November 4, 2024

DAILY BIBLE READING – Acts Chapter 8

¹ And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.

² And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.

³ As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

⁴ Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.

⁵ Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.

⁶ And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

⁷ For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.

⁸ And there was great joy in that city.

⁹ But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:

¹⁰ To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.

¹¹ And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.

¹² But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

¹³ Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

¹⁴ Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:

¹⁵ Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:

¹⁶ (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

¹⁷ Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

¹⁸ And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,

¹⁹ Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

²⁰ But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

²¹ Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.

²² Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

²³ For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.

²⁴ Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.

²⁵ And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.

²⁶ And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.

²⁷ And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,

²⁸ Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.

²⁹ Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.

³⁰ And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?

³¹ And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.

³² The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:

³³ In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.

³⁴ And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?

³⁵ Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.

³⁶ And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

³⁷ And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

³⁸ And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

³⁹ And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, 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.

King James Version. Public Domain

Commentary

Introduction:

Acts chapter 8 depicts a crucial phase of early Christianity, in which persecution and dispersion triggered a wider spread of the Gospel. The martyrdom of Stephen ignites a wave of violence against Christians in Jerusalem, driving them to various regions and thus extending Jesus’ mission beyond its boundaries. An outstanding servant, Philip, brings the Gospel to Samaria and encounters the Ethiopian eunuch, a man in search of truth who embraces the message of Jesus. This chapter illustrates the power of faith and the unstoppable progress of the Gospel despite the most adverse circumstances.

Commentary:

Chapter 8 is divided into several significant events that illustrate the path of Christian mission. The first scene shows how the persecution of the community in Jerusalem forces believers to disperse, thus bringing the Gospel to Judea and Samaria. Saul, the future Apostle Paul, plays an active role as a persecutor of Christians, highlighting the contrasts between persecution and steadfast faith. The focus is on Philip, a deacon, who gains the attention of the people in Samaria through his preaching and miracles. Particularly striking is the encounter with Simon the Sorcerer, which brings about a conflict over the meaning and gift of the Holy Spirit. Simon, who is accustomed to controlling power and exerting influence, is reprimanded because he wants to acquire the gift of God through money. This confrontation emphasizes that faith and the gift of the Spirit cannot be bought through human means but are granted solely through a relationship with God.

Another important element is the encounter between Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch. Here, the ideal of personal evangelism is demonstrated: the eunuch, who is reading God’s word, needs an explanation to understand the Gospel. Philip seizes the opportunity to bring him closer to Jesus Christ, and the eunuch promptly decides to be baptized. This scene shows that the message of the Gospel transcends all social and geographical boundaries and is also directed to people outside the Jewish tradition. The eunuch’s joy after his baptism is an expression of the profound inner change that the Gospel can effect in a life.

Summary:

Acts chapter 8 illustrates the power of faith and the scope of the mission. The persecution of Christians leads to the spread of the Gospel and marks the beginning of a global mission. Philip preaches in Samaria and also brings the Good News to the Ethiopian eunuch, who embraces the Gospel and is baptized. The story of the sorcerer Simon emphasizes the holiness and unsellability of the Holy Spirit, while the encounter with the eunuch shows that the Gospel touches the hearts of all people.

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