Verses 1, 2. God uses man’s enmity to Himself to carry out His purposes of grace. “Surely the wrath of man shall praise Thee; the remainder of wrath Thou shalt restrain.” Psalm 76:1010Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain. (Psalm 76:10). Satan’s greatest triumph ended in his total defeat in the crucifixion of our blessed Lord. (Acts 2:2323Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: (Acts 2:23)). The rejection of Christ as Israel’s Messiah is here fully completed. The messenger has been sent after Him, saying, “We will not have this Man to reign over us.” (Luke 19:1414But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. (Luke 19:14).)
God has His eye upon the man, as yet a leader in his zeal in the persecution of the saints. His hands are imbrued with the blood of Stephen and others (Acts 22:44And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women. (Acts 22:4)), yet he is to be the chosen instrument of God to tell out the wonderful gospel of the glory of Christ, and the mystery of Christ and the church.
The gospel has been preached to the Jerusalem sinners, and to the Jews generally (Luke 24:46, 4746And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 47And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (Luke 24:46‑47)). Now it is to go out wider, to the streets and lanes of the city (Luke 14:2121So that servant came, and showed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. (Luke 14:21)). It was time now for this redeemed community at Jerusalem to be scattered, and when God sends them, they must go. And while He cared for them each one, and measured out their trials and their mercies with gracious and. tender care (Luke 21:17-1917And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake. 18But there shall not an hair of your head perish. 19In your patience possess ye your souls. (Luke 21:17‑19)), He sends them by means of a great persecution that scattered them all abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. They were told to go (Mark 16:1515And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. (Mark 16:15)), but they do not go yet, they still cling to Jerusalem.
Godly men carry Stephen’s body to its burying place, and make great lamentations over him, but his work is done and he rests with the Lord. He was faithful unto death.
Verse 3. Saul is mentioned as a self-appointed apostle in religious enmity against the Lord Jesus Christ.
Verses 4-8. Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the Word. What a defeat to Satan! What power and liberty of the Spirit, giving from the Head in glory the gifts to minister as He will! (Eph. 4:88Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Ephesians 4:8); 1 Cor. 12:44Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:4)). And on these outcasts go, telling out of full hearts the story of Jesus and His love to sinful men. They are servants of their rejected Master; they share with Him the rejected place.
And now the faithful record tells of one man’s service to show us the actings of the Holy Spirit among men. Then Philip, who had obtained a good degree when serving tables at Jerusalem (1 Tim. 3:1313For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. (1 Timothy 3:13)), went to Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. His royal Master had gone there before (John 4), and now Philip can reap the fruit of the seed sown then, for “one soweth and another reapeth.” And like John 4 again, there was great eagerness to hear the Word, “The people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.” Many were delivered from the power of Satan, and many were healed. God bearing witness with the gospel in this way (Heb. 2:44God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? (Hebrews 2:4)), and there was great joy in that city. The good news of a once crucified, and now risen and glorified Christ, filled their hearts with joy.
Verses 9-13. We are now to notice 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 for a time they were held under his influence. But when they believed the preaching of Philip concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Then they saw and realized the power of God in the joy of their salvation.
“Simon himself believed also.” This at first sounds all right, and Philip doubtless thought it was real conversion, but real conversion is, “By grace are ye saved, through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.”
Ephesians 2:88For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (Ephesians 2:8). Simon’s was like John 2:23-2523Now 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, 25And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man. (John 2:23‑25). Jesus would not commit Himself to such, and such could turn away from Him without compunction (John 6:66-6866From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 67Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 68Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. (John 6:66‑68)), but those born again would say, like Peter, “To whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life.” But Simon was baptized, and thus brought into the house of God on earth—the first tare we see in the wheat field; the first one answering to the foolish virgins, having a lamp but no oil: in at the feast, but no wedding garment on. (Matt. 13:25; 22:12; 25:325But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. (Matthew 13:25)
12And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. (Matthew 22:12)
3They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: (Matthew 25:3). Compare 1 Cor. 3:10-1710According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 14If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. 16Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. (1 Corinthians 3:10‑17)). So he continued with Philip, and wondered as he saw the miracles and signs that were done. He was not the sinner coming in his felt need to the Saviour, but a man taken by the power he saw, and did not understand, so his great power dissolved into nothing before this.
Verses 14-25. “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.)”
We see plainly here the difference between the work of the Spirit in our souls, and the sealing of the Spirit to dwell in us forever, for these Samaritans were born again, and had believed the gospel, but for some reason were not yet sealed.
The long-continued opposition of religions had made a wide division between the Samaritan and the Jew, but now they are to learn that they as believers are one, and when the apostles laid their hands on them, that identified them with Jerusalem, the Holy Spirit came upon them, thus making them members of the One body (1 Cor. 12:12, 1312For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 13For 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 12:12‑13)). Thus the Lord was careful to secure the unity of the Spirit among the saints whether they had been Jews or Samaritans before.
And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostle’s hands, the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying, “Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.”
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.” Simon answered, “Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.” He proves ignorant of any true knowledge of what wickedness is, and is only afraid of what might come upon him. He was a professing Christian, without life in his soul, or true knowledge of God.
Peter and John testified and preached the Word unto them, and then returned to Jerusalem, and on the way preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans. In Matthew 7:2222Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? (Matthew 7:22) and Matthew 10:1-81And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. 2Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alpheus, and Lebbeus, whose surname was Thaddeus; 4Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. 5These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: 6But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. 8Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. (Matthew 10:1‑8) where Judas Iscariot, the unconverted apostle (John 6:7070Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? (John 6:70)), was sent to work miracles, it is proved that working miracles is not any mark of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, or of conversion.
Verse 26. Another step in the actings of the Holy Spirit is now seen in the eunuch, an Ethiopian from Abyssinia, a prosolyte to the Jewish faith, a soul hungering after God, and had come to Jerusalem, and had failed to find in its ceremonies, for it was an empty temple, what his soul longed for. The Lord saw him, and Philip’s work at Samaria is ended, so the angel of the Lord spake unto him, “Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.” No explanation is given or needed. Philip has confidence in His Master, and he is a willing servant. He arose and went from the busy crowds and young converts, to meet this great man of the world, yet a soul hungering for the truth, now on his return journey, but still eager to hear for he was reading Isaiah 53, reading and wondering who it was about. Then the Spirit said unto Philip, “Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.” 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. 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.”
The eunuch answered Philip, “I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?”
Then Philip began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. To the Samaritans he preached Christ, for they in His life here had known Jesus, and Philip unfolded to them His new position as risen from the dead and glorified, but to the eunuch, he tells the whole story—His birth, His life, His rejection as the Messiah, His crucifixion, and then His resurrection to God’s right hand in glory, consequently “His life is taken from the earth,” He is glorified now at the Father’s right hand. And as they came to a certain water, the eunuch said, “See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?” He desired association with the Lord Jesus whose life was taken from the earth. It was not obedience, there is no such thing in baptism. It was that he desired the privilege of putting on Christ in baptism. (Gal. 3: 27.) (Verse 37 of Acts 8 is not authentic). He commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him, thus introducing him into the house of God on earth.
Philip’s service was done, for 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 in his new found salvation, and to carry the gospel away down to Ethiopia. It is said that traces of the eunuch’s testimony remain in that land until this day.
But Philip was found at Azotus; and, like a true evangelist, is active in the gospel, telling it out in passing through all the cities, till he came to Caesarea, where we find him in 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) still well known as Philip the evangelist.