Stephen is stoned and in Acts 8:1 “on that day (there was) a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem”. But this persecution didn’t stop the gospel, in fact, it caused it to spread as in Acts 8:4 “Now those who had been scattered went about proclaiming the good news of the word”. Philip, not the apostle, but Stephens colleague, is received in Samaria and then in Acts 8:26 an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Get up and go”. Philip finds one man seeking to understand the scriptures. This Ethiopian Eunuch is a key convert headed back to his nation. The power of the gospel has now been seen in Stephen and Philip and others who had been scattered, not just in the apostles and not just in Jerusalem.
Heaven is My Throne
Acts 7:48-53
I See the Heavens Opened
Proclaiming the Good News of the Word
Acts 8:1-8
At the murder of Stephen, the believers in Jerusalem were scattered. The natural reaction to what is called in Acts 8:1 “on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem”, is that everyone would run in fear. And there may have been fear, but read the account carefully, it says the apostles stayed in Jerusalem in Acts 8:1 and “they were all scattered” but now look at
Acts 8:4 “Now those who had been scattered went about proclaiming the good news of the word”.
It doesn’t say they were running for their lives, it says they “went about proclaiming the good news of the word”. Then we find the account of Philip in
Acts 8:5 “And Philip came down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming the Christ to them”.
And it seems this is “not the apostle of that name … It was the deacon of that name, who comes next after Stephen in the catalogue of the seven, probably as being the next most prominent. The persecution may have been directed especially against Stephen’s colleagues [MEYER]”1
This Man is the Power of God
Acts 8:9-17
Your Heart is Not Right Before God
Get Up and Go
Acts 8:26-31
This is not the description of one that is running from persecution or is in fear for his life, instead we find that in
Acts 8:26 Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Get up and go toward the south on the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is a desert road.)
Then, as Philip came close in
Acts 8:29 And the Spirit said to Philip, “Approach and join this chariot.”
and Philip finds a man with questions in
Acts 8:31 And he (the Eunuch) said, “So how could I (understand), unless someone will guide me?”
Philip is there, led by the Holy Spirit, in direct response to the heart cry of this man for understanding. The Eunuch wanted someone to guide him.
This account is also important because “the Ethiopian is ‘a very strong representative of foreignness within a Jewish context. He comes from the edge of the known world, of the black race, is a castrated male, and probably a Gentile.’ The prohibition against admitting eunuchs into the assembly of the Lord (Dt. 23:1) makes it unlikely that he was a Jewish proselyte in the full sense. However, he was certainly devout and God-fearing, having journeyed to Jerusalem to worship the God of Israel … (and) forms part of the gradual progress of the church towards the Gentiles’2
Travel by chariot is different than travel today. Horses, the usual draft animal would need to rest regularly and on a journey as the Ethiopian Eunuch was making, they might travel thirty miles in a day. This might be at a speed of three to five miles an hour. Walking speed for a man is about three miles per hour so Philip meeting this man at the right time on the road is in itself miraculous.
What Prevents Me From Being Baptized?
Acts 8:32-40
Philip gives us an example of an evangelist at work. Philip doesn’t use a canned presentation, although these can be helpful for us as we learn the key points of the gospel. Instead, Philip begins with the scripture the Eunuch is reading. Philip begins in Acts 8:35 by answering the question the Eunuch asks in
Acts 8:34 And the eunuch answered and said to Philip, “I ask you, about whom does the prophet say this—about himself or about someone else?”
We also find that Peter is not pushing the Eunuch to be baptized, instead, Philip is presenting the scripture to him and allowing the Eunuch to ask for baptism as the understanding of its importance dawns on him. Then, as the Eunuch is baptized, Philip leaves the scene and is no longer the focus of the Eunuch’s attention as it says in
Acts 8:39 And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him any longer, for he went on his way rejoicing.
Now the Eunuch is rejoicing in the Lord.
Study Verses
- Acts 8:1-8 Proclaiming the Good News of the Word
- Acts 8:26-31 Get Up and Go
- Acts 8:32-40 What Prevents Me From Being Baptized?
Today’s Reading
- Acts 7:48-60
- Acts 8:1-40
References
- 1. Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 2, p. 181). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
- 2. Peterson, D. G. (2009). The Acts of the Apostles (p. 291-292). Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.