Acts 8:7

For from many of those that had unclean spirits, they came out, crying with a loud voice: and many that were palsied, and that were lame, were healed. And there was much joy in that city.

Luke, a distinguished physician and scientist, here made a separation between physical maladies like palsy and lameness, and the conditions attributed to unclean spirits, the same being proof enough that the wisest men of that age recognized the phenomenon of demon possession. This subject was reviewed repeatedly in the four gospels, and it would be profitless to repeat them here. For those interested in pursuing the subject further, reference is made to my Commentary on Matthew, Matthew 8:16,29 and my Commentary on Mark, Mark 1:24; Mark 5:2.

Much joy in that city ... During the ministry of Christ the Lord commanded that his representatives should not go into any city of the Samaritans (Matthew 10:5,6); and, although Jesus himself had given a strong indication of his ultimate purpose of including Samaritans in the gospel by his two days' residence in Sychar (John 4:40), it was the event recorded here that signaled the full fruition of that holy purpose. It was appropriate that "much joy" should have marked the occasion. What a blessed reunion of peoples long estranged was this; and it was a reunion that could have been accomplished in no other way except by the gospel of Christ. It is also true, as Walker observed, that:

It is the only thing that can reconcile hostile groups now; all other treaties, compromises and "gentlemen's agreements" will last only until it is advantageous for one of the parties to break the compact.[14]

In this event was a frontal assault upon the "middle wall of partition" (Ephesians 2:14) between Jews and Gentiles. One of the Seven entered Samaria with the power of miracles and the message of redemption in Christ.