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Acts 8

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

And there was great joy in that city.

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:

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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,

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

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

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

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.

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:

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

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

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

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?

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.

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.

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.

But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.

What does Acts 8:12 mean?

Explanation

Acts 8:12 is a verse within the New Testament of the Christian Bible that describes a significant moment in the early Christian church's expansion. This passage refers specifically to the work of Philip the Evangelist in the city of Samaria.

The verse recounts that many Samaritans came to believe in Jesus Christ through Philip's preaching about the kingdom of God.

The mentioning of both men and women being baptized emphasizes the inclusive nature of the early Christian movement, which offered salvation and membership in the church to all, regardless of gender.

The "kingdom of God" refers to the rule and reign of God both in the present and future, a central theme in Jesus's own teaching.

In the context of Acts, the emphasis on the name of Jesus Christ underscores the Christian belief in Jesus as the Messiah and the authority of his name in the covenantal relationship between believers and God.

In essence, this verse illustrates the transformative power of the Gospel when preached with conviction, the embracing of a new belief system among the people of Samaria, and the consequent rite of baptism, which symbolically washed away their past and ushered them into the nascent Christian community.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Acts 8:12 is situated in a book of the Bible known as Acts of the Apostles, traditionally attributed to Luke, the same author who wrote the Gospel according to Luke. This book chronicles the activities of the apostles and early Christians following the ascension of Jesus Christ.

During this time, Samaria was considered a region of mixed populations, including those who were descendants of the Israelites and foreigners settled by Assyrian conquerors.

Samaritans followed their own religious customs and interpretation of the Pentateuch (first five books of the Old Testament), which often resulted in tension with Judean practices of Judaism.

Philip's ministry in Samaria marks a key moment in the spread of Christianity beyond ethnically Jewish communities, showcasing the early church's mission to be a faith that transcends cultural and ethnic boundaries.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, Acts 8:12 is ripe with insights into early Christian doctrine and practice.

The belief in the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ as fundamental components of the Christian faith is reinforced.

God's kingdom is presented as a present reality that believers can partake in, not just a future promise.

The act of baptism in the name of Jesus also signifies a theological transition from the Jewish rituals of purification to the Christian sacrament for the forgiveness of sins and admission into the community of believers.

This reflects the theological shift that occurred from the Old Covenant, centered on the Law of Moses, to the New Covenant, focused on faith in Jesus Christ.

Practical Applications

The practical applications of Acts 8:12 are significant for contemporary Christian life.

It speaks to the importance of spreading the Gospel message and the inclusive nature of the church.

Believers are encouraged to share their faith with others, regardless of their gender, social status, or ethnic background and to welcome new converts into the Christian community through baptism.

It also suggests that new life through Christ (as symbolized in baptism) is available to all who believe, promoting equality within the church body and offering a model of inclusivity for Christian communities to emulate.

Cross-References

Matthew 28:19: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."
Mark 16:15-16: "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned."

John 3:5: "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."
Acts 2:38: "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."

Language Study

The key words in the original Greek text of Acts 8:12 include:

"believed" (πιστεύσαντες, pisteusantes): holding faith in, trusting, being persuaded of.
"preaching" (εὐαγγελιζομένῳ, euangelizomenō): announcing good news.
"kingdom of God" (βασιλείᾳ τοῦ Θεοῦ, basileia tou Theou): the reign or rule of God, often perceived as both a present reality and future hope.
"name" (ὄνομα, onoma): represents authority or character, in this context, the name of Jesus signifies his messianic authority and divine nature.
"baptized" (ἐβαπτίζοντο, ebaptizonto): immersed in water, signifying purification or initiation.

The linguistic features highlight the conversion aspect of the verse, the authority of the message being proclaimed, and the significance of the Christian ritual of baptism.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the religious landscape of the time, the inclusivity of the Christian message as highlighted in this verse was distinct from many other religious practices.

Samaritans, with their unique religious beliefs that diverged from mainstream Judaism, would have been seen as outsiders by many.

Comparatively, in some ancient myths and religions, rituals were exclusive to specific groups or required certain statuses for participation.

The early Christian emphasis on baptism for all believers, regardless of their background, marked a departure from these norms and aligned more closely with the universalist tendencies within some streams of Hellenistic religions, where mystery religions often offered a personal experience of the divine to initiates.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, the act of baptism as described in Acts 8:12 does not involve science per se, as it is a religious ritual.

However, one could explore the psychological effects of religious conversion experiences and the sense of community and belonging that comes from participating in group rituals, both of which have been topics of interest in psychological studies.

These studies might show how such experiences and rituals can result in real changes in behavior, mental health, and social dynamics.

The universal appeal of the message could also be linked to anthropological studies on the evolution of social groups and the role of shared beliefs in creating and maintaining these groups.

Commentaries

Various experts and biblical commentators have offered insights on Acts 8:12:

Some commentators point to the striking breakthrough of the Gospel in Samaria, given the historical animosity between Jews and Samaritans, as evidence of the power of the Christian message to bridge deep cultural divisions.
Others note the importance of Philip's role as one of the seven Hellenistic Jewish Christians appointed to serve the widows in the Jerusalem church (Acts 6), who now becomes a vital evangelist among the Samaritans, highlighting the mobility and adaptability of early Christian witnesses.
Additionally, many remark on the fulfillment of Christ's words in Acts 1:8, where Jesus says His followers will be His witnesses "in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth," with Philip's successful preaching in Samaria being an early realization of this mandate.

Acts 8

Acts 8

What does Acts 8:12 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Acts 8:12 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?