling that Christ would die in our place to pay the penalty for our sins (Isaiah 53). Philip asked the Eunuch if he understood what he was reading. The Eunuch, replying that he needed a teacher, invited Philip to join him. Philip preached to the Eunuch that the person whom he was reading about was Jesus Christ himself and not Isaiah. The Eunuch, believing the gospel Philip preached wanted to be baptized. After being baptized by Philip the Eunuch went away rejoicing in the Lord and the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away and he was found in the city of Azotus. Azotus was about twenty miles north of Gaza. He than began an evangelistic tour of the coastal cities that took him all the way to Caesarea. Philip probably lived in Caesarea because he was still there twenty years later (Acts 21:8).
Questions/answers:
1. What is a Eunuch?
A eunuch is a male deprived of the testes or external genitals. They were excluded from membership in the congregation of Israel (Deut.23:1). Eunuchs were regarded as especially trustworthy in the ancient near east and thus were frequently employed in royal service.
2. Who was Candace of Ethiopia?
It is generally believed that “Candace” was a title rather than a proper name, though its meaning is uncertain. The title was used by several queens of Ethiopia.
3. Who is Esaias?
Esaias is a transliteration of Greek spelling of Isaiah.
4. Who were the Samaritans?
The Samaritans were a nation with roots going back when the nation of Israel was divided into two kingdoms, a northern and southern. The northern known as the kingdom of Israel, comprised ten of the original twelve tribes. The southern known as the kingdom of Judah, comprised the tribes of Benjamin and Judah. In about 720 B.C. the Assyrian army conquered Israel and carried many of the people into captivity. The Assyrians took people from other nations (Gentiles) and repopulated Israel with these nations. Over time the newcomers intermarried with the Jews that remained, the result being a mixed race known as the Samaritans. They rejected much of the Old Testament, appointed their own priests, and worshiped at their own temple in Samaria rather than in Jerusalem.
5. Where is Azotus?
Azotus is Ashdod one of the ancient Philistine Capital
6. What does it means to be “caught away”?
It suggest more than a mere guidance to another place, rather it speaks of a miraculous and sudden movement. In this case it was a powerful confirmation to the Ethiopian that Philip was God’s representative. There were others who were caught away: Elijah (2 Kings 2:11; Enoch (Gen. 5:24) and Philip (Acts 8:39).
The murder of Stephen by the Jewish leaders was a great blow to the church. The church must have felt that it could not afford to lose a man of Stephen’s caliber. As a leader, he exemplified being filled with the Spirit. As an evangelist, he possessed boldness and an eloquence of speech that few at that time could match. Therefore, after his death, “devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made lamentation over him”. Stephen’s death was just the beginning of more persecution to come. The leaders who stoned Stephen turned their vicious wrath against the whole church in Jerusalem. The one in charge of this persecution was a young man named Saul. Saul went throughout the city, house to house rounding up all believers and throwing them in jail. This persecution of death drove thousands out of the city (Jerusalem). Although the Apostles remained in Jerusalem (as they were commanded by Jesus ( Luke 24:46-48; Acts 1:8), those fleeing the persecution spread throughout the region.
While the church was suffering persecution, it is reasonable to presume that the believers felt the cause of Christ was suffering a set back. But in fact the persecution assisted the work of the gospel. Before all the trouble started, the church was almost entirely confined to one place, Jerusalem. By the believers scattering beyond the borders of Jerusalem, the gospel of Jesus Christ went with them. Wherever they went they preached the “gospel”. They won many to Christ who never would have heard the gospel if the church had remained shut up in one city Jerusalem. As a result, the assemblies of believers appeared throughout Judea and Samaria, the first two places that Jesus commanded the Apostles to reach after evangelizing Jerusalem (1:8). Although the persecution made it seem that the forces of evil were winning, the real victor was the church. The persecution was God’s tool for scattering believers and spreading the gospel to new places.
Right after Stephen died, the church must have felt that he was irreplaceable. Was there any one else with the boldness in confronting the lost with the gospel of Christ. But God being all powerful and full of grace, immediately rose up a successor. He was Philip—not Philip the Apostle (John.1:43-44), but Philip one of the seven chosen to help out with the distribution of the food (6:5). When the seven was chosen it was Stephen named first then Philip was named second. Within a short time, Philip brought the gospel message to three new regions. He was the first to preach to the Samaritans (vs.5) with signs and wonders, he then witnessed to an Ethiopian eunuch who was traveling home from Jerusalem. The man believed and took the gospel message back to Africa. Afterward, Philip spread the gospel to cities along the Mediterranean coast. When the Samaritans heard Philip and saw the miracles, all believed with joy. In obedience to the great commission, all who believed were baptized.
Among those listening to Philip was a man named Simon the sorcerer. He claimed to be a great person, and all the people of Samaria believed in him describing him as the “great power of God”. In the days of the early church, sorcerers and magicians were numerous and influential. They worked wonders, performed healings and exorcisms and practiced astrology. Their wonders may simply have been magic tricks or the sorcerers may have been empowered by Satan. Whatever powers Simon had, they could not match the power of the Holy Spirit. He knew that what Philip could do was far beyond the reach of sorcery. When the news of Philip’s success reached Jerusalem, the Apostles decided to send Peter and John on a follow-up mission to Samaria. Upon arriving, Peter and John found that none of the believers had received the Holy Spirit. No doubt they were truly saved, because the Apostles did not seek to rebaptize them. Yet the Holy Spirit had not come to indwell them. To remedy their lack of Spirit, Peter and John laid hands on them, and they immediately received the Holy Spirit. The evil in Simon came to the surface. Seeing the supernatural change in those who received the spirit, his reaction showed that he still had the heart of a sorcerer rather than the heart of a believer. A sorcerer’s driving motive is lust for power. He wanted the power to control people. Now, after his supposed conversion, he envied the Apostles how they communicate the Spirit through the laying on of hands. He wanted the same power for himself. Without the least shame for his arrogance, Simon approached Peter and John as if they were fellow sorcerers. Simon proposed to cut a deal with them, that if they would give him the power to lay hands and give the Spirit, he would pay them handsomely.
Peter being appalled, was quick and blunt in his response. Peter understood exactly what Simon’s problem was. He was not saved. Therefore, unless he repented, he would perish just as his money would perish. Peter counseled Simon to seek the Lord’s forgiveness. Simon’s response shows that he was without guilt or remorse. Instead of admitting that he had done wrong, he said only that he wanted to escape the consequences. But to escape them, he refused to do what Peter commanded. Rather than praying on his own behalf, he asked the Apostles to pray for him. He did not want to humble himself before God and confess his sins. He was still a lost man.
After his triumphant evangelistic campaign in Samaria, an angel of the lord directed Philip to journey south to the road from Jerusalem to Gaza. Gaza was a desert along the coast between Jerusalem and Egypt. Philip went without delay to the appointed place, and saw a chariot coming from Jerusalem. The man in the chariot was reading a scroll out aloud. Philip soon came to realize that the man was of considerable importance. He was a high official in the government of Candace, Queen of the Ethiopian, who committed all of her treasure into his care. He was on the road through Gaza because he was returning home after worshiping at the temple in Jerusalem. His allegiance to the God of the Jews makes it likely that he was a convert to the Jewish religion (a proselyte). As he was returning home he was reading aloud from the scroll of Esaias (Book of Isaiah). With precise timing the Spirit ordered Philip to go to the chariot. Philip was first directed by an angel (vs.26), and then by the Holy Spirit (vs.29).
The text he was reading, was the wonderful prophecy telling that Christ would die in our place to pay the penalty for our sins (Isaiah 53). Philip asked the Eunuch if he understood what he was reading. The Eunuch, replying that he needed a teacher, invited Philip to join him. Philip preached to the Eunuch that the person whom he was reading about was Jesus Christ himself and not Isaiah. The Eunuch, believing the gospel Philip preached wanted to be baptized. After being baptized by Philip the Eunuch went away rejoicing in the Lord and the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away and he was found in the city of Azotus. Azotus was about twenty miles north of Gaza. He than began an evangelistic tour of the coastal cities that took him all the way to Caesarea. Philip probably lived in Caesarea because he was still there twenty years later (Acts 21:8).
Questions/answers:
1. What is a Eunuch?
A eunuch is a male deprived of the testes or external genitals. They were excluded from membership in the congregation of Israel (Deut.23:1). Eunuchs were regarded as especially trustworthy in the ancient near east and thus were frequently employed in royal service.
2. Who was Candace of Ethiopia?
It is generally believed that “Candace” was a title rather than a proper name, though its meaning is uncertain. The title was used by several queens of Ethiopia.
3. Who is Esaias?
Esaias is a transliteration of Greek spelling of Isaiah.
4. Who were the Samaritans?
The Samaritans were a nation with roots going back when the nation of Israel was divided into two kingdoms, a northern and southern. The northern known as the kingdom of Israel, comprised ten of the original twelve tribes. The southern known as the kingdom of Judah, comprised the tribes of Benjamin and Judah. In about 720 B.C. the Assyrian army conquered Israel and carried many of the people into captivity. The Assyrians took people from other nations (Gentiles) and repopulated Israel with these nations. Over time the newcomers intermarried with the Jews that remained, the result being a mixed race known as the Samaritans. They rejected much of the Old Testament, appointed their own priests, and worshiped at their own temple in Samaria rather than in Jerusalem.
5. Where is Azotus?
Azotus is Ashdod one of the ancient Philistine Capital
6. What does it means to be “caught away”?
It suggest more than a mere guidance to another place, rather it speaks of a miraculous and sudden movement. In this case it was a powerful confirmation to the Ethiopian that Philip was God’s representative. There were others who were caught away: Elijah (2 Kings 2:11; Enoch (Gen. 5:24) and Philip (Acts 8:39).
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