The Extension of the Church to Judæa and Samaria (Act 8:4 to Act 11:18)The Christians, scattered by persecution, preach everywhere through Judaea and Samaria. The places specially mentioned are Samaria, Azotus, Caesarea, Lydda, the Sharon valley, and Joppa. read more
(26) And the angel of the Lord . . .—Better, an angel. The tense of the verbs in the preceding verse, in the better MSS., implies that the events that follow synchronised with the journey of Peter and John through Samaria. The journey which Philip was commanded to take led him by a quicker route across country into the main road from Jerusalem to Gaza. The history of the city so named (appearing at times in the English version—Deuteronomy 2:23; 1 Kings 4:24; Jeremiah 25:20—as Azzah) goes even... read more
A Story of Conversion Acts 8:27 , etc. Philip the deacon was one of the most active Evangelists. Only one or two scenes in his obedient and strenuous career find a place in the panorama of Acts; but these make it clear that he was a man of whom, had there been space enough, the New Testament might well have told us a great deal more. I like the hopefulness of Philip, as he advances to his new task. Remember, he had just been imposed upon by a bad man at Samaria, when Simon the Sorcerer, a... read more
Chapter 20EVANGELISTIC WORK IN THE PHILISTINES’ LAND.Acts 8:26-28; Acts 9:32I HAVE; united these two incidents, the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch and the mission of St. Peter to the people of Lydda, Sharon, and Joppa, because they relate to the same district of country and they happened at the same period, the pause which ensued between the martyrdom of St. Stephen and the conversion of St. Paul. The writer of the Acts does not seem to have exactly followed chronological order in this part... read more
Part II The Witness to Samaria. Saul’s Conversion and Peter’s Witness in Caesarea. Chapters 8-12 CHAPTER 8 1. The first great persecution (Acts 8:1-3 ). 2. The preaching of the scattered believers. Philip in Samaria (Acts 8:4-8 ). 3. Events in Samaria (Acts 8:9-24 ). 4. The Gospel in many villages of Samaria (Acts 8:25 ). 5. Philip and the Eunuch (Acts 8:26-40 ). The final testimony to the rulers of the people had been given. It was rejected, and the Spirit filled messenger killed. The... read more
8:26 {11} 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.(11) Christ, who calls freely whom he wishes, now uses Philip, who was not thinking about any such thing, to unexpectedly instruct and baptize the eunuch, and by this means extends the limits of his kingdom even into Ethiopia. read more
As a wild beast tasting blood, the Jews were the more inflamed by the martyrdom of Stephen to greatly persecute the Church of God at Jerusalem. For this reason believers were scattered through Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Even the persecution at this time did not exercise them to leave and carry the gospel elsewhere, as the Lord had commanded them (Mark 16:15), but where they failed, the Lord had others to do the work. Devout men buried Stephen with great lamentation. They may not... read more
TRANSITION PERIOD We explained in the last lesson the meaning of the transition period which continues to chapter 13. The first sentence in chapter 8 is more properly the concluding one of chapter 7, although it introduces the account of the persecution following in which Saul was the leader (Acts 8:1-3 ). With the account of this persecution (compare Hebrews 10:32-34 ), and for Saul’s part in it, see Acts 22:4 ; Acts 22:19-20 ; Acts 24:10-11 and parallel places. “The blood of the martyrs is... read more
Chapter 24 Prayer ALMIGHTY God, how great is thy truth! We cannot understand it all, but in Jesus Christ, Thy Son, we see what we can lay hold of with our mind and with our heart. Thou art revealed in thy Son, who is the brightness of thy glory. We would, therefore, sit at his feet every day, and listen with the attention of our love to all the music of his sacred voice. Give us the hearing ear, and the understanding heart, and may nothing of all the Gospel escape our reverent attention. We... read more
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John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 8:1-40
Philip in Samaria. Simon MagusThe graphic details of the ministry of Philip which follow, were doubtless obtained from Philip himself. St. Luke stayed at his house at Cæsarea, and made the acquaintance of his four virgin daughters, prophetesses (Acts 21:8). During St. Paul’s three years’ imprisonment at Caesarea, St. Luke doubtless had much intercourse with Philip, with whose liberal views he was in sympathy. The historical character of the following narratives stands upon a firm basis. In... read more