PrevActs 8:6Next

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 8:6 mean?

Explanation

[Acts 8:6] refers to a moment in the early Christian church when Philip, one of the seven deacons chosen to serve the church (Acts 6:5), went to a city in Samaria to preach the Gospel.

This verse highlights the immediate and unanimous response of the Samaritan people to the message Philip delivered, they paid close attention, not just listening to his words, but also witnessing the accompanying signs he performed.

This verse underscores the powerful combination of persuasive preaching and miraculous works in securing people's attention and promoting the Christian faith.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

The Book of Acts is set in the first century CE, documenting the early days of the Christian church following Jesus Christ's crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension.

During Philip's time, Samaria was an area with a mixed population of Jews and other ethnic groups.

Jews typically avoided Samaritans because of deep-seated historical and religious animosities.

The fact that Philip went to Samaria indicates the church's early mission to bridge divides and spread the Gospel beyond traditional Jewish boundaries.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, this verse highlights a few key ideas:

Divine Confirmation: Miracles were seen as a divine affirmation of a preacher’s message.

Philip's miracles authenticated his preaching.

Receptivity to the Gospel: The unity of the crowd in heeding Philip suggests an openness to the message of Jesus, which could be viewed as evidence of the Holy Spirit’s preparatory work.
Inclusivity in Christianity: The passage reflects early Christianity’s expansion to non-Jewish communities, emphasizing that the message of Christ was for all people, not just one ethnic group.

Practical Applications

The verse can inspire several practical applications:

Effective Communication: For modern evangelists and ministers, the importance of clear communication enhanced by practical demonstrations (miracles in Philip's case) might suggest incorporating tangible service acts or charity alongside teaching.
Unity in Attention: The verse can encourage having a common focus in a community, in spiritual gatherings or otherwise, unity can be a powerful tool for change and understanding.
Reaching Beyond Comfort Zones: Just as Philip reached out to Samaritans, individuals are challenged to step beyond their familiar circles and share their beliefs or beneficial messages with others.

Cross-References

Acts 6:8 - "And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people."
John 4:39 - "And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did."
Acts 2:43 - "And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles."

Language Study

Key words in Acts 8:6, based on the original Greek text, include:

"Heed" (προσείχον, proseichon): To bring near, apply oneself to, adhere to, or pay attention.
"Accord" (ὁμοθυμαδόν, homothumadon): This word has a connotation of unanimity or being of one mind and intent.
"Miracles" (σημεῖα, semeia): Often translated as "signs," this word refers to extraordinary events seen as acts of divine intervention.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the ancient world, miraculous deeds were not unique to Christianity; various religions and sects had miracle workers and stories of divine intervention.

The distinctive aspect for Christianity was the association of miracles with the preached message of salvation through Jesus Christ, as opposed to miracles being mere displays of power or divine favor.

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern scientific perspective, the "miracles" described may not meet empirical standards of evidence.

However, psychological research does acknowledge the impact of shared beliefs and profound experiences (like witnessing what is perceived as a miracle) on communal bonding and belief formation.

commentaries

Various biblical commentators bring different perspectives to this verse:

John Calvin sees this account as an illustration of the power of God to draw people to himself through both word and deed.
Matthew Henry emphasizes the joy and eagerness of the Samaritan people in receiving the Gospel, signifying genuine spiritual hunger.
The Expositor’s Bible Commentary notes the significance of miracles not as an end in themselves, but as signs pointing to the higher truth of the Gospel.

Acts 8

Acts 8

What does Acts 8:6 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 8:6 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?