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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 8:25 mean?

Explanation

Acts 8:25 recounts a moment in the early Christian Church involving the apostles who, after completing a mission of witness and proclamation of the gospel, decided to return to Jerusalem.

However, instead of traveling directly back, they engaged in evangelistic work among the Samaritans in various villages.

Literally, the verse indicates a geographical movement and a preaching tour, but deeper meanings include the extension of the Christian message beyond Jewish boundaries and the inclusion of Samaritans, who were traditionally marginalized within the culture of the time.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

The Book of Acts is set in the 1st century AD, during the time immediately following Christ's death, resurrection, and ascension.

Samaritans were ethnically distinct and practiced a religion which was similar to Judaism but had significant differences in sacred texts and rites.

Jews and Samaritans had a history of mutual disdain.

The preaching to the Samaritans thus illustrates the early Christian message's spread into areas which were previously unreceptive to Jewish teaching due to longstanding hostilities.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, Acts 8:25 demonstrates several key ideas:

The fulfillment of Jesus' directive in Acts 1:8 to be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
The inclusivity of the gospel message, as it breaks down barriers between Jews and Samaritans.
It foretells the missionary character of the Church, showing that evangelism is a cornerstone of Christian practice.

Different Christian traditions may emphasize this verse differently, with some viewing it as a model for missionary work, while others may see it as an example of God's universal love transcending cultural divisions.

Practical Applications

Acts 8:25 encourages contemporary believers to:

Act as witnesses to their faith in both familiar and unfamiliar territories.
Embrace inclusivity and reach out to those who might be different or marginalized in society.
Understand that evangelism can happen in all circumstances, even when returning from a primary mission.

Cross-References

Acts 1:8 (KJV): "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."
John 4:39-42 (KJV): Where many Samaritans believe in Jesus after the testimony of a woman at a well.
Luke 10:33-37 (KJV): The Parable of the Good Samaritan, illustrating love and kindness crossing ethnic boundaries.

Language Study

In Acts 8:25, a few key Greek terms are noteworthy:

"Testified" (εμαρτύρησαν - emartyrēsan): This indicates a solemn and thorough witness, a strong declaration of what they have seen and experienced.
"Preached" (ευηγγελίζοντο - euēngelizonto): Derived from the word for "gospel" (εὐαγγέλιον - euangelion), meaning to announce good news.
"Word of the Lord" (τον λόγον του Κυρίου - ton logon tou Kyriou): Often used to describe the message about Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Similar to the apostles spreading the Christian message to Samaritans, other ancient myths and religions have stories of divine messages or insights crossing cultural or ethnic divides.

For example, the Greek god Hermes was known as a messenger who traveled and crossed boundaries.

In Judaism, prophets like Jonah were sent to foreign cities with God's message.

Scientific Perspectives

While Acts 8:25 is primarily a historical and theological narrative, scientific perspectives might inform our understanding of the implications of the apostles' travel and cross-cultural interactions.

Cultural anthropology and sociology can provide insights into the significance of breaking down social barriers through religious movements.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and commentators have offered a variety of thoughts on Acts 8:25:

John Gill mentioned the apostles' obedience to Christ's command to preach everywhere, emphasizing the growth of the church beyond the confines of Judaism.
Matthew Henry highlighted the unity of the early church in their evangelistic efforts, despite the cultural differences they encountered.
Modern scholars often discuss this passage in the context of mission work and the early Christian community's expansion into Gentile regions.

Acts 8

Acts 8

What does Acts 8:25 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 8:25 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?