Acts 8:37

And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. [AND PHILIP SAID, IF THOU BELIEVEST WITH ALL THINE HEART, THOU MAYEST. AND HE ANSWERED AND SAID, I BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE SON OF GOD.] This entire verse is missing in the oldest and best manuscripts - ('Aleph ('), A B C G H, etc.; in the best manuscript of the Vulgate (the Codex Amiatinus of the first hand), in the Peshito Syriac, and in both the Egyptian versions; in Chrysostom also. It must be regarded, therefore, as an interpolation: but certainly it is a very early one; because we find it both in the Greek of Irenaeus and in the Latin version of it, in the second century. We may conclude, therefore, that as the transition from the eunuch's question to the act of baptizing him seemed too abrupt, this verse was added on the margin o...

26-40 Philip was directed to go to a desert. Sometimes God opens a door of opportunity to his ministers in very unlikely places. We should study to do good to those we come into company with by travelling. We should not be so shy of all strangers as some affect to be. As to those of whom we know nothing else, we know this, that they have souls. It is wisdom for men of business to redeem time for holy duties; to fill up every minute with something which will turn to a good account. In reading the word of God, we should often pause, to inquire of whom and of what the sacred writers spake; but especially our thoughts should be employed about the Redeemer. The Ethiopian was convinced by the teaching of the Holy Spirit, of the exact fulfilment of the Scripture, was made to understand the nature of the Messiah's kingdom and salvation, and desired to be numbered among the disciples of Christ....

Verse 37. _I BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE SON OF GOD._] He believed that Jesus, whom Philip preached to him, was THE CHRIST or _Messiah_, and consequently the _Son of God_. This whole verse is omitted by ABCG, several others of the first authority, Erpen's edit. of the _Arabic_, the _Syriac_, the _Coptic,_ _Sahidic, AEthiopic_, and some of the _Slavonic_: almost all the critics declare against it as spurious. _Griesbach_ has left it out of the text; and Professor _White_ in his _Crisews_ says, "Hic versus _certissime_ delendus," _this verse, most assuredly, should be_ _blotted out_. It is found in E, several others of minor importance, and in the _Vulgate_ and _Arabic_. In those MSS. where it is extant it exists in a variety of forms, though the sense is the same....

AND PHILIP SAID ... - This was stated by Philip as the proper qualification for making a profession of religion. The terms are: * “Faith,” that is, a reception of Jesus as a Saviour; yielding the mind to the proper influences of the truths of redemption. See the notes on Mark 16:16. (2)There is required not merely the assent of the understanding, but a surrender of the “heart, the will, the affections,” to the truth of the gospel. As these were the proper qualifications then, so they are now. Nothing less is required; and nothing but this can constitute a proper qualification for the Lord’s Supper. I BELIEVE ... - This profession is more than a professed belief that Jesus was “the Messiah.” The name “Christ” implies that. “I beli

EXPOSITION ACTS 8:1 _There arose on that day _for _at that time there was, _A.V._; in _for _at, _A.V. SAUL WAS CONSENTING TO HIS DEATH. St. Paul's repeated reference to this sad episode in his life is very touching (see Acts 22:2,; 1 Corinthians 15:9; 1 Timothy 1:13). (For the word συνευδοκεῖν_, _to consent, see Acts 22:20; Luke 11:48; Rom 1:32;...

AND PHILIP SAID, IF THOU BELIEVEST WITH ALL THINE HEART, THOU MAYEST,.... Intimating, that if he did not believe, he had no right to that ordinance; though he was a proselyte to the Jewish religion, a serious and devout man, and was employed in a religious way, when Philip came up to him, and was very desirous of being instructed in the knowledge of divine things; and yet notwithstanding all this, he had no right to the ordinance of baptism, unless he had faith in Christ, and made a profession of it; nor would Philip administer it to him without it; from whence it appears, that faith in Christ, and a profession of it, are necessary prerequisites to baptism: and this faith should not be a mere historical and temporary faith, nor a feigned one, but a believing in Christ with the heart unto righteousness; or such a faith by which a soul relinquishes its own righteousness, and looks and goes...

Stephen had been stoned to death; but with his latest breath he prayed for his murderers. Then this chapter begins: Acts 8:1. _And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem, and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles._ Saul, having tasted blood in the murder of Stephen, became more and more furious in his persecution of the Church of Christ at Jerusalem, and the brethren had to escape for their lives. They all did so, except the apostles, who were specially cared for by divine providence. Acts 8:2. _And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentations over him._ As well they might, for his death was a serious loss

AND The best authorities omit v. 37....

ACTS 8:37 _omit verse_ {A} Ver. Acts 8:37 is a Western addition, not found in î45, 74 a A B C 33 81 614 vg syrp, h copsa, bo eth, but is read, with many minor variations, by E, many minuscules, itgig, h vgmss syrh with * copG67 arm. There is no reason why scribes should have omitted the material, if it had originally stood in the text. It should be noted too that to.n VIhsou/n Cristo,n is not a Lukan expression. The formula pisteu,w … Cristo,n was doubtless used by the early church in baptismal ceremonies, and may have been w...

PART II The Witness to Samaria. Saul's Conversion and Peter's Witness in Caesarea. Chapter s 8-12 CHAPTER 8 _ 1. The first great persecution (Acts 8:1)._ 2. The preaching of the scattered believers. Philip in Samaria (Acts 8:4). 3. Events in Samaria (Acts 8:9). 4. The Gospel in many villages of Samaria (Acts 8:25). 5. Philip and the Eunuch (Acts 8:26). The final testimony to the rulers of the people had been given. It was rejected, and the Spirit filled messenger killed. The last offer had therefore been completely rejected