The Church spreads Acts 8:1-25
This chapter begins with an ominous note. The enemies of the gospel have found a new champion! Saul was consenting to his death. And yet this chapter records the first advances of the NT church into Samaria and the rest of the earth.
It is often God’s way that when things look blackest and most dangerous that He overrules to advance His own cause. The cause of Christ is always advancing. Even in times of great trouble it cannot be derailed or overthrown. Cp Eph 1:9-11.
I PERSECUTION SCATTERS THE CHURCH.
- Beginning. Stephen’s death was just the beginning of a vicious systematic pogrom of cleansing out believers, v3. The enemies of Christ are incited to new extremes of hatred. Saul’s role is specially prominent. His mission is to destroy the church and drags off men and women to prison and to death. Cp 26:1-11. God’s people have often faced such times of opposition.
- Grassroots believers scattered, v1. Saints previously living in Jerusalem were forced to flee to other parts of the country. The Apostles stay in Jerusalem. The fabric of the church structure in Jerusalem seems largely broken up at this time. At least one of the deacons, Philip, is found in Samaria, v5ff and is later based in Caesarea, v40. This scattering was of God! The Saviour had given a command, 1:8—an echo of His great Commission, Mark 16:15—but it had not been obeyed. Even in the scattering there is a conforming to the will of God.
- They did not give up on the gospel, v4.They no longer had the Apostles to give a lead but the work goes on. True saints of God cannot simply abandon their calling even in such dire times. They continued to witness for Christ, and preachers emerged from among their ranks—men like Philip. How much would we do for the Lord in such a setting?
II PHILIP’S MINISTRY IN SAMARIA.
Philip the deacon—not the Apostle by the same name—comes to Samaria.
- Power, v5. Philip’s ministry was one of the demonstrated power of God. These signs were given to confirm the word, Mark 16:20. His was a Christ-centred message, v5, 12, accompanied by power to deliver men from the rule of satan/sin in body and soul.
- Many converts, v6-8. Many were persuaded by his message. Wonderful deliverances were wrought. Great joy prevailed in the city.
- Baptism, v12. Baptism is a symbol of the new life the sinner enjoys in Christ. It signifies union with the death of Christ and with His resurrection, Rom 6:4. It is symbolic of a newly washed state before God and the profession of a desire to live clean before Him. These saints were baptized upon profession of faith. It is interesting to note that in the structure of the narrative, there is an emphasis in their baptism on their repudiation of the false teaching they had previously embraced.
- The Holy Spirit, v14-17. It was clearly an Apostolic theme that believers were to seek for the fullness of the Spirit in their lives. As this apostolic delegation arrives to review the work, they present these saints before God for filling by the Spirit. Their faith was endorsed by the Apostles.
III SIMON THE SORCEROR.
- His track record, v9-11. He was a long-time servant of Satan in the city masquerading as a servant of God! How easily men confuse the works of Satan with the power of God. He exercised a fascination over the city.
- A profession of faith, v13. His was not true saving faith as the sequel shows. He was baptized upon the strength of his profession. It is never the preacher’s job to determine the true state of the heart beyond what he can assess from the external evidence available. Simon continued for a time with Philip. Yet even the record of v13 adds a note that becomes significant in the light of later events: …beholding the miracles…He was enamoured of the power he saw.
- His true character exposed, v18-19. It is exposed by his offer to pay for an experience of the Spirit of God. He gives his name to the practice of purchasing offices in the church—‘simony’. It is a wicked, sinful thing to suppose that the gracious work of God may be obtained by the payment of a price/contribution on our part. No man can be saved until he abandons such an idea!
- A stern rebuke, v20-23. Peter determines that here is the evidence that Simon is not a Christian. It is interesting that it is Peter and not Philip who makes this call here. Simon had professed faith, been baptized etc but he was still in fact the slave of sin. Peter’s rebuke includes a command to repent and call on God for mercy. Simon could not do this and desired Peter to pray for him. This is never the answer to getting right with God!
The Apostles return to Jerusalem, v25, their work done in Samaria, preaching as they go. They go back into the centre of hostility and persecution because that is where their work lay.