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Acts 8

1And Saul was consenting unto his death. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church which was in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judæa and Samaria, except the apostles.

1And 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 Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

Commentary · verse 1

Saul/Paul approved of Stephen's death. The religious leaders encouraged judgment on the Apostles. There was great persecution against the church in Jerusalem so that they were all scattered abroad, except for the Apostles.

2And devout men buried Stephen, and made great lamentation over him.

2And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.

Commentary · verse 2

Great lamentation was made over Stephen. There was extreme mourning.

3But Saul laid waste the church, entering into every house, and dragging men and women committed them to prison.

3As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

Commentary · verse 3

Saul/Paul "laid waste" the church. This has also been translated into the word "havock" which meant "to affix a stigma to, to dishonor, spot, defile, to treat shamefully or with injury, to ravage, devastate, ruin." He went to every house dragging men and women and putting them in prison.

4They therefore that were scattered abroad went about preaching the word.

4Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.

Commentary · verse 4

The persecution of the church actually helped spread the word abroad.

5And Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and proclaimed unto them the Christ.

6And the multitudes gave heed with one accord unto the things that were spoken by Philip, when they heard, and saw the signs which he did.

7For 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.

8And there was much joy in that city.

5Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.

6And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

7For 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.

8And there was great joy in that city.

Commentary · verses 5-8

Philip in Samaria preached Christ and did miracles which caused great joy there.

9But there was a certain man, Simon by name, who beforetime in the city used sorcery, and amazed the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: 10to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is that power of God which is called Great.

11And they gave heed to him, because that of long time he had amazed them with his sorceries.

12But when they believed Philip preaching good tidings concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

13And Simon also himself believed: and being baptized, he continued with Philip; and beholding signs and great miracles wrought, he was amazed.

9But 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:

10To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.

11And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.

12But 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.

13Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

Commentary · verses 9-13

Simon, a sorcerer, believed also and continued with Philip.

14Now when the apostles that were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:

14Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:

Commentary · verse 14

Peter and John were sent to Samaria. Notice, these two continued to minister together.

15who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit: 16for as yet it was fallen upon none of them: only they had been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.

17Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

15Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:

16(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

17Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

Commentary · verses 15-17

Doctrine: These men received the baptism of the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands. Remember, since Pentecost, the Holy Spirit is upon all flesh. The Holy Spirit is in every believer. The baptism of the Holy Spirit comes by laying on of hands. The Samaritans were already believers because they had been baptized in the name of Jesus. However, by the laying on of hands they received the Holy Spirit. Remember, the Jews considered the Samaritans their enemies.

18Now when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, 19saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay my hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit.

18And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,

19Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

Commentary · verses 18-19

Simon offered Peter and John money for the gift of the Holy Spirit. This was more than becoming a believer. These people produced miraculous evidence they had been baptized in the Holy Spirit, to the point Simon wanted to be able to do this.

20But Peter said unto him, Thy silver perish with thee, because thou hast thought to obtain the gift of God with money.

21Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right before God.

22Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray the Lord, if perhaps the thought of thy heart shall be forgiven thee.

20But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

21Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.

22Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

Commentary · verses 20-22

Peter told Simon his heart was not right with God and to repent. Every miracle in the Bible was done through a person who did not have a lot of money. Jesus even made it a prerequisite for the Disciples before they were sent out in Matthew 10:9-10.

23For I see that thou art in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.

24And Simon answered and said, Pray ye for me to the Lord, that none of the things which ye have spoken come upon me.

25They therefore, when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.

26But an angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza: the same is desert.

23For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.

24Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.

25And 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.

26And 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.

Commentary · verses 23-26

Philip received guidance from the Spirit.

27And he arose and went: and behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure, who had come to Jerusalem to worship; 28and he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah.

27And 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,

28Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.

Commentary · verses 27-28

Philip ran into an Ethiopian eunuch who was reading the Book of Isaiah.

29And the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.

30And Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?

29Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.

30And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?

Commentary · verses 29-30

The Holy Spirit continued to give direction to Philip and Philip was obedient.

31And he said, How can I, except some one shall guide me? And he besought Philip to come up and sit with him.

31And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.

Commentary · verse 31

The eunuch wanted guidance from Philip so that he could understand what he was reading.

32Now the passage of the scripture which he was reading was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before his shearer is dumb, So he openeth not his mouth: 33In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: His generation who shall declare? For his life is taken from the earth.

32The 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:

33In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.

Commentary · verses 32-33

The eunuch was reading Isaiah 53:7.

34And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other?

34And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?

Commentary · verse 34

The eunuch wanted to know who this passage was about. He wanted the interpretation/understanding.

35And Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this scripture, preached unto him Jesus.

35Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.

Commentary · verse 35

Philip told the eunuch that the person he was reading about was Jesus Christ.

36And as they went on the way, they came unto a certain water; and the eunuch saith, Behold, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

37 38And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

36And 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?

37And 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.

38And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

Commentary · verses 36-38

The eunuch was converted and then baptized.

39And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip; and the eunuch saw him no more, for he went on his way rejoicing.

40But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached the gospel to all the cities, till he came to Cæsarea.

39And 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.

40But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Cesarea.

Commentary · verses 39-40

As they came out of the water, the Holy Spirit "caught away Philip." Philip was physically translated to a different place (Azotus). This was definitely a supernatural event.

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