---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Acts 8"
description: "CHAPTER 8   :-. PERSECUTION
CONTINUED, IN WHICH
SAUL TAKES
A PROMINENT
PART—HOW
OVERRULED FOR GOOD. 1. Saul was consenting unto his
death—The word express"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/acts/8"
---

CHAPTER 8

. PERSECUTION
CONTINUED, IN WHICH
SAUL TAKES
A PROMINENT
PART—HOW
OVERRULED FOR GOOD.

**1. Saul was consenting unto his
death**—The word expresses hearty approval.
**they were all scattered
abroad**—all the leading Christians, particularly the preachers,
agreeably to their Lord's injunctions (), though many doubtless remained, and others (as appears by
[Acts 9:26-30](../../../kjv/acts/9/26-30)) soon
returned.
**except the apostles**—who
remained, not certainly as being less exposed to danger, but, at
whatever risk, to watch over the infant cause where it was most
needful to cherish it.

**2. and devout men**—pious Jews,
probably, impressed with admiration for Stephen and secretly inclined
to Christianity, but not yet openly declared.

**3. Saul . . . entering into every
house**—like as inquisitor [BENGEL].
**haling men and women,**
c.—See his own affecting confessions afterwards ([Acts 22:4](../../../kjv/acts/22/4)
[Acts 26:9](../../../kjv/acts/26/9); [Acts 26:10](../../../kjv/acts/26/10);
[1 Corinthians 15:9](../../../kjv/1-corinthians/15/9); [Galatians 1:13](../../../kjv/galatians/1/13);
[Philippians 3:6](../../../kjv/philippians/3/6); [1 Timothy 1:13](../../../kjv/1-timothy/1/13)).

**4. they that were scattered abroad
went everywhere preaching**—Though solemnly enjoined to do this
([Luke 24:47](../../../kjv/luke/24/47); [Acts 1:8](../../../kjv/acts/1/8)),
they would probably have lingered at Jerusalem, but for this besom of
persecution which swept them out. How often has the rage of Christ's
enemies thus "turned out rather unto the furtherance of the
Gospel" (see [Philippians 1:12](../../../kjv/philippians/1/12);
[Philippians 1:13](../../../kjv/philippians/1/13)).
[Philippians 1:13](../../../kjv/philippians/1/13). SUCCESS OF
PHILIP'S PREACHING
IN SAMARIA—CASE
OF SIMON MAGUS.

**5. Then Philip**—not the apostle
of that name, as was by some of the Fathers supposed; for besides
that the apostles remained at Jerusalem, they would in that case have
had no occasion to send a deputation of their own number to lay their
hands on the baptized disciples [GROTIUS].
It was the deacon of that name, who comes next after Stephen in the
catalogue of the seven, probably as being the next most prominent.
The persecution may have been directed especially against Stephen's
colleagues [MEYER].
**the city of Samaria**—or
"a city of Samaria"; but the former seems more likely. "It
furnished the bridge between Jerusalem and the world"
[BAUMGARTEN].

**6-8. the people with one accord gave
heed to . . . Philip**—the way being prepared perhaps by the
fruits of our Lord's sojourn, as He Himself seems to intimate (see on
). But "we may mark
the providence of God in sending a Grecian, or a Hellenistic Jew, to
a people who from national antipathy would have been unlikely to
attend to a *native* of Judea" [WEBSTER
and WILKINSON].

**8. great joy in that city**—over
the change wrought on it by the Gospel, as well as the cures which
attested its divine character.

**9-13. used sorcery**—magical
arts.
**some great one . . . the
great power of God**—a sort of incarnation of divinity.

**10. To whom all gave heed . . .
because of long time he had bewitched them**—This, coupled with
the rapidity with which they deserted him and attached themselves to
Philip, shows the ripeness of Samaria for some religious change.

**9-13. used sorcery**—magical
arts.
**some great one . . . the
great power of God**—a sort of incarnation of divinity.

**12. were baptized, both men and
women**—the detection of Simon's frauds helping to extend and
deepen the effects of Philip's preaching.

**13. Then Simon himself believed
also**—Left without followers, he thinks it best to join the man
who had fairly outstripped him, not without a touch of real
conviction.
**and . . . was baptized**—What
a light does this throw on what is called *Baptismal Regeneration!*
**he continued with Philip**—"was
in constant attendance upon" him.

**14-17. the apostles . . . sent Peter
and John**—showing that they regarded Peter as no more than their
own equal.

**15, 16. prayed . . . they might
receive the Holy Ghost. (For only they were baptized in the name of
the Lord Jesus)**—As the baptism of adults presupposed "the
renewing of the Holy Ghost" ([Titus 3:5-7](../../../kjv/titus/3/5-7);
[1 Corinthians 12:13](../../../kjv/1-corinthians/12/13)), of which the
profession of faith had to be taken for evidence, this communication
of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of the apostles' hands was clearly
a *superadded* thing; and as it was only *occasional,* so
it was invariably *attended with miraculous manifestations* (see
[Acts 10:44](../../../kjv/acts/10/44), where it followed
Peter's preaching; and [Acts 10:44](../../../kjv/acts/10/44), where, as here, it followed the laying on of hands). In
the present case an important object was served by it—"the
sudden appearance of a body of baptized disciples in Samaria, by the
agency of one who was not an apostle, requiring the presence and
power of apostles to perform their special part as the divinely
appointed founders of the Church" [ALFORD].
Beautiful, too, was the spectacle exhibited of Jew and Samaritan, one
in Christ.

**14-17. the apostles . . . sent Peter
and John**—showing that they regarded Peter as no more than their
own equal.

**18-24. offered them money**—Hence
the term *simony,* to denote trafficking in sacred things, but
chiefly the purchase of ecclesiastical offices.

**19. that on whomsoever I lay hands,
he may receive the Holy Ghost**—*Spiritual ambition* here
shows itself the key to this wretched man's character.

**20. Thy money perish with thee**—that
is, "Accursed be thou and thy money with thee." It is the
language of mingled horror and indignation, not unlike our Lord's
rebuke of Peter himself ().

**21. Thou hast neither part nor lot .
. . thy heart is not fight,** &c.—This is the fidelity of a
minister of Christ to one deceiving himself in a very awful manner.

**22. Repent . . . pray . . . if
perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven**—this
expression of doubt being designed to impress upon him the greatness
of his sin, and the need of alarm on his part.

**23. in the gall of bitterness and .
. . bond of iniquity**—expressing both the awfulness of his
condition and the captivity to it in which he was held.

**24. Pray ye to the Lord for me**—Peter
had urged him to pray for himself: he asks those wonder-working men
to do it for him; having no confidence in the prayer of faith, but
thinking that those men possessed some peculiar interest with heaven.
**that none of these things
dome upon me**—not that the thought of his wicked heart might be
forgiven him, but only that the evils threatened might be averted
from him. While this throws great light on Peter's view of his
melancholy case, it shows that Christianity, as something divine,
still retained its hold of him. (Tradition represents him as turning
out a great heresiarch, mingling Oriental or Grecian philosophy with
some elements of Christianity.)

**25. and they**—Peter and John.
**when they had . . .
preached**—in the city where Philip's labors had been so richly
blessed.
**returned . . . and preached .
. . in many villages of the Samaritans**—embracing the
opportunity of their journey back to Jerusalem to fulfil their Lord's
commission to the whole region of Samaria ().
. THE ETHIOPIAN
EUNUCH.
"With this narrative of the
progress of the Gospel among the Samaritans is connected another
which points to the diffusion of the doctrine of the Cross among the
remotest nations. The simplicity of the chamberlain of Meroe forms a
remarkable contrast with the craft of the magician just described"
[OLSHAUSEN].

**26-28. the angel of the Lord**—rather,
"an angel."
**go . . . south, the way that
goeth down from Jerusalem to Gaza**—There was such a road, across
Mount Hebron, which Philip might take without going to Jerusalem (as
VON RAUMER'S'S
*Palæstina* shows).
**which is desert**—that
is, *the way;* not Gaza itself, which was the southernmost city
of Palestine, in the territory of the ancient Philistines. To go from
a city, where his hands had been full of work, so far away on a
desert road, could not but be staggering to the faith of Philip,
especially as he was kept in ignorance of the object of the journey.
But like Paul, he "was not disobedient to the heavenly vision";
and like Abram, "he went out not knowing whither he went"
([Acts 26:19](../../../kjv/acts/26/19); [Hebrews 11:8](../../../kjv/hebrews/11/8)).

**27. a man of Ethiopia**—Upper
Egypt, Meroe.
**an eunuch of great
authority**—Eunuchs were generally employed for confidential
offices in the East, and to some extent are still.
**Candace**—the family name
of the queens of Upper Egypt, like Pharaoh, Cæsar, c. (as appears
from classic authors).
**had come to Jerusalem to
worship**—that is, to keep the recent feast of Pentecost, as a
Gentile proselyte to the Jewish faith. (See [Isaiah 56:3-8](../../../kjv/isaiah/56/3-8)
[John 12:20](../../../kjv/john/12/20)).

**28. Was returning**—Having come
so far, he not only stayed out the days of the festival, but
prolonged his stay till now. It says much for his fidelity and value
to his royal mistress that he had such liberty. But the faith in
Jehovah and love of His worship and word, with which he was imbued,
sufficiently explain this.
**and sitting in his chariot,
read Esaias**—Not contented with the statutory services in which
he had joined, he beguiles the tedium of the journey homeward by
reading the Scriptures. But this is not all; for as Philip "heard
him read the prophet Esaias," he must have been reading aloud
and not (as is customary still in the East) so as merely to be
audible, but in a louder voice than he would naturally have used if
intent on his own benefit only: evidently therefore he was *reading
to his charioteer.*

**29-31. the Spirit said**—by an
unmistakable voice within, as in [Acts 10:19](../../../kjv/acts/10/19);
[Acts 16:6](../../../kjv/acts/16/6); [Acts 16:7](../../../kjv/acts/16/7).
**go near and join this
chariot**—This would reveal to Philip the hitherto unknown object
of his journey, and encourage him to expect something.

**30. Understandest thou what thou
readest?**—To one so engaged this would be deemed no rude
question, while the eager appearance of the speaker, and the question
itself, would indicate a readiness to supply any want of insight that
might be felt.

**31. How can I, except some man guide
me?**—Beautiful expression at once of humility and docility; the
invitation to Philip which immediately followed, to "come up and
sit with him," being but the natural expression of this.

**32, 33. The place . . . was this, He
was led as a sheep,** &c.—One cannot but wonder that this, of
all predictions of Messiah's sufferings in the Old Testament the most
striking, should have been that which the eunuch was reading before
Philip joined him. He could hardly miss to have heard at Jerusalem of
the sufferings and death of Jesus, and of the existence of a
continually increasing party who acknowledged Him to be the Messiah.
But his question to Philip, whether the prophet in this passage meant
himself or some other man, clearly shows that he had not the least
idea of any connection between this prediction and those facts.

**34-38. And the eunuch answered, I
pray thee,** c.—The respect with which he here addresses Philip
was prompted by his reverence for one whom he perceived to be his
superior in divine things his own worldly position sinking before
this.

**35. Then Philip opened his
mouth**—(See on ).
**began at the same
scripture**—founding on it as his text.
**preached unto him
Jesus**—showing Him to be the glorious Burden of this wonderful
prediction, and interpreting it in the light of the facts of His
history.

**36. See,*****here is*****water**—more simply, "Behold water!" as if already his
mind filled with light and his soul set free, he was eagerly looking
out for the first water in which he might seal his reception of the
truth and be enrolled among the visible disciples of the Lord Jesus.
**what doth hinder me to be
baptized?**—Philip had probably told him that this was the
ordained sign and seal of discipleship, but the eunuch's question was
likely the first proposal of its application in this case. ( is wanting in the principal manuscripts and most venerable
versions of the New Testament. It seems to have been added from the
formularies for baptism which came into current use).

**34-38. And the eunuch answered, I
pray thee,** c.—The respect with which he here addresses Philip
was prompted by his reverence for one whom he perceived to be his
superior in divine things his own worldly position sinking before
this.

**38. they went down both into the
water, and he baptized him,** &c.—probably laving the water
upon him, though the precise mode is neither certain nor of any
consequence.

**39, 40. the Spirit of the Lord
caught away Philip**—To deny [as MEYER,
OLSHAUSEN, BLOOMFIELD]
the miraculous nature of Philip's disappearance, is vain. It stands
out on the face of the words, as just a repetition of what we read of
the ancient prophets, in [1 Kings 18:12](../../../kjv/1-kings/18/12);
[2 Kings 2:16](../../../kjv/2-kings/2/16). And the same word (as
BENGEL remarks) is
employed to express a similar idea in [2 Corinthians 12:2](../../../kjv/2-corinthians/12/2);
[2 Corinthians 12:4](../../../kjv/2-corinthians/12/4); [1 Thessalonians 4:17](../../../kjv/1-thessalonians/4/17).
**the eunuch saw him no
more**—nor, perhaps, for very joy, cared to see him [BENGEL].
**and he went on his way
rejoicing**—He had found Christ, and the key to the Scriptures;
his soul was set free, and his discipleship sealed; he had lost his
teacher, but gained what was infinitely better: He felt himself a new
man, and "his joy was full." Tradition says he was the
first preacher of the Gospel in Ethiopia; and how, indeed, could he
choose but "tell what the Lord had done for his soul?" Yet
there is no certainty as to any historical connection between his
labors and the introduction of Christianity into that country.

**40. Philip was found**—that is,
"found himself," "made his appearance": an
expression confirming the miraculous manner of his transportation.
**at Azotus**—the ancient
Ashdod.
**preached in all the
cities**—along the coast, proceeding northward.
**till he came to
Cæsarea**—fifty-five miles northwest of Jerusalem, on the
Mediterranean, just south of Mount Carmel; and so named by Herod, who
rebuilt it, in honor of Cæsar Augustus. Henceforth we lose sight of
zealous and honored Philip, as by and by we shall lose sight even of
Peter. As the chariot of the Gospel rolls on, other agents are raised
up, each suited to his work. But "he that soweth and he that
reapeth shall rejoice together." (See on ).

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