1.
And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
Acts 8
The book of the Acts has been considered divisible into three parts--the first, containing an account of the doings of the church at Jerusalem after our Savior's ascension; the second, which begins at the eighth chapter, narrating the general history of the church in Judea, after its dispersion from Jerusalem; and the third, from the beginning of the thirteenth chapter to the end of the book, containing the personal history of Paul. This division is convenient for some purposes, though there is no reason to suppose that the author of the book had it, himself, particularly in mind.
2.
And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
3.
As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
Verse 3
Haling; seizing. He acted under authority from the chief priests, as he states in his defence before Agrippa. (Acts 26:10.)
4.
Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.
5.
Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
Verse 5
Philip. There was an apostle, (Matthew 10:3,) and also one of the seven deacons, (Acts 6:5,) of the name of Philip. It would seem, from Acts 8:14, that this individual was not one of the apostles; it is inferred, therefore, that Philip the deacon is here intended.
6.
And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
7.
For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.
8.
And there was great joy in that city.
9.
But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:
Verse 9
Used sorcery; pretended to possess supernatural powers.--Bewitched the people; amazed and bewildered them.
10.
To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.
11.
And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.
12.
But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
13.
Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
14.
Now when the apostles which 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 Ghost:
Verse 15
For them; for the Samaritan converts. This account of the visit of Peter and John to the new converts, supported by other cases somewhat similar, which are hereafter recorded, is made, by the Episcopal church, the basis of their rite of confirmation.--Receive the Holy Ghost. There is some difficulty in determining how much is implied in "receiving the Holy Ghost," in the various connections in which the expression occurs. It would seem that, in this case, it must have been attended by some visible and extraordinary manifestation, in order to attract so strongly the attention of Simon.
16.
(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
17.
Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
18.
And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
19.
Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
20.
But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
Verse 20
Thy money perish with thee; an expression of strong detestation at so base a proposal.
21.
Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
22.
Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
23.
For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.
24.
Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.
25.
And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.
26.
And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.
27.
And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,
Verse 27
Ethiopia; a part of Africa, south of Egypt.--Eunuch; a name denoting a certain class of high officers of state, connected with the royal household.
28.
Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
Verse 28
Esaias; Isaiah. He was reading, undoubtedly, a Greek translation, which had been made at Alexandria, and was then much in use.
29.
Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
30.
And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
31.
And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
32.
The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:
Verse 32
Was this; Isaiah 53:7,Isaiah 53:8. The quotation, being made from the Alexandrian translation, varies, in its phraseology, from our text, which was translated from the Hebrew. One cannot but wonder that this, of all predictions of the 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.
33.
In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? 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 man?
Verse 34
I pray thee. 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, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
Verse 35
Then Philip opened his mouth. See on Matthew 5:2. 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.
And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
Verse 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.
37.
And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
38.
And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
39.
And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.
Verse 39
Caught away Philip; led or induced him to go away. That is, he immediately withdrew, under the guidance of the Spirit.
40.
But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.
Verse 40
Azotus; a city on the sea-coast, about thirty miles north of Gaza,--the Ashdod of the Old Testament.--Cesarea. Cesarea was then the capital of Judea, being the residence of the Roman governors. It was a large seaport on the Mediterranean, about sixty miles north of Azotus.