Lesson 12:
The Scattering of the Church & the
Preaching of Philip, the Evangelist (8:1-40)
I. Overview of the Passage & Helpful
Facts for Further Bible Study
A. “A great persecution arose against the church…and they were
all scattered” (8:1).
1. Enemies of the church tried threatening, imprisoning, scourging, and
now murder.
2. The scattering of the church “to Judea and Samaria” fulfilled 1:8.
3. Saul, the persecutor, is introduced in this context, ravaging the church
(7:58-8:3).
II. Significant Truths from this
Passage for Our Understanding
A. Scattering Christians ought to be like scattering seed (8:1, 4).
1. The scattering of Christians (& killing Stephen) did not stop the growth
of Christianity.
2. Rather, wherever the Christians were scattered, the seed of the gospel
was scattered.
I. Overview of the Passage & Helpful
Facts for Further Bible Study
B. Philip was prominent in taking the gospel to Samaria
(8:4-25).
1. “Those who were scattered went everywhere (incl.
Samaria) preaching the word” (8:4).
2. While Samaria was north of Jerusalem, it was “down”
(lower) in elevation (8:5, 15).
3. There was long-term, deep-seated animosity between Jews
& Samaritans (cf. Jn. 4).
4. Philip “preached Christ” in Samaria, confirming his
message with numerous miracles, and multitudes were
converted to Christ (8:5-13).
5. The apostles imparting the Holy Spirit sparked Simon’s
material instincts (8:14-24).
II. Significant Truths from this
Passage for Our Understanding
B. To “preach the word” is parallel to and inclusive of preaching
“Christ” (8:5), “things concerning the kingdom of God” (8:12),
“the name of Jesus Christ” (8:12), “the word of the Lord”
(8:25), “the gospel” (8:25), and “Jesus” (8:35).
C. The preaching of Christ (and the N.T.) involves commands
that must be obeyed (8:6).
1. The people “heeded” (8:6, 35-36; 16:14) when they believed and
obeyed (cf. 8:12).
2. The people “heeded the things spoken” and did so “with one accord.”
D. True miracles of God are unmistakable, irrefutable & unreproducible (8:5-13).
1. When unclean spirits were cast out and lame persons were healed, that
was of God!
2. The conversion of Simon was testimony to the genuineness of Divine
miracles (8:13).
3. They must never be demeaned to the level of “magic” or “sorcery.”
II. Significant Truths from this
Passage for Our Understanding
E. Conversions to Christ in the New Testament all looked the
same (because they were)!
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Jews on Pentecost “heard,” believed and “were baptized” (2:37, 41).
The Samaritans “hearing,” “believed” and “were baptized” (8:6, 12).
Simon the Sorcerer “believed” and “was baptized” (8:12).
The Ethiopian eunuch heard, believed and was “baptized” (8:35-39).
All heard, believed & obeyed the same. How can it be different today?
F. Miraculous power of the Holy Spirit could only be imparted
by the 12 apostles (8:14-19).
1. Upon baptism, the Samaritans received forgiveness & the gift of the
Spirit (cf. 2:38).
2. They didn’t have the miraculous power of the Spirit until Peter & John
laid hands (8:17).
3. Only through the laying on of apostle’s hands (and no other) could the
miraculous gift (and powers) of the Holy Spirit be imparted (8:17-19),
which demonstrated a limited distribution of the power & a limited
duration (only as long as the apostles would live).
II. Significant Truths from this
Passage for Our Understanding
G. God has two laws of pardon: one for the nonChristian and one for the Christian.
1. Once a Christian is saved, he is not then “always saved.”
He can sin and be lost.
2. Simon, who was a child of God (8:13), erred and was in
need of forgiveness again (8:22).
3. For a Christian to be saved (pardoned) from sin, he must
“Repent and pray” (8:22).
I. Overview of the Passage & Helpful
Facts for Further Bible Study
C. Philip was sent to convert the Ethiopian Eunuch
(8:26-40).
1. Angels were never used to tell man how to be saved but
only man (cf. 2 Cor. 4:7).
2. A convert to Judaism was returning from Jerusalem to his
home/work in Ethiopia.
3. The Ethiopian was reading aloud Isaiah 53 & Philip joined
him to teach Jesus to him.
4. Philip baptized the eunuch in a body of water along the
chariot’s pathway.
II. Significant Truths from this
Passage for Our Understanding
H. The providence of God is a marvel to see at work (26-40).
1. In Acts 8, Philip met an Ethiopian riding in a chariot.
2. The Lord sent Philip from populous Samaria to an uninhabited
roadside (8:26).
3. The Lord knew there was one man whose heart was searching
and ripe for harvest.
4. In order to have Philip meet Ethiopian riding in chariot, the Lord:
a)Had to know when Ethiopian would leave Jeru & speed of travel.
b)Had to know precise time & place He wanted the two men to meet.
c) Had to know exactly when Ethiopian would be reading Isaiah 53.
d)Had to know Philip’s speed of travel from Samaria to destination.
e)Had to know sufficient water along the roadside at needed time.
f) Had to send Philip at least one full day before Ethiopian left Jeru.
5. The Lord sent Philip to this remote location for only one man to
be saved (8:40).
II. Significant Truths from this
Passage for Our Understanding
I. It is impossible to “preach Jesus” without preaching the
necessity of baptism (8:35-36).
1. Only exclusive revelation about Philip’s sermon: he used Isaiah 53 to
preach Jesus.
2. The first recorded response of the Ethiopian to the sermon: I want to
be baptized!
3. Why now? Why here? Because his salvation hinged on it! Only then
could he rejoice!
4. Baptism was part of every completed gospel sermon to sinners in Acts!
This is known either by reading the words of the sermon itself or by
reading the results!
J. Baptism is by immersion (8:38-39).
1. They “both…went down into the water” and “came up out of the
water” (8:38-39).
2. The action & object of the verb will not allow for pouring/sprinkling—
only immersion.
3. The Greek verb itself (baptizo) means “to dip, immerse, submerge,
plunge.”
III. Practical Points of Application
for Our Lives
A. Regardless what happens to us, may we go “everywhere
preaching the word”!
B. Let us build our faith to be strong enough to withstand any
persecution brought on us!
C. Let us decide we will be used by God in any place we find
ourselves & every place we go!
D. We can all “preach Jesus”! That is what was preached to us,
so that we could be saved!