THE GOSPEL SPREADS THROUGH PERSECUTION

Acts 8:1-40

Key Verse: 8:4

 

“Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.”

 

Read verses 1-3. What happened to the church at Jerusalem after Stephen’s martyrdom?  Describe the two responses to Stephen’s martyrdom in verses 2-3. Who is Saul?

-Great persecution broke out and the church was being destroyed.  They didn’t plot the death of those who killed him.  Yet, Saul’s anger and hatred grew after the killing Stephen.

-In vs. 2 we see that godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him.  In vs. 3 on the other side of the spectrum, we see Saul destroying the church, going from house to house, he dragged off man and women and put them in prison.

-Saul was a Pharisee. He was trained under Gamaliel 

 

Read verses 4-8. What did the scattered believers do? Why? Who was Phillip? What did he do? How did God bless his ministry? What was being accomplished through the persecution? (Acts 1:8)

 -They preached the word wherever they went.  It was Jesus ‘command to preach in early Acts.  

-This Philip was one of the seven mentioned in overseeing the food distribution matter.  

-Great joy was the result of his preaching, much healing.

-Christ proclaimed that evil spirits would depart.  They all paid close attention.  They were listening to every word.  They were well prepared by the Samaritan woman.  

- vs.4 is the beginning of the fulfillment of what was said in Acts 1:8.  They started to scatter, started to leave Jerusalem.

Read verses 9-13. Who was Simon? What message did Philip deliver? How did people respond?

-A man who had become popular in practicing sorcery in Samaria.

-Philip preached the message of the kingdom of God.  Many believed and were baptized. 

-In response to Peters message People followed Philip, and were baptized.  Probably many of them were former followers of Simon.

-Even Simon was baptized.

 

Read verses 14-17. How did the apostles in Jerusalem react to the news of God’s work in Samaria? How did God bless the Samaritan believers through them? What can we learn here about God’s way of working?

-The sent Peter and John to observe the mission field in Samaria.

-They prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit, since the Holy Spirit had not yet been given to any of them.  

-Here we see a good demonstration of team working from the apostles. They went to investigate the work that took place. They assumed the responsibility of verifying the work of God, which took place. 

Read verses 18-25. What does Simon’s request reveal about his hidden motive? How did Peter deal with Simon? 

-Simon was excited about the prospects of popularity. He was following Philip, and even though he was baptized, he probably didn’t have the right motive for following them. Although Simon showed interest in what Philip was talking about, it was basically because he really wanted to open a Christian franchise.

-Simon was full of bitterness. all of a sudden he had became a nobody.  Wanting to buy the ability to give others the Holy Spirit is basically a reflection of his desire money and his desire for popularity as he had been before.  He had no real spiritual interest pertaining the ministry of advancing the gospel of Jesus.  This is seen in vs. 18-21.  

Read verses 26-29. Why did Philip leave a growing ministry in Samaria? Who did he meet? Think about Philip’s ready obedience to the Holy Spirit. How important is one man to God?

 

-He did so because of God’s direction, an angel

-He met an Ethiopian Eunuch.

-An official in charge of the treasury of Candice, he took Philip away from a city to meet with a Eunuch.

  

Read verses 30-40. What was the spiritual condition of the Ethiopian eunuch? How did Philip help him? What was the result? What did Philip continue to do?

-Searching and curious, he had gone to Jerusalem to worship, he apparently 

-From that passage, Philip addressed the Eunuch at the very passage where he was.  He didn’t talk about different things.

-The Eunuch was baptized,

-Philip continued preaching to wherever the Lord sent him.  Preaching the gospel where every he was.