Acts Chapter 8
We find in chapter 8 that the early church is suffering great persecution and yet the gospel is going forth and people are getting saved. A big instrument of persecution is a religious man named Saul. Saul was present at the stoning of Stephen, and he approved of this heinous act of murder. Saul with great zealousness tried to round up all people who claimed the name of Christ and he threw them in prison.
Let's Reflect
1. Verse 4 tells us that this persecution had what effect on the early church?
2. One of the 7 helpers (deacons) chosen when Stephen was chosen, was a man named Philip. Philip left Jerusalem and went to Samaria and preached the gospel. Here the crowds listened to the gospel. Philip also had been given great power by the Holy Spirit and was able to do miracles of healing including causing demons to leave the bodies of people. What was the next thing that the people did when they placed their faith in Jesus? See verse 12.
3. There was a man in the city of Samaria who practiced magic or sorcery. The word magic implies that his magic was empowered by the occult. [Side note: I personally believe that a lot of “magic” we see on TV today is actually a part of, or empowered by, the occult.] This man called himself great or Simon the great. What was this man’s love in life? See verse 10.
4. When Simon the great heard the gospel message preached by Philip, the Bible says that he believed and was baptized. Simon even followed after Philip and his ministry. What amazed Simon now?
5. The apostles Peter and John came to Samaria to lay hands on the new believers that they would also be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. Simon seeing what the apostles were doing, seemed to slip back into his old ways. What did Simon want to have?
6. It could be that Simon never truly believed in his heart that Jesus was His Lord; or it could be that he just wanted to revert back to those feelings of power. Either way the cure for this was pronounced by Peter. What was it?
7. The apostles continued to preach the gospel to several villages throughout Samaria and then they made their way back to Jerusalem. Where did Philip travel to?
8. God had an appointment for Philip to make. This appointment was to meet up with an Ethiopian eunuch and to explain the gospel to him. We see that God is now working through the lives of the believers to spread the gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth. From what book of the Bible (scroll) was the Ethiopian eunuch reading when Philip found him?
9. What words does Luke use in verse 35 to describe the gospel message?
10. The eunuch believed the gospel message. We know this because he wanted to do what?
11. The Holy Spirit then performed a miracle on behalf of Philip. He was miraculously moved from that spot to where?
12. Philip got busy right away in this new town he had probably never been in. What did he do?
Devotionals
