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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 8:26 mean?

Explanation

Acts 8:26 describes the divine guidance given to Philip, one of the early Christian evangelists and a deacon in the early church.

The verse narrates the moment when an angel of the Lord instructs Philip to embark on a journey, heading south from Jerusalem to the Gaza road, a route that traverses a desert region.

The passage emphasizes obedient and immediate response to God's call, as well as the supernatural guidance that believers can receive from God through His messengers.

While on the surface, it details a physical journey, its deeper meaning reflects the mission of spreading the Christian faith and the unfolding of divine plans through human action.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

The Book of Acts is the fifth book of the New Testament, traditionally attributed to Luke the Evangelist.

This particular verse is set in the context of the early Christian church's expansion after the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ.

During this time, the Christian message was spreading rapidly throughout the region.

Philip was one of the seven men chosen to serve as deacons in the Jerusalem church.

His mission to the road to Gaza represents the spreading of the Gospel beyond the boundaries of Judea and to the Gentiles, as Gaza was a predominantly Gentile area at the time.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse illustrates a number of concepts. It demonstrates divine providence and the belief that God orchestrates events for the purpose of his plan. The angel's appearance to Philip suggests that God intervenes in human affairs through supernatural means.

Additionally, the verse represents the theme of evangelism as a divinely appointed task, exemplified by Philip's immediate compliance with the angel's message. It also reflects the theme of trust and obedience in God's guidance, which is a recurrent theme in the scriptures.

Practical Applications

The practical implications of Acts 8:26 include the readiness to respond to God’s call, regardless of when or where it may come. It encourages believers to be attentive to divine instruction and be prepared to take action to fulfill God's mission.

The verse motivates Christians to engage in evangelism and to trust in God’s direction, even when it leads them to unpromising or challenging environments.

Cross-References

Acts 6:5 - And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
Acts 8:29 - Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
Isaiah 6:8 - Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.

Language Study

The phrase "angel of the Lord" translates from "ἄγγελος Κυρίου" which literally means a messenger from the Lord, indicating a heavenly or divine envoy.

The word "Arise" ("Ἀνάστηθι" in Greek) implies an immediate call to action.

"Gaza" is a transliteration of the Hebrew name for a city that was located on the southwestern coast of Palestine, and the term "desert" describes not only a barren geographical region but also implies a place of spiritual significance, often associated with divine revelation or significant life changes.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The concept of divine messengers or angels is not unique to Christianity and can be compared to various ancient cultures and religions.

For example, in Ancient Greek mythology, Hermes served as the messenger of the gods.

In Judaism, angels are also seen as God's messengers, with numerous appearances in the Old Testament.

Moreover, the notion of divine guidance and prophecy is common in various ancient religious traditions.

Scientific Perspectives

The "desert" referred to may be indicative of the geographical and ecological conditions of the area during the period in question. Modern scientific techniques, such as archaeology and environmental science, can help us understand the historical accuracy of the region's description at that time.

However, the intervention of an angel represents a supernatural claim that lies outside the purview of scientific examination.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians offer various insights on Acts 8:26.

Some emphasize the importance of Philip's role in the early church and how this event led to the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch, which is narrated in the verses that follow. Others focus on the obedience and immediacy of Philip's response to the divine command.

Many commentaries also explore the significance of the desert as a place of encounter with God, drawing parallels with other biblical figures such as Moses and Elijah who also had significant experiences in the desert.

Acts 8

Acts 8

What does Acts 8:26 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 8:26 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?