Act 8:8 | KingComments | STEP | We have met Philip before as “one of the seven” deacons ( ). He has faithfully performed his duty as a deacon and thereby obtained “great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus” ( ). As a result, he has now become an evangelist ( ). He preaches in Samaria. The inhabitants of Samaria, the Samaritans, are a mixture of Jews and heathens who have lived in Israel since the transportation of the ten tribes by the Assyrians ( ). At first they were idolaters, but they also began to worship Yahweh, adhering only to the five books of Moses. Because of that mixture they were despised by the true Jews. They had Mount Gerizim as a place of worship in contrast to the Jews who had Jerusalem as a place of worship ( ). Through the preaching of Christ, the new worship comes for them as well, apart from Jerusalem and Mount Gerizim ( ). Philip does not preach a doctrine, but a Person, Christ. Further on in this chapter we read that he is preaching “Jesus” to the eunuch ( ) because he connects to what the eunuch reads. He reads Isaiah 53 and in it the Lord Jesus is presented in His humiliation. By preaching “Christ” in Samaria, Philip connects to the resurrection and glorification of the Lord ( ). The preaching of Philip has great results. One of the reasons for this is that the Lord Himself had already worked in Samaria and that many people already knew Him there, who in turn had become witnesses ( ). Sowing was already done, and harvesting is now possible ( ). The seed of the preaching falls into prepared soil. There is also faith in the coming of the Messiah ( ). Philip can preach Him as already come. Through his preaching there is unity among the crowds. Obedience to God’s Word works unity. Besides hearing the preaching, which is mentioned first, they also see the signs he performs. By the way, in Acts we see that besides the apostles, signs and wonders are only done by Stephen ( ) and Philip ( ). The signs that Philip performs consist of delivering people from spiritual and physical captivity in a wonderful way. They are not called wonders but signs because all these healings refer to the glorified Lord Who thereby underlines and affirms the preached Word ( ). The Christ Who is preached by Philip proves His redemptive and restorative power in these wonders. All these wonders mean that the power to deliver and restore lies with Him. They are a foretaste of the powers of the future age ( ). The fact that the unclean spirits shout out loudly indicates that they are reluctantly leaving their victims, but that they have to because of the higher power of the Lord Jesus. The deliverance from the power of sin through the work of Christ, together with a benevolent deliverance from the consequences of sin, brings great joy. The effect of the preaching of Philip to the eunuch also brings joy ( ). Joy is inextricably connected with the gospel. The angel who announces the birth of the Lord Jesus speaks of “great joy which will be for all the people” ( ). Wherever the Lord Jesus is received, sorrow over sins is followed by joy over the forgiveness thereof ( ). Joy belongs to the kingdom of God ( ) and is part of the fruit of the Spirit ( ).

‏ Acts 8:8

Preaching of Philip in Samaria

We have met Philip before as “one of the seven” deacons (Acts 6:5). He has faithfully performed his duty as a deacon and thereby obtained “great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus” (1Tim 3:13). As a result, he has now become an evangelist (Acts 21:8). He preaches in Samaria.

The inhabitants of Samaria, the Samaritans, are a mixture of Jews and heathens who have lived in Israel since the transportation of the ten tribes by the Assyrians (2Kgs 17:24-41). At first they were idolaters, but they also began to worship Yahweh, adhering only to the five books of Moses. Because of that mixture they were despised by the true Jews. They had Mount Gerizim as a place of worship in contrast to the Jews who had Jerusalem as a place of worship (Jn 4:20). Through the preaching of Christ, the new worship comes for them as well, apart from Jerusalem and Mount Gerizim (Jn 4:21-24).

Philip does not preach a doctrine, but a Person, Christ. Further on in this chapter we read that he is preaching “Jesus” to the eunuch (Acts 8:35) because he connects to what the eunuch reads. He reads Isaiah 53 and in it the Lord Jesus is presented in His humiliation. By preaching “Christ” in Samaria, Philip connects to the resurrection and glorification of the Lord (Acts 2:36).

The preaching of Philip has great results. One of the reasons for this is that the Lord Himself had already worked in Samaria and that many people already knew Him there, who in turn had become witnesses (Jn 4:39). Sowing was already done, and harvesting is now possible (Jn 4:35-38). The seed of the preaching falls into prepared soil. There is also faith in the coming of the Messiah (Jn 4:25). Philip can preach Him as already come.

Through his preaching there is unity among the crowds. Obedience to God’s Word works unity. Besides hearing the preaching, which is mentioned first, they also see the signs he performs. By the way, in Acts we see that besides the apostles, signs and wonders are only done by Stephen (Acts 6:8) and Philip (Acts 8:6). The signs that Philip performs consist of delivering people from spiritual and physical captivity in a wonderful way.

They are not called wonders but signs because all these healings refer to the glorified Lord Who thereby underlines and affirms the preached Word (Mk 16:20). The Christ Who is preached by Philip proves His redemptive and restorative power in these wonders. All these wonders mean that the power to deliver and restore lies with Him. They are a foretaste of the powers of the future age (Heb 6:5). The fact that the unclean spirits shout out loudly indicates that they are reluctantly leaving their victims, but that they have to because of the higher power of the Lord Jesus.

The deliverance from the power of sin through the work of Christ, together with a benevolent deliverance from the consequences of sin, brings great joy. The effect of the preaching of Philip to the eunuch also brings joy (Acts 8:39). Joy is inextricably connected with the gospel. The angel who announces the birth of the Lord Jesus speaks of “great joy which will be for all the people” (Lk 2:10). Wherever the Lord Jesus is received, sorrow over sins is followed by joy over the forgiveness thereof (1Thes 1:6). Joy belongs to the kingdom of God (Rom 14:17) and is part of the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22).