“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. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison” (Acts 8:1-31And 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 Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. 3As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. (Acts 8:1‑3)).
The young man, Saul, guarded the garments of those that killed Stephen (see Acts 7:5858And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. (Acts 7:58)). He later devastated the church, not having pity on any of the Christians — not even the women. The religious man without Christ is, at times, a wild beast.
It is important to note that the apostles were not scattered about. Why? Because God did not want them to leave Jerusalem until they had resolved the serious question of whether or not to impose the law of Moses on the Gentiles (we will see the matter when meditating on chapter 15).
We should also note that it was the apostles themselves that had been commissioned by the Lord Jesus in this way: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:1515And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. (Mark 16:15)). They had already been commissioned, but they had not left Jerusalem. The Lord has His purposes, but, at the same time, He has his own time table for their execution.
That is how it was with Saul of Tarsus: he received — after the Lord forgave him and saved him — his commission to preach the gospel of the grace of God to us Gentiles (see Acts 26:16-1816But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; 17Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, 18To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. (Acts 26:16‑18)), but it would be many years before Saul (then called Paul), in the company of Barnabas, would be sent by the Holy Spirit on his evangelical journey (see Acts 13:1-41Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. 3And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. 4So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus. (Acts 13:1‑4)).There was a long period of preparation in the school of God, including three years of solitude in the Arabian deserts (see Gal. 1:1717Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. (Galatians 1:17)). During this time, there is no doubt that the Holy Spirit taught Saul that his Bible (the Old Testament then, since the New Testament had not been written yet) spoke of the blessed Person of Christ, the Son of God, from the beginning to end, in such a way that, on returning “again to Damascus,” “he preached Christ ... that He is the Son of God ... and confounded the Jews which dwelt in Damascus, proving that this is very Christ” (Acts 9:20, 2220And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. (Acts 9:20)
22But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ. (Acts 9:22)). After that, he spent an undetermined time in hiding (so to speak) in Tarsus, his birthplace, where he stayed until Barnabas found him and brought him to Antioch where “a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people” (Acts 11:2626And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. (Acts 11:26)).
Young Christians would do well to meditate on this. How many energetic young people, full of the love of Christ, have believed that the Lord has called them to preach the gospel and minister the Word of God? But, instead of waiting until the time the Lord Jesus would have shown them to enter His service publicly, they have thrown themselves — ill-prepared — into combat against Satan’s troops and have made a “shipwreck of faith!”
Young Christians do not lack opportunities to testify for Christ among their unsaved family members and their co-workers, or other students in their schools. There are also opportunities to share invitations and bring people to gospel meetings — not to mention opportunities to console sick hearts by reading a Bible chapter or singing hymns.
At the same time, it is of utmost importance that young people seek the company of older people in order to learn more about the Word of God. Timothy learned the divine truths this way in the Apostle Paul’s company (“knowing [as Paul said] of whom thou hast learned them” 2 Tim. 3:1414But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; (2 Timothy 3:14)) by being with him in the assemblies — local churches.
The Lord Jesus prepares every one of His servants (provided that men do not undo the divine order with their formal and empty systems of religious education) according to His particular plan for each servant. Ordinarily, the atmosphere in which we acquire intelligence about the Lord’s things — and the Christian experience, which is also essential — is the local assembly of Christians where we gather together with our brothers and sisters in Christ, where He is recognized as the Head, the Commander, where the Holy Spirit is free to direct the believers in exercising their diverse gifts, and where the holiness that is advisable in the house of God is maintained without blemish by way of whatever discipline methods may be necessary.
One more thing: not even the apostles Barnabas and Paul left on their mission without having the right hand of fellowship from their assembly. “And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away” (Or: they allowed them to go — Acts 13:33And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. (Acts 13:3)). A brother that is called in a special way to the work of the Lord outside will have the right hand of fellowship from the brothers that have known him long enough and have discerned the work of the Lord in him.
“Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the Word” (Acts 8:44Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. (Acts 8:4)). The Lord Jesus used everything for His good. The persecution that the devil stirred up made those who would have otherwise stayed in Jerusalem scatter everywhere, preaching the good news of salvation — even preaching the gospel to their old enemies, the Samaritans! “Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 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. And there was great joy in that city” (Acts 8:5-85Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. 6And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 7For 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. 8And there was great joy in that city. (Acts 8:5‑8)).
When Philip (the only servant of the Lord who is called “the evangelist” in the New Testament — see Acts 21:88And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him. (Acts 21:8)), motivated by the love of Christ, went down to preach Christ in Samaria, where there was a marvelous change! Look at what he found — the work of the devil: foul spirits, paralytic spirits, blind spirits, and great sadness. But, when the grace of God had worked, they were all healed and there was great joy!
“There is divine peace in my soul today,
because Christ saved me:
The chains are broken, Jesus freed me.
Great joy, how beautiful!
I am happy all the time
because I see the smiling face of Christ, I feel great joy.”
“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: To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries. 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. Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done” (Acts 8:9-139But 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: 10To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. 11And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries. 12But 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. 13Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. (Acts 8:9‑13)).
Here we have a false prophet! Scripture does not tell us that the magician Simon ever repented of his sins, much less believed in the Lord Jesus Christ. He believed with his mind, not with his heart. He believed what he saw with his own eyes; he walked by sight and not by faith. He makes us think in the “many” that “believed in His name, when they saw the miracles which He did. But Jesus did not commit Himself unto them” (John 2:23-2423Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. 24But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, (John 2:23‑24)). They were convinced in their minds by the miracles that they saw with their eyes, but they did not repent.
Simon the magician boldly went to Philip without fear, as if he were a collaborator in the work of the Lord. And it seems that Philip, so occupied in the gospel and so happy to see so many people converted and baptized, did not discern that Simon was false. What happened, then?
“Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost” (Acts 8:14-1714Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: 15Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: 16(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 17Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. (Acts 8:14‑17)).
We see here something very important — how the Lord began to work “endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:33Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:3)), so that there “should be no schism in the body” (1 Cor. 12:2525That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. (1 Corinthians 12:25)); since the Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans (see John 4:99Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. (John 4:9)). And the Samaritans certainly would have formed a Samaritan church independent of the Jewish church. But the Lord, foreseeing all of that, did not give the Holy Spirit to the Samaritan believers, even though they had been baptized, until the apostles from Jerusalem had arrived, and then — seeing the grace of God — had expressed the right hand of fellowship with the Samaritans, shown publicly when Peter and John prayed for them and laid hands on them. Then the Lord gave them the Holy Spirit and they were incorporated into the same body of Christ.
“For by one Spirit are we all baptized (or rather, incorporated) into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit” (1 Cor. 12:1313For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:13)). Of course, back then, there was but one church in which there was neither Jew nor Samaritan, only members of the body of Christ.
Also, note that the Samaritans did not receive the Holy Spirit by laying on of hands; it was nothing more than the expression of the right hand of fellowship. It was God who gave them the Holy Spirit, “who hath also given unto us His Holy Spirit” (1 Thess. 4:88He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit. (1 Thessalonians 4:8)).
“And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me. 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” (Acts 8:18-2518And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, 19Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. 20But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. 21Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. 22Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. 23For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. 24Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me. 25And 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. (Acts 8:18‑25)).
“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. And he arose and went” (Acts 8: 26-27).
When the Lord sent Jonah to go to Nineveh, Jonah disobeyed Him, paid his passage on a boat that set sail in the opposite direction, and was swallowed by a great fish (see Jonah Chapter 1).
But Philip obeyed the Lord’s command immediately, even though he was sent to the “desert,” leaving behind a large congregation of recent converts in Samaria, the fruit of his labor of love in the Gospel. “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams” (1 Sam. 15:2222And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. (1 Samuel 15:22)).
“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, was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet” (Acts 8:27-2827And 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, 28Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. (Acts 8:27‑28)).
This man, fearing God, was still spiritually hungry as he returned from Jerusalem, since he had not heard anything about Christ. However, he brought with him a treasure, the book of the prophet Isaiah, who wrote of “the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow” (1 Pet. 1:1111Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. (1 Peter 1:11)).
“Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? 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” (Acts 8:29-3129Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. 30And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? 31And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. (Acts 8:29‑31)).
Philip came from the North, the eunuch from the East; they met each other at the crossroads. If Philip had delayed even five minutes in obeying the Lord’s command, he would have missed meeting the eunuch.
“Trust and obey,
For there is no other way,
To be happy in Jesus,
But to trust and obey.”
Philip not only found the Ethiopian, but he also found him reading the extraordinary passage from Isaiah which speaks of the afflictions of Christ. “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: In His humiliation His judgment was taken away: and who shall declare His generation? for His life is taken from the earth.’ And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus” (Acts 8:32-3532The 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: 33In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. 34And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? 35Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. (Acts 8:32‑35)).
We believe that Philip “the evangelist” never had greater joy than when he explained to the Ethiopian how the prophecy of Isaiah was fulfilled to the very letter in Jesus, the Lamb of God. The Spirit not only ordered Philip to join his carriage, but also did an even greater work: He had already prepared the eunuch’s heart so that he would understand the passage and be converted. “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? 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. 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” (Acts 8:36-3836And 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? 37And 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. 38And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. (Acts 8:36‑38)).
The eunuch’s heart was moved on realizing that Christ’s sufferings were for him. He believed the evangelist. Later — so to speak — he said to himself, “they took my Savior Jesus’ life in this world. Of course I want to identify myself with Him in His death.”
“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” (Acts 8:3333In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. (Acts 8:33)). This verse implies much. “They were come up out of the water.” The eunuch was submerged, not sprinkled. Philip had already finished his service in the “desert” and was caught away — an extraordinary thing — by the Spirit to another place and another service. The eunuch, who returned from Jerusalem empty, left the desert “rejoicing,” because he had met the Lord Jesus Christ. He no longer needed Philip — he had Christ.
And from there he preached the gospel in all the cities up to Caesarea. Many years later, “Philip the evangelist” (Acts 21:88And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him. (Acts 21:8)), married and with four daughters, was still serving the Lord in the city of Caesarea. There the evangelist that was caught up received into his house the Apostle that was also caught up. With the passage of time they both died, but that day is coming soon when they both together with all the other Christians will be caught up to the clouds to meet the Lord in the air (see 1 Thess. 4:1717Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:17)).