Acts 8:1-25
Today's Passage: Acts 8:1-25
Acts 8 opens with Saul approving of the execution of Stephen in chapter 7, and notes that he was “ravaging the church.”
What we see is:
The church persecuted leads to the church scattered; the church scattered leads to the gospel advancing.
The rest of chapter 8 largely focuses on the gospel ministry of a man named Philip. This is a different Philip than Philip the disciple—this Philip is nicknakmed, “Philip the Evangelist,” and we see why in chapter 8.
Philip the Evangelist was possibly one of the 72 that Jesus sent out in Luke 10:1 (this is just a theory, the BIble does not confirm this anywhere). We also see him as one of the deacons selected in Acts 6:5.
In verses 5-6, we see what Philip was doing: “5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. 6 And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs that he did.”
Think back to Acts 1:8 for a moment: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” What is really cool is that God uses the faithfulness of Philip to see the gospel reach Samaria, just like he said would happen in Acts 1:8!
What can you take away? Philip wasn’t a super-Christian, he was just faithful. He was faithful in proclaiming Christ, he was faithful in being zealous and bold with the truth, and in being used by God for His glory. And so can you and I!
Today, let’s pray for increased gospel and evangelisitic passion in ourselves and in our church.
Written By: Graham Withers
Acts 8 opens with Saul approving of the execution of Stephen in chapter 7, and notes that he was “ravaging the church.”
What we see is:
The church persecuted leads to the church scattered; the church scattered leads to the gospel advancing.
The rest of chapter 8 largely focuses on the gospel ministry of a man named Philip. This is a different Philip than Philip the disciple—this Philip is nicknakmed, “Philip the Evangelist,” and we see why in chapter 8.
Philip the Evangelist was possibly one of the 72 that Jesus sent out in Luke 10:1 (this is just a theory, the BIble does not confirm this anywhere). We also see him as one of the deacons selected in Acts 6:5.
In verses 5-6, we see what Philip was doing: “5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. 6 And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs that he did.”
Think back to Acts 1:8 for a moment: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” What is really cool is that God uses the faithfulness of Philip to see the gospel reach Samaria, just like he said would happen in Acts 1:8!
What can you take away? Philip wasn’t a super-Christian, he was just faithful. He was faithful in proclaiming Christ, he was faithful in being zealous and bold with the truth, and in being used by God for His glory. And so can you and I!
Today, let’s pray for increased gospel and evangelisitic passion in ourselves and in our church.
Written By: Graham Withers
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