Acts 8

Stephen has been stoned and "...Saul was consenting to his death..." Acts 8:1a

This means that Saul was also guilty of murder even though he did not pick up a stone. This is a disciple of one of the top two rabbis in Israel. He knew scripture! He was a pillar of the community, a citizen of Rome no less! He knew the crowd had broken Jewish and Roman law, but he stood there like a coat rack, doing nothing.

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." Edmund Burke

How often do we stand silent when something goes terribly wrong?

"I was just holding the coats...I was just sitting there...I was just walking by...I didn't want to get involved...I was on my cell...I had my kids with me...I can't lose my job...what would my neighbors think...they won't listen to me...somebody else will do it..."

Whoever knows what is right to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. James 4:17

And with the unspoken approval of men like Saul, the floodgates were opened and the persecution of the first church began. "...and they were all scattered throughout the region of Judea and Sama'ria..." Acts 8:1b

Sound familiar? You see, the church was cozy there in Jerusalem. They had a huge number of people and converting more every day. But remember what Jesus said?

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Sama'ria and to the end of the earth." Acts 1:8

I bet the first church thought the "be my witnesses in all Judea and Sama'ria" meant a volunteer ministry of sorts. I bet they thought someone else would step up to the plate. I hear that in our church today. "I'm a sender, not a go-er!"

The first Christians were far from thinking about fleeing to those places! But I bet the apostles remembered what Jesus said.

When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel, before the Son of man comes. Matthew 10:23

So the church is scattered across the land. Their first evangelist is martyred. And Philip appears. Remember him? He was one of the table servers with Stephen. So Philip travels directly to Samaria.

Do you recall, Samaria is the pothole of Israel. Everyone avoided it. Their trips were longer because they had to plan routes around it. And here is Philip, a Greek going directly to Samaria. He begins to share the Gospel. He also performs signs and wonders.

Evidently there was a lot of spiritual bondage going on there. Probably caused by people like Simon the magician. When people don't feel like they have a healthy self-image, they'll grab onto anything that gives them a sense of power.

You remember the high school cliques...if you didn't have strength, beauty, money or brains...you were tossed into the misfits group. These kids are normally the shy ones, the ones that are not as pretty, the poor, the gawky, the different. Sometimes when these teens try to find power, they'd dress outlandishly or create a make believe world that they are in control of...these are the ones who dabble in occult, role playing, heavy metal, goth culture...they stuff their anger and it comes out in virtual reality games. Sometimes it spills over into real life.

So for the Samaritans, the half-breed rejects of Israel, they grasp onto the occult because someone told them they could have power. They find themselves in spiritual bondage, some of them are possessed by spirits, some literally paralyzed. They found they gave up what little strength they had to the father of lies and they served countless gods, or the next magician that came along.

Philip comes on the scene and shares the Gospel, the Good News with them. He delivers many from possession, the lame walk, the paralyzed are free. People believe and are baptized.

Spiritual bondage is crumbling throughout the land and a magician named Simon takes notice. He hears Philip and believes. He is even baptized.

Word gets back to the apostles in Jerusalem. They send Peter and John to confirm the work. You see, up until that time, the Holy Spirit had not been given to non-Jews...especially Samaritans. So Peter and John lay hands on them and they receive the Holy Spirit.

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28

Now Simon saw this happen and his old nature kicked in. He thought he could make money off of it somehow. So he offered money and asked for the Holy Spirit. The worries of the world, or the desire of money tripped him up.

Other seed fell among thorns and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. Mark 4:7

He was rebuked by Peter, "Your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!"

He sounds very frightened in his answer, "Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me." Some theologians argue if he was a true believer or just a back slider.

This is a warning to all who think they can profit from spiritual gifts. Mediums charge a lot of money to look into their crystal balls, tarot cards or chicken bones. Why should we even think to charge money for praying to heal someone? The Holy Spirit is a gift from God. And that is priceless!

So now Philip is told by an angel to go to a certain road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. (I had to chuckle--today we have computers in our cars saying, "Left turn in 2.2 miles".)

And Philip, (which means lover of horses) sees an Ethiopian court official seated in his chariot, reading aloud from Isaiah. So the Spirit tells him "Go up and join this chariot."

This is a wonderful example of street evangelism. Just walking up to a stranger...not because you feel you should, but because you are compelled by the Holy Spirit. Ever had that feeling, standing in the grocery line? Ever get that rib nudge in the doctor's office, watching someone reading a book? The Holy Spirit will direct us to speak to people. He'll even tell us what to say.

...for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Matthew 10:20

All Philip did was ask what he was reading. And it turns out the man didn't understand it. So God put these two together in a divine appointment. The Ethiopian who desired to know more, and Philip who was ready to serve. And so he believed and was baptized at the first body of water they came upon.

So if you back track and read just who this Ethiopian is..."a minister of the Can'dace, queen of the Ethiopians" you will realize that Jesus' direction in Acts 1:8 is happening, because Ethiopia was considered on the edge of the world in Africa. And you know after all of the Ethiopian's rejoicing, he was not about to stay silent about the Good News!

Philip was bold to go to Samaria. Then he was obedient to listen to the Spirit speak to him about a road. Then "the Spirit of the Lord caught up Philip". His service was needed elsewhere and God was moving him--literally! Can you imagine? No airport, no bus stop, no passport, just whisked into another place in the world.

But Philip was found at Azo'tus, and passing on he preached the gospel to all the towns till he came to Caesare'a. Acts 8:40

We will see him one more time.

How do you think we should apply this chapter to our lives? It all depends on what the Holy Spirit speaks to you.

He may be talking to you about some past occult practices that you need to confess and repent of.

He may be whispering a name in your ear that you need to speak to. They have questions that only you can answer for them.

He may even be saying it's time to take a step towards your Samaria, your ministry. Will you be obedient like Philip?

Be ready my sisters. Because when the Spirit moves you, you may find yourself in a place you never would have expected!

How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, "HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!" Romans 10:15