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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 8:5 mean?

Explanation

The verse Acts 8:5 is a part of the narrative describing the early Christian Church's expansion beyond the borders of Jerusalem after the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ.

In this verse, Philip, one of the seven deacons chosen to help the apostles, is mentioned specifically as going down to the city of Samaria to preach about Jesus Christ.

The phrase "preached Christ unto them" indicates that Philip was declaring the message of Jesus' life, teachings, death, and resurrection, proclaiming Him as the Messiah and the source of salvation.

This act was significant because Samaritans were generally despised by the Jews due to historical and religious differences, and this outreach by an early Christian deacon shows the breaking down of those barriers in the spreading of the Gospel.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Acts 8:5 occurs in the aftermath of the Christian persecution that broke out in Jerusalem following the martyrdom of Stephen, another of the seven deacons.

Philip, like other Christians, fled from the persecution.

Samaritans were the inhabitants of Samaria, a region situated between Galilee to the north and Judea to the south.

Jews and Samaritans shared common ancestry, but deep religious and cultural differences had led to mutual animosity over centuries.

The willingness of early Christians to preach to Samaritans represented a radical departure from Jewish exclusivity.

Theological Insights

This verse highlights several important theological themes.

First, the universality of the Christian message is emphasized; it was intended for all people, regardless of ethnic or religious background.

Second, it illustrates the fulfillment of Jesus' instructions to be witnesses "in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" (Acts 1:8).

Lastly, Philip's action marks a pivotal point in the expansion of the church, as the Gospel reaches beyond Jewish communities, indicating that faith in Christ transcends traditional hostilities and divisions.

Practical Applications

In contemporary terms, Acts 8:5 can inspire individuals to cross cultural and social boundaries to share their beliefs and values.

It encourages inclusivity and a non-discriminatory approach to sharing one's faith with others.

Believers are reminded of the importance of evangelism and the call to be witnesses in diverse settings, often stepping outside their comfort zones to do so.

Cross-References

John 4:39-42: This passage discusses Jesus' own ministry in Samaria, setting an example for the early Church to follow.
Acts 1:8: The verse indicating Jesus' instruction for the disciples to witness in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
Luke 10:33: The parable of the Good Samaritan illustrates breaking down cultural barriers and showing compassion to all.
Acts 8:14-17: The apostles Peter and John went to Samaria after hearing that the Gospel was accepted there.

Language Study

In the original Greek text, key words include:

"Philip": The Greek name "Φίλιππος" (Philippos), meaning "lover of horses."
"Went down": The Greek verb "κατέλθων" (katelthon) suggests a geographical descent from Jerusalem to Samaria.
"City of Samaria": While "city" refers to a populace, "Samaria" represents both the city initially built by King Omri and the region.
"Preached": The Greek "εὐηγγελίζετο" (euēngelizeto) is derived from "euangelizo," meaning "to bring good news."
"Christ": The Greek "Χριστὸν" (Christon) is the title for "Messiah," the anointed one.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The preaching to the Samaritans can be compared to other ancient myths and religious texts where deities or prophets break cultural taboos.

For example, in Greek mythology, gods often cross boundaries to interact with humans.

In other religious traditions, such as Buddhism, the spread of the Buddha's teachings also crossed ethnic and cultural lines.

The message here is similar: divine truth transcending human divisions.

Scientific Perspectives

While Acts 8:5 is a theological and historical account rather than a scientific one, modern communication and sociological studies might explore the mechanisms of how religious movements spread among different cultures and societies, taking into consideration factors such as language barriers, cultural acceptance, and social networks.

Commentaries

Some biblical scholars interpret this verse as a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies concerning the messianic age when God's salvation would reach all nations.

Commentaries often emphasize the obedience of Philip to the Holy Spirit's guidance, his role in the early Christian mission, and the significance of the Gospel breaking through to a group traditionally seen as hostile to the Jews.

Others may focus on Samaria's history to explain the impact of Philip's ministry there.

Acts 8

Acts 8

What does Acts 8:5 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 8:5 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?