Acts 8
Summary for Acts 8:1-4: 8:1-4 a Saul: Cp. 9:1-2 b; 22:4 c; 26:9-11 d; Gal 1:13-14 e. The result of this great wave of persecution was that all the believers ... were scattered. Rather than having their enthusiasm dampened, however, they simply spread the Good News about Jesus wherever they went.8:7 f cast out ... healed: Miracles often accompany evangelism in Acts (see study note on 3:1-11).
Summary for Acts 8:9-24: 8:9-24 g Simon the sorcerer was a showman, dazzling the people of Samaria and making self-exalting claims. Simon’s attempt to obtain spiritual power through payment gave the name simony to the later corrupt practice of buying and selling ordination to church leadership (cp. 1 Tim 6:9-10 h). Peter strongly rebuked Simon’s wickedness.
Summary for Acts 8:14-17: 8:14-17 i When the apostles sent two of their own to Samaria, it was an amazing step in overcoming prejudice (cp. Matt 10:5 j; Luke 9:52-54 k; John 4:9 l; 8:48 m). Then, it was even more amazing that Peter and John prayed that the new Samaritan believers would receive the Holy Spirit. This event parallels the day of Pentecost in Jerusalem (Acts 2:1-47 n) and marks the spread of the Holy Spirit’s power from Judea to Samaria (1:8 o).
8:24 p Simon recognized the need for Peter to intercede in prayer for him, but it is not clear that he repented and turned from his wickedness. His main concern was apparently to avoid the terrible consequences that Peter predicted when his wicked motives were exposed.
Summary for Acts 8:26-40: 8:26-40 q Philip obeyed the Holy Spirit’s leading and then seized the opportunity to share the message of Good News with a eunuch on the desert road ... from Jerusalem to Gaza. This incident shows Philip’s remarkable effectiveness as a Christian apologist and evangelist in his outreach for Christ and in his commitment to bringing the Good News to all people regardless of social class or ethnicity.
8:27 r In the ancient world, a eunuch was an official, typically castrated, who served in a royal court (see 2 Kgs 9:30-32 s; Esth 1:10 t; 2:3 u, 14-15 v, 21 w; 4:4-5 x). Eunuchs were often scorned by Jews because they could not perpetuate the covenant family, and the law of Moses excluded men who had damaged genitals from the assembly of Israel (Deut 23:1 y; cp. Lev 21:17-23 z), but Isaiah spoke of God’s acceptance of Gentiles and eunuchs (Isa 56:3-8 aa; see also Matt 19:12 ab). In the new covenant, all who have genuine faith have a place among the people of God.
• The eunuch had traveled from Africa to Jerusalem to worship in the Temple, probably for one of the great Jewish festivals.
8:29 ac The Holy Spirit guides the servants of God in where, when, and what to preach, teach, or do (9:15 ad; 10:19-20 ae; 11:12 af; 16:6 ag; 1 Cor 2:13 ah; 1 Pet 1:12 ai).
Summary for Acts 8:32-33: 8:32-33 aj The passage of Scripture was Isa 53:7-8 ak, one of the Servant Songs of Isaiah, a passage that speaks of the suffering servant of the Lord.
Summary for Acts 8:39-40: 8:39-40 al After the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away, Philip continued northward from Azotus (=Ashdod, 1 Sam 5:1-7 am; Neh 13:23-24 an; Isa 20:1 ao) up the coast, preaching in every town along the way until he came to Caesarea, where he settled (Acts 21:8 ap).
• Caesarea Maritima, a major seaport on the Mediterranean, was the seat of Roman government in Judea. It was built by Herod the Great about 22–9 BC and was named to honor Caesar Augustus.
Copyright information for
TNotes