Acts 8:5

Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them.

1. Philip - One of the seven appointed in Acts 6:1-15. The rest of this chapter will focus on the work of Philip - in Samaria and to an Ethiopian.

2. Samaria -

1. Samaritans were considered by faithful Jews, as dogs, half-breeds, who abandoned all rights to the Temple.

2. They were the "stragglers" from the 10 northern tribes that came out of Assyrian captivity and tried to return to Jewish worship.

3. However, they had inter-married, lost the purity of their blood line, and were considered as gentiles.

3. The city of Samaria served as the capital of the northern kingdom, Israel, when the nation was divided following the death of Solomon.

4. Often on the writings of the prophets, the name Samaria was used to represent anyone who had left the covenant. Samaria represented those who had abandoned any pretense of trying to follow the Law of Moses.

5. The Samaritans considered themselves Jews. But they were not allowed to enter the Temple in Jerusalem, so they worshiped in the mount of blessing, Mount Gerizim. See John 4:20-24.