ACTS 8. The book in his hand. V .28 His study: The Word of God The theme of his meditation: The Son of God Teacher of the passage: The Holy Spirit of God through Philip [1Cor.2:12] The desire of his heart. V.31-35 Understanding Knowledge Understand Him [1Jn.5:20] The object in his eye. V.37 His attention fixed on Christ Captivated Converted [Isa.45:22] The confession on his lips. V.37 No hesitation Knew Christ in the heart Confess [Rom.10:9-10] The companion in his chariot. V.31 One who knew the Lord Guided by the Spirit Experienced the Lord’s presence The identification with Christ by baptism. V.36-39 One with Christ Death, burial and resurrection New life in Christ The joy in his soul. V.39 Relief of forgiveness Presence of the Lord Assurance of the future
ACTS 8. Scattering We sometimes wonder why God allows the persecution of Christians to continue. In some cases, it goes on for a lifetime, and in others of the Lord’s people, it may come when they publicly testify to the grace of God in saving them. Some people may secretly think that God doesn’t know about what they are going through and that maybe He isn’t aware of how hard it is to take the opposition and persecution that comes from unexpected sources. Neither enduring persecution nor soul-winning is easy. There are likely many more positive reasons behind what God allows in His sovereign dealing with people than we will ever know or need to know.
Persecution is not an unmixed evil, v.1-5. It is possible for believers to settle into a comfortable situation and forget about the “regions beyond.” Our Lord Jesus Christ commissioned His own to go forward into the whole world and preach the Gospel. The persecution of believers at Jerusalem became severe after Stephen was stoned to death because many people became convinced of their need for a Savior when they saw the face and faith of Stephen. Saul of Tarsus became a “front-line” persecutor of the believers because he saw them as a threat to historical Judaism. Consequently, the believers scattered to different cities in different countries, taking the good seed of the Gospel with them. It wasn’t long before their testimony to God's saving grace began to bear fruitful results in many places to the glory of God.
The need for Christ’s Gospel in every city, v.5-11. The Samaritans had been despised by the Jews because of the racial mixture of those who lived there. The Gospel of Christ is not limited to race, culture, or creed. “God commands all men everywhere to repent.” The last message of the Gospel in Revelation 22:17 is to “whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Philip, the evangelist, was not hesitant to preach Christ in Samaria, and the results were so great that the whole city was positively affected. To some, it may not have been a promising place to preach because of the unclean spirits, sorceries, and culture of darkness that existed there. But it was one place the Lord Jesus specifically mentioned to go to and preach the Gospel. The grace of God and the blessings of the Gospel changed their darkness into light. The power of Satan was overcome by the power of God. The joy of souls emancipated from the power of sin changed the whole social culture of Samaria.
All Believers receive the Holy Spirit, v.14-17. As a community, many Samaritans received “the word of God” when Philip obeyed the words of the Lord Jesus Christ to be “witnesses unto Me in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the uttermost parts of the earth.” Those who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ had been converted, so had received the indwelling Holy Spirit, but had not been empowered by the Holy Spirit for testimony and service. When Peter and John came to Samaria, those who had been saved received the power of the Spirit for service. Because of that power, they, too, were witnesses for the Lord and spread the Gospel.
The Power of God does not come from man, v.18-25. Simon, the sorcerer in Samaria, made the same mistake many do today. They think they are Christians because they know the right words to say and know a lot about the Bible. The things they do and say that are right make them think they can earn acceptance with God. The Holy Spirit’s power is not some reward for what a person does or for faithful service. He is God’s gift when we are saved by grace alone. He is the “earnest” of all that is before us. Clever, educated, charismatic personalities may seem to be Spirit-filled people. Still, it is those who are weak in themselves and who put their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, are those who believe, receive and appreciate the Gift of the Holy Spirit.
ACTS 8. Soul-winning. There are a number of testimonies given in the next part of the book of Acts that illustrate the power and far-reaching effects of the Gospel as the Spirit of God works in salvation. An important official of an African nation teaches us that a seeking sinner and a seeking Savior always meet. It may be in an unusual way and place, but the word of God gives an understanding of the truth. An angry, bitter Jewish Pharisee named Saul, who openly opposed the Gospel and all who believed it, was stopped, repented, and believed in the Lord Jesus Christ without any other person involved in his salvation experience. A Roman soldier who was an honorable person in life and earnest in his desire to know God was heard by God when he prayed even though he was an unbeliever. God arranges things with His servants to further the good news of salvation in a way suitable to everyone. There is no template or formula that suits every person who is an honest seeker of salvation from sin.
Anxiety of soul, v.27-28. Simple curiosity is far different than anxious, earnest inquiry. When people are willing to lay everything else aside and seek the Lord with all their hearts, they will make an effort to find the answers they need. A government official from Ethiopia went to Jerusalem to worship as an earnest seeker of God. In Jerusalem he was able to hear what people said about God, but when he searched the scriptures, he was able to see by the eyes of faith with the light of understanding. When a person seeks God with all their heart, they will find Him.
Obedience to God, v.26-27. A true servant of God, like Philip, desires to do the will of God, even when he may not understand the purpose behind what God is doing. Philip had been in the middle of an exciting, city-wide spiritual revival when he got the call from God to go to the desert. As a true servant, he left what he was doing for the desert, not unlike Abraham when he went out, “Not knowing whither he went.” The Holy Spirit was working in conviction in the heart of the Ethiopian eunuch, and also in the heart of the evangelist, Philip. “It is God who works in you to will and to do of His good pleasure.” He acts in grace to create in His servant a desire to bring about the results the Master desires. The Lord uses those who are filled with the Spirit to be co-workers with Him.
Enthusiasm for souls, v.29-30. “Philip ran to him.” When we see one who is so earnest in seeking God that they are reading the Bible out loud, a soul-winner is not slow to engage in conversation directly related to the way of salvation. We have to be where people are to know what they are thinking and what is important to them. We are fellows-travelers to eternity and need people to know we care for them. We are experiencing the journey too. We have found the “narrow gate” and know “neither is there salvation in any other.” Our Lord Jesus is “The Way,” and when we are on the narrow way, we are with Him. God uses whatever means or whoever is available to reach seeking souls. It pleases Him to allow us to be “workers together with Him.”
Faithfulness to the Bible, v.33-35. The Ethiopian eunuch was reading Isaiah 53, which was a very significant place for Philip, guided by the Holy Spirit, to “preach unto him Jesus.” Some people who are only students of the Bible miss the message of the Gospel in their reading. They are looking for the teaching of the Bible rather than for the God of the Bible. When an unbeliever is reading the Bible looking for light in his dark soul, he is not needing profound explanations of the text. He needs to know the Person speaking to him from the scriptures. The wise evangelist knew the word of God, not just the doctrine and explanation of the truth. Philip introduced the Ethiopian man to Jesus to meet the needs of his soul.
Readiness to Confess. “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” The Gospel, preached clearly by a Spirit-led evangelist, was heard and believed, and the man was saved. When a person is saved, change from within happens first because of the new nature imparted by the spiritual new birth. That change soon is seen outwardly. The Ethiopian man wanted to publicly testify to what had happened to him. Cut off from past religious beliefs and practices because of new life; he wanted to make it public that he was redeemed and in the family of God. Faith within is accompanied by public confession of faith.
Happiness in Christ, v.39. Rejoicing in being free from the bondage of sin and guilt, as well as knowing we are right with God, is a result of trusting in Christ. Being justified by faith, and having peace with God, go together. Darkness in the soul is dispelled by divine light, and the fear of death is replaced by the joy of eternal life. Instead of scheming and plotting, the Ethiopian went on his way rejoicing in Christ and was likely a great blessing to others. When he would have been told what it means to be forgiven of sins by One who died for him, it would have been a point of interest. When he told other people that Jesus was raised from the dead and was seen by many witnesses after His resurrection, that would have made an impact on hearers coming from a high government official. He was saved through the preaching of “Jesus” and was accepted by God, so doubtless it was true that this rejoicing man told others of Jesus.
SUBMISSION TO THE LORDSHIP OF CHRIST