Acts 8

Acts 8 shows what happened after Stephen was killed. A great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and many believers were scattered into other places. But instead of stopping the gospel, this persecution helped spread it. The chapter focuses especially on Philip preaching in Samaria and later teaching the Ethiopian official. It shows how the gospel began moving beyond Jerusalem, just as Jesus said in Acts 1:8—that His witnesses would go to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

Acts 8:1 (NKJV)
1 Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

Saul agreed with Stephen’s death. After this, a strong persecution came against the church in Jerusalem. Many believers had to leave the city and were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. But God used even this persecution to help spread the gospel to other places, just as Jesus had commanded.

Acts 8:2-4 (NKJV)
2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
3 As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.
4 Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.

Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. At the same time, Saul attacked the church fiercely. He went from house to house, arresting both men and women and putting them in prison. But even though the believers were scattered, they did not stop sharing their faith. Wherever they went, they preached the word of God.

Acts 8:5 (NKJV)
5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them.

Philip went to Samaria and preached Christ to the people there. This was important because Jews and Samaritans had a long history of separation and dislike toward each other. But the gospel was not only for the Jews. Philip brought the message of Jesus to the Samaritans also.

Acts 8:6-8 (NKJV)
6 And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
7 For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed.
8 And there was great joy in that city.

The people of Samaria listened carefully to Philip because they heard his message and saw the miracles God did through him. Unclean spirits came out of many people, and those who were paralyzed or lame were healed. These miracles confirmed the message Philip preached, and great joy came to the city. The gospel brought freedom, healing, and hope.

Acts 8:9-11 (NKJV)
9 But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great,
10 to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the great power of God.”
11 And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time.

Before Philip came, a man named Simon had great influence in Samaria through sorcery. He impressed the people and made himself appear important. Many people thought he had the great power of God because he had amazed them for a long time. But Simon’s power was not from God. His influence prepared the way for a clear contrast between false power and the true power of God.

Acts 8:12 (NKJV)
12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.

When the people heard Philip preach about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they believed. Both men and women were baptized. This showed that they were turning away from their old ways and accepting Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.

Acts 8:13 (NKJV)
13 Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done.

Simon also believed outwardly and was baptized. He stayed close to Philip and was amazed by the miracles and signs. But his amazement seems to show that he was more interested in the power than in true surrender to God. This later revealed that his heart was still not right.

Acts 8:14-17 (NKJV)
14 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them,
15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.
16 For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
17 Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that the Samaritans had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. This showed that the Samaritan believers were truly being accepted into the same body of Christ. Peter and John prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit. Although they had already been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, the Holy Spirit had not yet fallen upon them in this special way. When the apostles laid hands on them, they received the Holy Spirit. This confirmed that the Samaritans were fully included among God’s people.

Acts 8:18-19 (NKJV)
18 And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money,
19 saying, “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

When Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he wanted that power for himself. He offered money to buy it. This showed that he did not understand the gift of God. God’s gifts cannot be bought, sold, or used for selfish purposes. Simon still had a worldly way of thinking.

Acts 8:20-23 (NKJV)
20 But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money!
21 You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God.
22 Repent therefore of this wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.
23 For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.”

Peter strongly rebuked Simon because Simon thought the gift of God could be bought with money. Peter told him that his heart was not right before God. Simon needed to repent and pray for forgiveness. Peter also said that Simon was poisoned by bitterness and bound by sin. This shows that baptism and outward belief are not enough if the heart is not truly changed. God wants a sincere heart, not a desire for power or personal greatness.

Acts 8:24 (NKJV)
24 Then Simon answered and said, “Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me.”

Simon asked Peter to pray for him so that the judgment Peter spoke about would not happen to him. His response shows some fear and concern, but it also seems that he was more afraid of the consequences than truly broken over his sin. This shows the difference between fearing punishment and having real repentance before God.

Acts 8:25 (NKJV)
25 So when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.

After Peter and John had testified and preached the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem. On the way back, they preached the gospel in many Samaritan villages. The work in Samaria did not stop with one city. The message of Jesus continued spreading among the Samaritans.

Acts 8:26-29 (NKJV)
26 Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is desert.
27 So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship,
28 was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet.
29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.”

An angel of the Lord told Philip to go to the desert road from Jerusalem to Gaza. Philip obeyed immediately. There he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official under Candace, queen of Ethiopia. This man was in charge of her treasury and had come to Jerusalem to worship. As he was returning home, he was reading from the prophet Isaiah. Then the Spirit told Philip to go near the chariot. This meeting was arranged by God. It shows that God was guiding Philip to reach a sincere seeker from another nation.

Acts 8:30-31 (NKJV)
30 So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him.

Philip ran to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah. He asked him if he understood what he was reading. The Ethiopian replied that he needed someone to guide him. This shows that Scripture is powerful, but people sometimes need help to understand it clearly. The Ethiopian was humble and willing to learn, and Philip was ready to teach.

Acts 8:32-33 (NKJV)
32 The place in the Scripture which he read was this: “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before its shearer is silent, So He opened not His mouth.
33 In His humiliation His justice was taken away, And who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth.”

The Ethiopian was reading from Isaiah 53, a prophecy about the suffering of Christ. The passage describes someone who was silent like a lamb before being killed. It speaks of humiliation, injustice, and a life being taken away. This prophecy pointed forward to Jesus, who suffered and died for the sins of the world.

Acts 8:34-35 (NKJV)
34 So the eunuch answered Philip and said, “I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?”
35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him.

The Ethiopian asked Philip who Isaiah was speaking about. Was the prophet speaking about himself or someone else? Philip began with that very Scripture and preached Jesus to him. He showed how Isaiah’s prophecy was fulfilled in Christ—His suffering, death, and the good news of salvation through Him.

Acts 8:36-38 (NKJV)
36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?”
37 Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
38 So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.

As they continued along the road, they came to some water. The Ethiopian asked what would stop him from being baptized. Philip told him that if he believed with all his heart, he could be baptized. The Ethiopian confessed, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” Then he commanded the chariot to stop, and both Philip and the Ethiopian went down into the water. Philip baptized him. This shows that baptism follows true faith in Jesus Christ and is an outward declaration of accepting Him.

Acts 8:39-40 (NKJV)
39 Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing.
40 But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea.

After the baptism, the Spirit of the Lord took Philip away, and the Ethiopian did not see him again. But the Ethiopian continued on his journey rejoicing. He had received the message of Jesus and was now filled with joy. Philip was later found at Azotus, and he continued preaching the gospel in many cities until he came to Caesarea. This shows that the work of the gospel kept moving forward by the guidance and power of the Spirit of God.