232. PHILIP'S PREACHING TO SAMARIA AND ETHIOPIA

“When they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptised, both men and women."

Following the stoning of Stephen, violent persecution broke out against the Jerusalem ecclesia. Its members, except the twelve Apostles, were scattered throughout neighbouring Judea and Samaria. Some Ravelled as far away as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch (Acts 11:19). However, the Good News of God's Message which Stephen so courageously spoke could not be silenced. Undaunted, the scattered and homeless believers preached as they went from place to place. Thus the surprising effect of the persecution was that Christ's ecclesia flourished. Acts 8 records for us the effect of the vigorous preaching work of one of the disciples — Philip. By his mouth there came belief and great rejoicing in Samaria, a city populated by people with whom Jews would normally have nothing to do. Through Philip again, a complete revelation came to an important Gentile proselyte, the Ethiopian eunuch. And so, Acts 8 is a record of the first moves made towards breaking down Jewish-Gentile barriers. All those who are earnestly seeking for salvation, whoever they are will be shown the way of life through baptism into Christ.

Acts 8

THE TRUTH COMES TO SAMARIA (verses 1-8).

The pent-up hatred of the Jewish authorities that Was unleashed against Stephen flowed on to the Jerusalem ecclesia. There Saul "beyond Measure persecuted the ecclesia of God and wasted it" (Gal. 1:13; see also Acts 22:4, 19, 20; 26:9-11).

Among those of "The Way" who fled to Samaria was Philip, one of the seven brethren appointed to look after the needs of the Greek-speaking Jewish widows in the Jerusalem ecclesia (Acts 6:5).

Normally, Jews had as little as possible to do with their half-brothers, the Samaritans, who practised a mixed-up form of the Law of Moses (see 2 Kings 17:41; John 4:22). Despite this, Philip showed no hesitation in proclaiming the Messiah on arriving in the city of Samaria. No doubt he appreciated that the Master himself had preached to Samaritans at Sychar and that many had believed that he was the Messiah for whom they looked, even the Saviour of the World (John 4:39-42). According to Christ's command, Philip was preaching the Word, in the "field" which Christ had seen was in need of labourers.

The response to Philip's zealous announcing of the things concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, was overwhelming. People, one and all, listened attentively to the Gospel, while the Miracles Philip performed convinced them. Because many demoniacs were freed and many paralysed and lame people were cured, there was a great rejoicing in Samaria.

It is important for us to notice that the multitude both heard the Word of God and saw the miracles. The people were genuinely interested in the Gospel message itself and valued it as "a pearl of great price." The Lord's experience with the Samaritan's had been the same. John 4:41 records that, apart from the woman at the well "many more believed because of his own word". There is a lesson here for us, too. Throughout his ministry Jesus had stressed the importance of the life-giving words he spoke (e.g., John 6:63). The signs he performed were to prove that his words were from God. They were designed to help the people, and us, believe that Jesus was the Anointed One, the Son of God (John 20:31).

SIMON THE MAGICIAN (verses 9-13).

In the crowd of Samaritans was a man named Simon who was more interested in what he saw than what he heard. He had been practising magic arts in Samaria for some time, astonishing the people with his skill, so much so that they were saying "This man must be the power of God which men call "The Great Power!" (Acts 8:10). However with Philip's coming he found his followers listening attentively to a man with a far greater message. Simon had lost his spell. What could he do? He saw the people believe the Gospel of the true Messiah and then renounce their former ways by being baptised. Temporarily humbling himself he decided to believe also, and after his baptism he attached himself to Philip, he being now mystified by Philip's great miracles. Despite this apparent conversion, the following events proved that his real interest lay in the wonderful works which had been done, and not in the message itself. His respect stemmed from his own inability to do the miracles Philip did, and not from a love of the Gospel. Men like Simon do not sincerely accept the Truth.

THE VISIT OF PETER AND JOHN (verses 14-25).

The progress of the faith in Samaria was so remarkable that the im­mediate presence of two chief Apostles was required. Only the Apostles could lay their hands on the people so that they could receive the gift of the Holy Spirit which would indicate God's approval of their baptism. Peter and John laid their hands on the people. Just as on the Day of Pentecost, those who had repented and been baptised received the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). There now stood Samaritans, hated enemies of the Jews, able to demonstrate the powers of the Holy Spirit! Indeed the fulfilment of Acts 1:8 was beginning to come to pass: the Apostles were witnessing for Jesus Christ outside of Jerusalem and Judea.

The visit of Peter and John also had another purpose for there was one convert in Samaria whose heart was not right in the sight of God. Simon saw in the giving of the Holy Spirit his opportunity to regain his lost status. If only he too could lay hands on people and give them power. What a notable man he would then become. No doubt Simon purposed to make money out of the spiritual gift. Here was evil motive at its worst.

Seeing Simon's sin, Peter sternly rebuked him, saying, "Your silver perish with you." He straightly told Simon that he had no part with them (i.e. the Apostles) in the work of salvation because his mind in God's eyes was completely fleshly in its thinking. Peter exhorted him to repent, if indeed the intentions of his heart could be forgiven him. In saying that he could see that Simon was in "the gall of bitterness and the bondage of unrighteousness". Peter meant that Simon was trapped in a state of extreme wickedness (v.23), comparable to Esau who traded the birthright for his own material desires (see Heb. 12:16).

Simon, however, appears not to see the point of Peter's strong words calling for repentance. He merely besought both Peter and John to pray that he be kept safe from God's judgment! And so, while forgiveness was possible, it could not be granted to one whose heart was not repentant (hence v.22). He would have to prove himself worthy of forgiveness.

Following the incident with Simon, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem. As they went they preached in many Samaritan villages. An angel clearly directed Philip to go beyond Jerusalem to the road leading to Gaza across the desert. He had another special work to perform with a sincere man earnestly seeking for the Truth.

THE TRUTH COMES TO AN ETHIOPIAN (verses 26-40).

Upon the angel's command Philip rose and went, acting in faith. While on the desert route, he came across an Ethiopian eunuch, unmarried and unable to produce children yet a high official of Candace queen of Ethiopia and in charge of all her treasures. This convert to the Jewish faith had travelled over 1500 km from a country on the Upper Nile in Africa to Jerusalem to worship! (v.27). He was therefore well aware of the promises of the Kingdom but was lacking in understanding of the identity of the King in that Kingdom, i.e., the role to be played by the Lord Jesus Christ. Philip was about to complete that understanding. And now, returning home he was occupying his time studying the Scriptures, as he sat in his chariot at the head of his company of men. As he read aloud from Isaiah, the Spirit of God said to Philip, "Go near and join thyself to this chariot." And so Philip ran up and asked the eunuch, "Do you understand what you are reading?" He replied "How can I, unless someone guides me?" and then he earnestly invited Philip to come up and sit with him. It was in this chariot that one humble and inquiring mind would soon be given the knowledge essential for salvation.

The eunuch had been reading Isa. 53:7-8 — "He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearers, so opened not he his mouth. In his humiliation his judgment was taken away (i.e., justice was denied him) and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth" (vv. 32-33).

The eunuch was perplexed. Was Isaiah referring to himself or to some other man? This same prophecy spoke of one who died unmarried (like the eunuch) and yet who would eventually have children (Isa. 53:10, 11). How could this be so?

Then Philip commencing with these verses from Isaiah's servant prophecy, taught the eunuch the good news concerning Jesus, He it was who was slain unjustly without any natural children to continue his name. However he it was too who would prosper and who would eventually come to see his seed (Isa. 53:10). By his obedience many people both Jew and Gentile would be cleansed from their sins (Isa. 53:12). Step by step Philip showed the Ethiopian who already understood the basic Hope of Israel that the Old Testament prophecies related to Jesus the Saviour. He explained to him that since Christ had been crucified, buried and resurrected and had ascended, men could be saved from death only by belief and baptism into his saving name, as Jesus himself taught (Mark 16:15-16).

So moved was the eunuch by this grand message that as they proceeded on their way and came to water he exclaimed "See here is water! What is to prevent me being baptised?" Upon the eunuch's confession of belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the chariot was stopped. The Ethio­pian, together with Philip, went down into the water and came up out of the water. Whereupon the Spirit of God caught away Philip to Azotus (i.e., Ashdod). The immersed eunuch, now Philip's brother in Christ, travelled on his way, full of joy at his new-found hope. His understanding was complete. He too was a name bearer of Christ, and ambassador for Christ in his own land.

Philip continued his preaching in the towns along the sea coast of Palestine, a largely Gentile area (vv. 39-40). He was to extend the net of the Gospel to the Gentiles yet further a field.

LESSONS FOR US:

The lesson introduces to us the first of "the other sheep" not of the fold of Israel, whom Jesus predicted would hear his voice (John 10:16). Those who were once without hope were now children of God by faith, held together by love in a group where there was "neither Jew nor Greek . . . bond nor free . . . male nor female but all one in Christ Jesus (Gal. 3:26-28).

The Gospel net had dramatically widened, first north to Samaria and then south to Ethiopia. Jesus taught that the Gospel net catches good and bad fish. Both the despised Samaritans and the foreign, dark-skinned Ethiopian sought the way of life and then sincerely rejoiced at their call­ing to be children of God. By contrast, however, there was one man whose heart was not right. Simon stands as a warning that our "conversion" must be genuine and that forgiveness is offered, conditional on our sincere attitude and our willingness to change our ways.

Whoever we may be, God requires a genuine belief in His Son and then a total immersion in the waters of baptism to publicly demonstrate repentance If we are insincere and hardened in sin like Simon we will be resurrected at the time of the end. To be rescued from sin and death we must do more than simply believe the signs of the times that we can see. We must believe God's words listening attentively to them. By following the Sample of the joyful Samaritans and the Ethiopian, we who are Gentiles will find lasting joy and acceptance at the judgment seat of Christ. God also requires us to tell other people around us the exciting message of the Bible, just as Philip did. Our hope will then be a living one, giving us peace' of mind now and confidence for the future.

REFERENCE LIBRARY:

"The Story of the Bible" (H. P. Mansfield) — Vol. 13, pp. 56-64

"The Christadelphian Instructor" — Lessons 62, 63, page 187

PARAGRAPH QUESTIONS:

1. Describe the response of the Samaritans to the preaching and miracles of Philip.

2. Describe the attitude of Simon the Magician, and explain how it was not acceptable to God.

3. Using examples from the lesson on Philip's preaching to the Ethiopian Eunuch, show the conditions necessary for true baptism.

ESSAY QUESTIONS:

1. Briefly describe Philip's preaching work after Stephen's death.

2. What lessons do we learn from the attitude of the Samaritans and Simon the sorcerer?

3. Describe and explain the events connected with the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch.