THE BOOK OF ACTS. CHAPTER. OUTLINE AND COMMENTARY. MARK DUNAGAN I. OUTLINE OF CHAPTER 8: I. Persecution Against The Church: Acts 8:1 II. Philip Preaches In Samaria: Acts 8:5-13 III. Peter And John/Simon's Request and Rebuke: Acts 8:14-25 IV. Philip Preaches To The Eunuch: Acts 8:26-40 II. INT... [ Continue Reading ]
And Saul was consenting unto his death. And there arose on that day. great persecution against the church which was in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. 'CONSENTING'-4909. suneudokeo soon-yoo-dok-eh'-o; from 4862 and 210... [ Continue Reading ]
And devout men buried Stephen, and made great lamentation over him. 'DEVOUT'-2126. eulabes yoo-lab-ace'; from 2095 and 2983; taking well (carefully), i.e. circumspect (religiously, pious): -devout. -The word is used for very religious minded non-Christians (Acts 2:5; Acts 10:1). This expression co... [ Continue Reading ]
But Saul laid waste the church, entering into every house, and dragging men and women committed them to prison. 'LAID WASTE'-3075. lumainomai loo-mah'-ee-nom-ahee; middle voice from. probably derivative of 3089 (meaning filth); properly, to soil, i.e. (figuratively) insult (maltreat): -make havock... [ Continue Reading ]
They therefore that were scattered abroad, went about preaching the word. 'WENT ABOUT PREACHING THE WORD'-And future passages reveal that such preaching resulted in great success (Acts 11:19 ff). Points to Note: 'as they fled, far from going into hiding, or even maintaining. prudential silence, p... [ Continue Reading ]
And Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and proclaimed unto them the Christ. 'PHILIP'-This is Philip, one of the seven, for all the apostles stayed in Jerusalem (Acts 8:1). In addition, if this had been Philip the apostle, the Holy Spirit could have been imparted by his hands, instead of havin... [ Continue Reading ]
And the multitudes gave heed with one accord unto the things that were spoken by Philip, when they heard, and saw the signs which he did. 'GAVE HEED WITH ONE ACCORD'-'unanimously attended' (Ber); 'attended like one man' (Mof). 'AND SAW THE SIGNS WHICH HE DID'-Once again stressing that the miracles... [ Continue Reading ]
For from many of those that had unclean spirits, they came out, crying with. loud voice: and many that were palsied, and that were lame, were healed. 'CRYING WITH. LOUD VOICE'-The demons had cried out and confessed the Deity of Christ (Mark 3:11; Luke 4:41). But this may have been. cry of anguish o... [ Continue Reading ]
And there was much joy in that city. 'MUCH JOY IN THAT CITY'-Joy resulted because so many had been liberated from demon possession, cruel physical illnesses and their own sins. Notice how the gospel message didn't bring an atmosphere of gloom and doom to those who obeyed it (Acts 8:39; Acts 16:34).... [ Continue Reading ]
But there was. certain man, Simon by name, who beforetime in the city used sorcery, and amazed the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: 'CERTAIN MAN'-A real person. 'SIMON BY NAME'-Simon was. very common name among the Jews. 'The early church fathers have written much abo... [ Continue Reading ]
to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is that power of God which is called Great. 'FROM THE LEAST TO THE GREATEST'-'people of all classes' (Wey); 'All classes flocked to him' (Rieu). Point to Note: Consider how Simon not only fooled the common people, but al... [ Continue Reading ]
And they gave heed to him, because that of long time he had amazed them with his sorceries. 'GAVE HEED TO HIM'-Apparently believing that he was also the channel for Divine revelation. 'THAT OF LONG TIME..'-Evidently Simon had made. good living for himself in Samaria. 'SORCERIES'-3095. mageia mag-... [ Continue Reading ]
But when they believed Philip preaching good tidings concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 'BUT WHEN THEY BELIEVED PHILIP'-People who had been giving Simon their attention now give Philip their attention and obedience. Point to Note: Mc... [ Continue Reading ]
And Simon also himself believed: and being baptized, he continued with Philip; and beholding signs and great miracles wrought, he was amazed. 'SIMON HIMSELF BELIEVED'- Points to Note: 'His amazement (and belief) is proof that he saw, as the people did, the distinction between miracles and his own... [ Continue Reading ]
Now when the apostles that were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: 'JOHN'-'John, with his brother James, had once suggested that they should..bring down fire from heaven on. Samaritan community, for its inhospitable behaviour to their M... [ Continue Reading ]
who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit:... [ Continue Reading ]
for as yet it was fallen upon none of them: only they had been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 'THEY WERE COME DOWN'-'This is the usual language for someone leaving Jerusalem, for this required the traveler to descend ("go down")..Samaria actually is north of Jerusalem, but it is still "d... [ Continue Reading ]
Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. Point to Note: Consider the simplicity of the above text. The apostles prayed for these Christians and then laid their hands on them. If one could impart the ability to work the miraculous, hours or days of prayer weren't neede... [ Continue Reading ]
Now when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, 'SAW'-Which suggests that some visible evidence that people had received the Spirit was easily seen, i.e. the people that the Apostles laid their hands on were able to speak in ton... [ Continue Reading ]
saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever. lay my hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit. 'GIVE ME ALSO THIS POWER'-Notice that Simon didn't merely want some spiritual gift. Rather, he wanted the power to impart the spiritual gifts. Indicating that Simon wished to remain in. position of in... [ Continue Reading ]
But Peter said unto him, Thy silver perish with thee, because thou hast thought to obtain the gift of God with money. 'PERISH WITH THEE'-'This rather startling statement is expressive of the horror and indignation of Peter at the base offer of Simon.' (Reese p. 326) 'Lit., be along with thee unto d... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right before God. 'PART NOR LOT'-'You have no share or part' (TCNT) 'IN THIS MATTER'-Not in the matter of salvation, as previously noted. But rather in the matter under consideration, i.e. the spiritual gifts. 'FOR THY HEART IS N... [ Continue Reading ]
Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray the Lord, if perhaps the thought of thy heart shall be forgiven thee. 'REPENT THEREFORE'-The command to repent infers: (a) Simon can change, he isn't inherently depraved. Simon still has freewill. (b) His heart can once again become right with God. H... [ Continue Reading ]
For. see that thou art in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity. 'I SEE'-Even non-miraculous insight could tell that Simon's motives weren't pure. (Matthew 15:18 'But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart..'). 'GALL OF BITTERNESS'-5521. chole khol-ay'; feminine... [ Continue Reading ]
And Simon answered and said, Pray ye for me to the Lord, that none of the things which ye have spoken come upon me. 'PRAY YE FOR ME TO THE LORD'-Now many writers at this point assert that this response by Simon is proof that he was being hypocritical or insincere. Stott says, 'Simon's response to P... [ Continue Reading ]
'Palsy'. Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia Of The Bible. p. 587.... [ Continue Reading ]
But an angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza: the same is desert. 'BUT'-'The tense of the verbs in the preceding verse and here implies that the events that follow synchronized with the journey of Peter and... [ Continue Reading ]
And he arose and went: and behold,. man of Ethiopia,. eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure, who had come to Jerusalem to worship; 'HE AROSE AND WENT'-Note the prompt obedience. 'A MAN OF ETHIOPIA'-'The "Ethiopia" of those days corresponded... [ Continue Reading ]
and he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah. 'RETURNING'-Heading back home. 'SITTING IN HIS CHARIOT'-We are told later that this chariot had. driver (Acts 8:38). 'READING THE PROPHET ISAIAH'-At some point in his life he had purchased. manuscript of Isaiah.... [ Continue Reading ]
And the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. 'THE SPIRIT'-The Holy Spirit. 'GO NEAR, AND JOIN THYSELF TO THIS CHARIOT'- Points to Note: 'There are many people today who think that conversion is achieved by the direct action of the Holy Spirit on the heart (mind) of... [ Continue Reading ]
And Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? 'PHILIP RAN TO HIM'-Eagerness, prompt obedience,. soul was at stake. 'HEARD HIM READING'-'Reading in ancient times was almost invariably aloud. Why this should be so will be apparent to... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said, How can I, except some one shall guide me? And he besought Philip to come up and sit with him. 'HOW. CAN, EXCEPT SOME ONE SHALL GUIDE ME?'-'shall show me the way' (Mon) 'The humility and thirst for instruction of this great courtier are very remarkable..' (P.P. Comm. p. 254) 'he acknow... [ Continue Reading ]
Now the passage of the Scripture which he was reading was this, He was led as. sheep to the slaughter; And as. lamb before his shearer is dumb, So he openeth not his mouth: 'WAS THIS'-Notice the detail. We know exactly where in Isaiah the eunuch had been reading from. Before we proceed, again let u... [ Continue Reading ]
In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: His generation who shall declare? For his life is taken from the earth. 'IN HIS HUMILIATION HIS JUDGEMENT WAS TAKEN AWAY'-This is the Septuagint rendering of Isaiah 2:8. The NASV of Isaiah 2:8. translated from the Hebrew reads, 'By oppression and judg... [ Continue Reading ]
And the eunuch answered Philip, and said,. pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other? 'I PRAY THEE'-'Please tell me' (NASV). 'OF WHOM SPEAKETH THE PROPHET..'-At this point we encounter something somewhat humorous in our own times. That is, many "religious experts... [ Continue Reading ]
And Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, preached unto him Jesus. 'BEGINNING FROM THIS SCRIPTURE'-Note that the angel and Spirit speaking to Philip were supernatural events. But the exact place that the eunuch was reading from wasn't. In addition, the eunuch will believe what... [ Continue Reading ]
And as they went on the way, they came unto. certain water; and the eunuch saith, Behold, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 'AND AS THEY WENT ON THE WAY'-Inferring that this 'bible study' may have taken some time. 'UNTO. CERTAIN WATER'-McGarvey notes that along this road various p... [ Continue Reading ]
[And Philip said, If thou believest with all thy heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said,. believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.] Point to Note: In the NASV this verse is in brackets, and the note in the side reference says, 'Many mss. (manuscripts) do not contain this verse.' Those bei... [ Continue Reading ]
And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. 'HE COMMANDED THE CHARIOT TO STAND STILL'-The chariot had. driver. The last person mentioned in Acts 8:37 is the eunuch, therefore it was the eunuch who issued the c... [ Continue Reading ]
And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip; and the eunuch saw him no more, for he went on his way rejoicing. 'CAME UP OUT OF THE WATER'-The particular mode of baptism demanded that they go down into the water to accomplish this act, and they exited the water... [ Continue Reading ]
But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached the gospel to all the cities, till he came to Caesarea. 'FOUND'-May suggest that Philip next found himself in the city of Azotus, i.e. the end destination of his being "caught away". Or, it may mean that the next place where Philip pre... [ Continue Reading ]