Acts 8:1-25 (Wednesday Evening Bible Study)

Acts 8:1-25

• In Chapter 7 of Acts we saw Stephen falsely accused, then put on trial. The man who looked like he had a face of an angel was stoned to death.  We may wonder what good come from the death of a godly man. We will see the truth of:  Romans 8:28 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  Look for the good God is working as we work through Acts 8:1-25.     
• Background:
  • This act of aggression and murder towards Stephen leads a wider spread of persecution against Christians in Jerusalem. This leads to the second major movement in the Book of Acts. The Gospel moves out of Jerusalem and goes to the Samaritans. 
• Acts 8:1-3
• Saul agreed with putting him to death. On that day a severe persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the land of Judea and Samaria. 2 Devout men buried Stephen and mourned deeply over him. 3 Saul, however, was ravaging the church. He would enter house after house, drag off men and women, and put them in prison.
  • What does this say about Saul?
    • Like Stephen, Saul is a Greek Jew who had immigrated to Jerusalem. We do not know if Saul and Stephen knew one another. Both were zealous over the issue of Jesus.  Stephen saw Jesus as the promised Messiah, where Saul saw Jesus as a false Messiah and His followers as enemies to God and the law.
  • Do you think Saul thought he was following God and doing His will in this matter?
    • Do you think Saul thought Jesus and His followers were threatening the Jewish religion?  
    • See Galatians 1:13-14 &22-23
      • 13 For you have heard about my former way of life in Judaism: I intensely persecuted God’s church and tried to destroy it. 14 I advanced in Judaism beyond many contemporaries among my people, because I was extremely zealous for the traditions of my ancestors…22 I remained personally unknown to the Judean churches that are in Christ. 23 They simply kept hearing, “He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they glorified God because of me.
  • What impact does this persecution have on the church in Jerusalem? See Verse 3
  • Had the Christians moved beyond the city of Jerusalem up to take the gospel elsewhere at this time?
    • The book of Acts does not record it. It is possible that individual Christians carried the gospel to other places. But for the large part the Christians were gathered in Jerusalem.
  • What do the apostles do?  And why?   See multiple choice
    • God told them to stay in Jerusalem.
    • The apostles were not threatened directly. Because the Sanhedrin was satisfied with Stephen’s death.
    • The Persecution was primarily against Greek speaking Jews followed Jesus.
    • All of the above.
  • Can you see how this bad situation is being used by God to do good?
    • Consider what Jesus says in Acts 1:8  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
  • Who is the chief persecutor of the church we see here?
• Acts 8:4-8
• 4 So those who were scattered went on their way preaching the word. 5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah to them. 6 The crowds were all paying attention to what Philip said, as they listened and saw the signs he was performing. 7 For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed, and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. 8 So there was great joy in that city.
  • What did these Christians do once they left Jerusalem?
  • What is so strange about Philip a Jew going to Samaria to proclaim Christ?
    • Consider how did the Jews feel about the Samaritans in genera?
  • So why do you think Philip went there?
    • Just wanted to see that place.
    • Holy Spirit directed Him.
    • Saul would not go there.
  • What accompanied Philip’s preaching?
    • Why was this important? 
• Acts 8:9-13
• 9 A man named Simon had previously practiced sorcery in that city and amazed the Samaritan people, while claiming to be somebody great. 10 They all paid attention to him, from the least of them to the greatest, and they said, “This man is called the Great Power of God.” 11 They were attentive to him because he had amazed them with his sorceries for a long time. 12 But when they believed Philip, as he proclaimed the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. 13 Even Simon himself believed. And after he was baptized, he followed Philip everywhere and was amazed as he observed the signs and great miracles that were being performed.
  • What happened to the people’s allegiance to Simon, “The Great Power”?
  • What is the difference between Philip and Simon and the power they used?
  • How did Simon respond to Philip’s preaching of the gospel?
• Acts 8:14-17
• 14 When the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15 After they went down there, they prayed for them so that the Samaritans might receive the Holy Spirit because he had not yet come down on any of them. 16 (They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 17 Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
  • Why do you think the apostles send John and Peter to Samaria?
    • These two men were the clear leaders of the apostles.
      • They are confirming that the gospel is being accepted.
      • They are making sure these new Christians will be accepted by other Jewish Christians.
      • They need to go, because this is a big deal, so far the church has been centered in Jerusalem.
      • All the above. 
  • Did the Samaritan Christians not receive the Holy Spirit when they responded to the gospel?
    • Consider Acts 2:38 38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
  • Did God not keep His promise to these believers?
    • I doubt it. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is inward and invisible. The words, Spirit had not yet come on any of them… are words used for miraculous Spiritual power. This is often outward and visible.
  • Did Philip have the ability to pass on miraculous Spiritual power?
    • Philip was not an apostle and therefore unable to pass on miraculous gift to others. Remember the apostles had lay their hands on Philip and empowered Him.
  • Who has the ability pass on miraculous Spiritual power in these verses?
    • See verse 17.
  • Note: The Holy Spirit validates the apostles on the day of Pentecost not save them… The first Gentiles will be given a validation from the Spirit prior to their baptism…So the Samaritans receive validation from the Spirit thru the laying on of hands from Peter & John.
• Acts 8:18-25
• 18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me this power also so that anyone I lay hands on may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 But Peter told him, “May your silver be destroyed with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! 21 You have no part or share in this matter, because your heart is not right before God. 22 Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, your heart’s intent may be forgiven. 23 For I see you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by wickedness.” 24 “Pray to the Lord for me,” Simon replied, “so that nothing you have said may happen to me.” 25 So, after they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they traveled back to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.
  • Do you think Simon’s conversion was genuine?
    • Was he just caught up in what was going on… was he trying to attach himself to Philip to gain the power Philip displayed?
    • Or did he believe in the miracles and their power but lacked faith the saving faith in Jesus? 
    • All of the above.
  • What sin did Simon commit in Peter’s presence?
  • How would you describe Peter’s response to Simon’s offer?
  • Do you think Simon was being real when he asked Peter to pray for him? 
  • What do Peter and John do on the way back to Jerusalem?
    • Could this be viewed as an endorsement for what Philip has been doing?
• TAKE AWAY
  • How does this apply to us today?
  • The Christians took the gospel with them…What about us…how well do we do at taking the gospel with us?
  • Do we see what Jesus predicted coming true? 
  • Does God want anyone excluded from the gospel message?
  • Do we still have racial barriers today which might impede the gospel being spread by the church? 
  • Do you see the good coming from this persecution?