1. PHILIP'S SUCCESS IN SAMARIA.

Acts 8:5-13.

(5) And Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and proclaimed unto them the Christ. (6) And 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. (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. (6) And there was much joy in that city.

(9) But there was a certain man, Simon by name, who be£o retime in the city used sorcery, and amazed the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: (10) to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is that power of God which is called Great. (11) And they gave heed to him, because that of long time he had amazed them with his sorceries. (12) But 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. (13) And Simon also himself believed: and being baptized, he continued with Philip; and beholding signs and great miracles (Gr. powers) wrought, he was amazed.

The disciples had been witnesses in Jerusalem, but persecution had driven them into new fields, and during these ten years laborers were multiplied. The scattered church went everywhere, preaching the Word, in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria. Only the Apostles remained in Jerusalem. Why the persecution did not drive out the twelve is not specifically stated. God, no doubt, guided and kept them there. It may be possible, the reason they were not arrested and put into prison, was because they were native-born and not Hellenists, like the seven who were carrying forward the aggressive movement at this time in the church, which resulted in the death of one of the seven and the scattering of the church.

After the death of Stephen, Philip, not an Apostle, but a Grecian Jew, also one of the seven, who had been called to look after the poor, became an evangelist and opened a new missionary field in Samaria. The first work out of Jerusalem was under the direction of the Lord, through Philip as the instrument, to do this missionary work. It was here in Samaria where the Lord himself had the conversation with the Samaritan woman, and through his teaching many believed on him. It was a good place to open a missionary field. The Samaritans are a mixed race and a stepping stone between Jews and Gentiles.

Philip, under the direction of the Holy Spirit, preached Christ to these Samaritans, and confirmed his preaching by miracles. The people gave heed to his preaching and believed on the Lord Jesus Christ. His mission was to help people who were under the influence of evil spirits and diseases.

When these people realized the helpfulness of the religion that Philip was bringing to them, there was great joy in that city. There was one man of great influence in the city, who was a special instrument of Satan. His mission was to keep these people in darkness and lead those away from the light who had been under the influence of Christ, whom Philip preached some six years earlier. His life and supposed work was brought into comparison with our Lord. Satan revealed his powers through him, and Simon himself claimed to be some great one. The people of Samaria had believed him. Philip, however, magnified Christ and His power and drew these people away from darkness to light. Even this leader himself believed and was baptized with the rest of the believers.

QUESTIONS.

• What effect had the revival on that city?

• Why were the Samaritans so ready to hear?

• What did Philip the evangelist preach to the Samaritans?

• Recite the story of Jesus' visit to Samaritans.

• Why call them unclean spirits?

• How had Simon deceived the Samaritans?

2. PHILIP'S CONVERTS RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT.

Acts 8:14-17.

(14) Now when the apostles that were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: (15) who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit:(16) for as yet it was fallen upon none of them: only they had been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. (17) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

The Samaritans were not a race of strangers altogether, but they had Israelitish blood in them. They had claimed to possess the true law and temple. They were hated by the Jewish nation. The Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans (John 4:9). The Apostles at Jerusalem heard of the missionary work in Samaria, and sent two of the Apostles, Peter and John, to visit the church and do further missionary work. There was rivalry between the people of Samaria and Jerusalem. This could not be tolerated any longer by those who accepted Christ as their Savior. The Apostles, therefore, had an opportunity to confirm the work of Philip and also by their sanction break down any prejudice that might still exist, and therefore unite the work done in the missionary field outside. It is quite certain that the church work was carried forward in harmony with the commission. Philip in his labors was directed by the Holy Spirit, given on the day of Pentecost, who was not to be confined to the Jews who accept Christ as their Savior, but was also for the Samaritans and the Gentiles, as we learn later. Three things are here implied, that the diffusion of the Gospel was to be by the power of the Holy Spirit. Jerusalem was not over Samaria, but Samaria was not independent of Jerusalem. (1) The Apostles were to be honored and recognized. (2) By the visit of these leading Apostles and confirming the miracles of the Holy Spirit, the new work was fully accredited as genuine. (3) These Samaritans had the gift of the Spirit at baptism, but not such as was imparted in His outer manifestations, and the time would come when the Apostle would not visit churches and people receive these manifestations by the laying on of hands. We are not to understand that the believers now do not come into possession by baptism of the Holy Spirit, but not by imposition of hands handed down by a succession of Apostles.

QUESTIONS.

• Was not Samaria a good missionary field, and why leave it?

• How many converts did Philip have in Samaria?

• Who directed Philip in his missionary work?

• Did Philip know when the Ethiopian would leave Jerusalem?

• Where is Ethiopia?

• What access had this man to temple worship? What did the Holy Spirit say to the preacher?

3. THE WICKED PROPOSAL BY SIMON MAGUS.

Acts 8:18-25.

(18) Now when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, (19) saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay my hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit. (20) But Peter said unto him, Thy silver perish with thee, because thou hast thought to obtain the gift of God with money. (21) Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter (Gr. word): for thy heart is not right before God. (22) Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray the Lord, if perhaps the thought of thy heart shall be forgiven thee. (23) For I see that thou art in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity. (24) And Simon answered and said, Pray ye for me to the Lord, that none of the things which ye have spoken come upon me.

(25) They therefore, when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel (Gr. brought good tidings) to many villages of the Samaritans.

When the Apostles laid hands on the disciples that they might receive the Holy Spirit, this man Simon, who had been under the influence of Satan, now manifested what his water baptism was worth. The question he asked the Apostles showed his conception of belief and baptism. His whole desire was to get power and pay for it, and use it to make merchandise of that which is the gift of God, intending it for his own advancement and material success. The best things can not be bought with money. They must be received as gifts, and the Giver can not be deceived, because every individual motive and purpose is naked and open before Him. This gift was promised to be bestowed only upon those who would go forward as his servants to save a lost world. "Thy money perish with thee." The Holy Spirit gave to Peter these words to picture to this man the true condition of his heart. The applicants for baptism are generally expected to have repented, but this man was asked after baptism to repent of his wickedness, and pray God that the evil within his heart might be forgiven. He calls for others to intercede in his behalf, that the punishment spoken of by Peter might not be visited upon him. Peter and John did not return immediately to Jerusalem after their work in the churches of Samaria. They preached the Gospel in many villages of the Samaritans. We do not know just how long the Apostles were on this missionary tour, but it shows that the Apostles who remained in Jerusalem, while these were abroad preaching the Gospel, were deeply interested in the welfare of the church.

QUESTIONS.

• What prompted Simon to make this proposal?

• Why say, "Neither part nor lot"?

• Give meaning of " Thy money perish with thee."

  Peter not only positively rejects the money, but also with holy indignation and abhorrence devotes the silver and the man who offers it to destruction.

• In whose sight was this man's heart not right?

• State fully what Peter told him.

• What request did he make of the disciples?

• Can you tell by conduct if a man is a new creature?

4. THE ANGEL DIRECTS AND GUIDES PHILIP TO THE SINNER.

Acts 8:26-31.

(26) But 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. (27) And 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; (28) and he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah. (29) And the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. (30) And Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? (31) And' he said, How can I, except some one shall guide me? And he besought Philip to come up and sit with him.

Since the Gospel has come forth from Jerusalem, the leaders in the progress of the church are anxious for the opening of new missionary fields. They are not their own, but labor and are sent forth under the direction of Another. Philip held a great revival in Samaria. Many were brought into the church, but as the spirit of soul saving took hold of the hearts of the people, counting the number that were converted was not the main thing in the revival. One of the sad features of the present day evangelism, with its sensationalism, is the report, " How many converts have there been made?" This was no inspiration to Philip, to have the number of his conversions in Samaria reported in the daily papers. An evangelist, with the success that Philip had in Samaria, would offer some excuses if invited to labor in the field into which Philip was directed by the Lord. Philip realized that he was a servant, and a servant must work in obedience to his Master. The Lord called, and he obeyed; he arose and went. If this were the attitude of the minister of the Gospel, success would follow him in revival work under all circumstances. The Lord did not forget him on the journey from Samaria to Gaza. The Lord also knew the traveler, who was dissatisfied with himself and searching for Light. The Lord knows where the sinner travels and can be found, and the obedient servant, listening to the Master's directions, will find the sinner. This inquirer was a eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. He was her treasurer. This man had looked to Jerusalem for light and blessing and been disappointed. He was returning still a seeker. As a eunuch, he was by the law an outcast and could not enter the congregation of Israel, but it did not bar him from the court of the Gentiles in which men of all nations, clean or unclean, were at liberty to worship. Both these persons, being under the direction of the Lord, would start from Samaria and Jerusalem, at the proper time, to meet in the desert. Philip at this time, directed by the Spirit, was told to join himself to the chariot. It took some effort, on the part of Philip, to get to this sinner, but he ran and met him, and found the sinner reading from Isa. 53:7-8. Philip at once asked whether he understood the scripture he was reading. He was not a believer in Christ. Philip was invited into the chariot.

QUESTIONS.

• Why was not the Holy Spirit imparted by Philip?

  This is the first revival after the stoning of Stephen, and when the news reached the Apostles in Jerusalem they sent a committee (Peter and John) to confirm the work of Philip, the evangelist.

• How and when had Philip received the Holy Spirit? 6:3-6.

• Had the Apostles' hands been laid on Philip?

  Why were the Apostles willing to confirm Philip's work among the Samaritans?

5. PHILIP'S SERMON TO THE INDIVIDUAL.

Acts 8:32-37.

(32) Now the passage of the scripture which he was reading was this, (Isa. 53:7 f) He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and as a lamb before his shearer is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth:

(33) In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: His generation who shall declare? For his life is taken from the earth,

(34) And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other? (35) And Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this scripture, preached unto him Jesus. (36) And 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? (Some ancient authorities insert, wholly or in part, ver. 37, "And Philip said, If thou believest with all thy heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.)

The inquirer, after reading a few verses from the Scriptures, asked Philip if the prophet was speaking about himself or some other man. The preacher opened his mouth and told the sinner that it was Christ the Savior that the prophet was speaking of. As the preacher continued to magnify Jesus, the eunuch began to see into the scripture and, realizing his own sinful condition, said to the preacher, " See, here is water, what doth hinder me to be baptized? " Philip was preaching Jesus, just what the sinner then needed, and just what the sinners now need.

QUESTIONS.

• What scripture was the sinner reading?

  If a sinner were reading the same scripture now, what would you tell him?

• Why could not the sinner understand this scripture?

• Did the people understand it in Isaiah's time?

6. THE SINNER REPENTS AND IS BAPTIZED.

Acts 8:38-40.

(38) And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. (39) And 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. (40) But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached the gospel to all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.

After the eunuch suggested baptism, Philip said to him, if he believed with all his heart his wishes could be complied with. He believed that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, and that He died to save sinners. The chariot stopped and Philip and the sinner went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. After baptism, when they were coming from the water, the Spirit of the Lord took Philip away from the Ethiopian, as suddenly as he was brought to him. Philip ran to overtake the eunuch, and so his leaving may have been just as sudden. The Spirit, no doubt, wanted the Ethiopian to go forward into new fields and tell the story, and Philip to work along the coast of the Mediterranean. It was God's will that this man should go on his way to his native land, and build up this saving faith. This man went on his way rejoicing. This is the only sentence the Spirit records concerning the condition of this man. " He was rejoicing." This is the experience of every man who is looking for the Light and you help him to find it.

QUESTIONS.

• Upon what condition was Philip willing- to baptize him?

• Give the convert's answer.

• Who went down into the water?

• Who was called away by the Spirit?

• Where was Philip preaching after this?

• Where is Azotus?

• What is said about the sinner after baptism?