Acts 8

We ended Acts 7 with the first words in the Bible about a man who was to be the mentor and companion of the author of this book. Paul, known earlier as Saul, was, after Jesus, and maybe Peter and John, the most significant leader of the church in the first century, certainly in terms of the expansion of the gospel throughout the Mediterranean world. His impact on Christianity goes far beyond those early decades because of his New Testament letters. This great man of faith was once an enemy of the gospel, rather than its champion. This Saul approved of the execution of Stephen. More than that, we are told that he was “ravaging the church,” dragging off men and women, and putting them under arrest.

There was a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem at this time, and this had an important impact on the progress of the Christian message, since it was through this trial that the church began to be scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Everywhere they went, they were preaching the word. What this means is that the very actions that were taken to try to end the Christian movement were the means that led to its dramatic expansion.

The remainder of this chapter tells the story of the growth of this message through Philip, who was one of the seven deacons chosen and ordained in Acts 6. Philip went to the city of Samaria, which was the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel, and a place of great religious confusion for many centuries. The message that he brought there is easily summarized; he “proclaimed to them the Christ.” Jesus as Messiah (Christ) is the message of our faith, and it is a rich message because of all of the centuries of preparation granted to us by God in the Old Testament Scriptures, helping us to see the sufferings and glory of the One who would be the Messiah. There is so much to say about Him, about His person, His divine and human natures, His works, His offices, His future return in judgment and glory, and the way that someone can be counted as being “in Him.” All of this and much more is contained in the concept of proclaiming Christ, and this is what Philip was doing in Samaria.

As we look over the whole of biblical history, there are certain periods of central and objective revelatory events (like the deliverance of Israel from Egypt), that are marked by the speech of God (such as the giving of the Law through Moses), which are then accompanied by authenticating signs, (as in the miracles associated with the leadership of Moses and Joshua during their lives). This is precisely what is happening in the gospels, the book of Acts, and the early letters of the New Testament. People in Samaria not only heard the word of Christ preached by Philip, they saw miraculous signs that authenticated the fact that this new revelation was from God, the same kind of resurrection signs that Jesus did. The result of all of this was that there was much joy in the city. We know from John 4 that there was at least one Samaritan woman who was expecting that the Messiah would come. Now, through the proclamation of Philip, the message of the Christ is bringing joy and new life to many people.

Even in situation of great gospel progress there can be significant spiritual struggles that come upon the church from surprising directions. In the case of this Samaritan mission, we are told the story of a magician who was brought to profess faith, and was baptized. During a visit by Peter and John from Jerusalem, the apostles laid hands upon certain people, and we are told that people “received the Holy Spirit.” Simon wanted to buy this power to give the Spirit to others in this apostolic way that apparently even Philip could not do, and was strongly rebuked by Peter, after which he seemed to repent of his evil request, and asked Peter to pray for him. Simon’s magic and his money were not the way for kingdom progress. The pathway of the faith would come in the preaching of Christ and the kingdom of God, and the baptism of those who believed the message. The attesting signs and miracles that took place in these early decades still move us today, further confirming to our hearts and minds the reality of what was then, a new message.

In the final episode in this chapter, we hear the story of an even more surprising recipient of Christian preaching and water baptism. Philip is sent by an angelic messenger to a place where he meets an Ethiopian official who is reading Isaiah 53, and wondering what it all means. Here is the message of Christ before him in the written Word, but someone is needed to open up these words plainly before His soul. Beginning with that Scripture of a suffering Lamb of God who died for us, Philip is able to bring this man good news about Jesus. Isaiah 53 has been fulfilled. The Lamb that the prophet wrote about so many centuries before has come. He was led to the slaughter with deep humiliation, and justice was denied Him. It would have seemed that this great Servant of the Lord would have had no hope of any future descendants, because His life was taken away from Him, all of this in accord with the words of Isaiah.

Yet Isaiah went on to speak of the great victory of the Lamb who died. This Ethiopian man who heard these words believed, and so many Samaritans believed, and even Saul believed, and in believing they find life in the Name of Jesus, the Messiah. This Jesus who was wounded for our transgressions, has made us sons of the living God in Him. The news of this Messiah is being preached everywhere, and many believe in Him, receive Him, and are baptized. Together we have become the spiritual children of Jesus Christ, and believing, we rejoice, and go forth with the good news of Christ and the kingdom of God.