Acts 8 - Introduction

Biblical Examples Of Conversion Acts Eight

In Acts chapter eight we begin to observe the spread of the gospel into Judea and Samaria. Jesus had said, "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." (Acts 1:8) As this chapter begins we learn that Saul was present giving his approval to Stephen's death. The death of Stephen was the beginning of the third Jewish persecution. Saul was prominent in this persecution. He drug Christians from their homes and put them into prison. (Acts 8:3)

This persecution led to the church being scattered. "They that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word." (Acts 8:4) The apostles remained at Jerusalem and other Christians went every where preaching the word. Persecution must never keep us from our work, but it can possibly cause us to work somewhere else.

Those that know the gospel and have Christ in their lives cannot be put to silence. "Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them." (Acts 8:5) Many Samaritans believed and were baptized. Simon was among that number. Peter and John went to Samaria and passed on spiritual gifts by laying on of hands. Simon tried to buy the power to be able to do the same. Peter told him that his heart was not right in the sight of God. He encouraged Simon to repent and pray to God for forgiveness.

Following the great events in Samaria Philip was told to go down on the road from Jerusalem and Gaza. There he met the treasurer of Queen Candace of Ethiopia. The man was reading a passage from Isaiah 53:1-12 but he did not understand what he read. He invited Philip to teach him concerning this Scripture. Philip proceeded to preach Jesus to him. (Acts 8:35) When they came to a certain water, the eunuch desired to be baptized. Upon a simple confession of faith in Jesus he was baptized into Christ. The eunuch came up out of the water rejoicing as a saved man. Philip came up to continue to preach Jesus to others. (Acts 8:39-40)