If I do post late (say midnight or later), I'll post a comment to my original post on Facebook so many of you will be able to see that I have posted the night before.
Thanks for understanding and reading along with me!
Acts 8 (Read it here)
After the previous post, it is good to note that a few devout Christ-followers came and removed Stephen’s body and gave it a proper burial. (v. 2)
Saul (who would become known as Paul later in Acts) was greatly inspired to inflict persecution on believers in an attempt to disband the church after the stoning of Stephen. He attempted to do this “legally” by throwing them all in prison and putting each on trial in order to possibly execute them as they did Stephen. (v. 3) So much for Gamaliel’s advice, right? (See Acts 5:33-40 for a refresher)
The high council had agreed with Gamaliel that if this movement didn’t cease after Jesus’ death then it would be like fighting against God and what He intends.The intensity of Stephen’s accusations sparked such a hatred for Christ-followers that a great wave of persecution began that day over Jerusalem. Everyone except the apostles got out of dodge (left the region)! (v. 1)
To prove that this persecution didn't really effect the believers, Luke tells about Philip's experience in Samaria (this is the Philip who was chosen along with Stephen and five others to distribute food in Acts 6:5, not to be confused with the apostle with the same name). Philip preached and performed miracles there. (vs. 5-6) This goes to show that the Spirit was present and being used by every believer who was bold enough to stand out for God (not just for the big wigs like Peter, Stephen wasn't even an apostle).
I also want to remind you of where Philip is; he's in Samaria! Even though Philip is of Greek descent, this new Christian faith was still regarded as a Jewish sect. Jews and Samaritans don't mix (Samaritans were considered half-breeds who didn't have a pure religion) but that doesn't stop Philip from preaching about Jesus Christ (who was also a Jew). You'll see later that not every apostle felt it was their responsibility to preach to non-Jews. Yet Samaria accepted Philip and the message of Jesus with open arms, which was not a small feat to accomplish. (v. 8)
Simon, who is introduced in verse 9, was a sorcerer who claimed to be of God. People listened to him intently because his magic was spectacular. (v. 11) What he actually taught is not noted by Luke.
But with Philip's presence within Samaria, Simon's influence quickly evaporated. Many Samaritans not only believed Philip's message regarding the Kingdom of God and Jesus as Messiah but they also stepped out and confessed that faith by way of baptism, including Simon! (vs. 12-13) Simon even began to follow Philip and soak in everything he could.
The apostles hear about what's going on in Samaria, so Peter and John go to check it out. (v. 14)
Verses 15-17 are confusing at the outset. How could these Samaritans believe and be baptized yet not have the Holy Spirit? Didn't the Peter say in Acts 2:38-39 when preaching to the crowd at Pentecost, "Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit?" He even continued to say, "This promise is to you, and to your children, and even to the Gentiles—all who have been called by the Lord our God.”
Before you start to think that here lies a contradiction and therefore the whole validity of the gospel is in question, let me give you two observations:
1. I emboldened the word Gentiles because Samaritans are not Gentiles. Of course, they're not Jews, either. They neither because their both, being a mixed-race. Samaritans, in most cases, were treated worse than Gentiles by Jews. So when Peter refers to Gentiles, he is not lopping in the Samaritans with them.
2. In Acts 6:3-5, it is clear that Philip is full of the Spirit. Even prior to that, in Acts 4:31, when all the believers gathered in prayer, everyone there was filled with the Spirit. But, having the Spirit and having the authority to impart (or give out) the Spirit are two totally different things. As far as we know, only Jesus (to the apostles at Pentecost) and the apostles themselves (following Peter's preaching in Acts 2) are the only beings who can impart the Spirit. So when Peter and John arrive in Samaria, they are coming to do just that. And its not completely up to them, either. Peter and John have to ask God in prayer for Him to release the Spirit to these Samaritan men and women. (v. 15, of course God blesses their request in v. 17)
This is another fantastic example of how baptism does NOT have any spiritual or magical power that gives its recipient the Holy Spirit or salvation.
Simon was so impressed with Peter and John's power that he offered to purchase it from them. (v. 18)
Of course, Peter being who he is (passionate with a double-portion of impulsiveness yet full of the Spirit), really rails on Simon for even thinking such a deal was possible. (v. 20)
Peter exhibits Jesus-like ability to read Simon like an open book, calling him wicked, bitter and jealous. (vs. 22-23) Peter is dead on with his read because Simon asks for prayer so these things...won't happen to me." (v. 24)
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Philip is convinced to travel more south from Jerusalem towards Gaza. (v. 26) On the road he meets up with a small caravan in which the treasurer of Ethiopia was sitting on top of a carriage reading aloud from the Old Testament book of Isaiah. (vs. 27-28) This man was a eunuch. Just so you know, eunuchs were men who had been forced into castration (their testicles were removed) in order to fulfill a specific purpose, usually to be a keeper of women (most of the time women who were married to men in power, such as wives of kings, emperors, governors, etc.) The word eunuch in Greek literally means bed keeper.
Philip hears the Scripture being read and offers his instruction. The eunuch happened to be reading Isaiah 53:7-8 which was all predicting about the coming of Jesus and the suffering he would endure. Philip informed the eunuch of this truth (and more) in verse 35.
I can imagine the great conversation they were having; the eunuch was having his world being reshaped at the teaching of Philip. The caravan came upon a ditch and the eunuch immediately wanted to be baptized. (v. 37) Apparently, Philip had mentioned the importance of baptism as a mode of confession. Philip gladly baptized him! (v. 38)
I don't know exactly how this next part works, but Philip is "snatched away" by the Spirit of the Lord. (v. 39). The very next verse its like Philip looks around and notices that he has been transported north to Azotus (about 44 miles from Gaza) and Philip continued going north and preaching to every town along the way to Caesarea (Azotus was about 95 miles from Caesarea).
I can almost guarantee that Philip was commanded to travel without food, extra clothes and money like the disciples were by Jesus, making this little mission trip all the more impressive (especially if he were by himself).
Questions
1.) Who can give out the Holy Spirit today? I don't really know the answer to this (I have a pretty good idea), so I'm throwing it out as a complete and transparent question to get you thinking.
2.) Are you like the eunuch in that you're willing to admit your ignorance and ask for someone else's wisdom and instruction regarding the Bible, spiritual matters and other things? Or are you more guarded or worried about looking stupid? Why?
3.) Are you like Philip in that you're willing to help others who have questions about Jesus, the faith or other spiritual matters that you can easily answer? Or are you worried about saying something wrong and/or seeming like a goody-goody? Why?
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