Acts 8

Saul was consenting to his death. A great persecution arose against the assembly which was in Jerusalem in that day. They were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles.

Devout men buried Stephen and lamented greatly over him.

But Saul ravaged the assembly, entering into every house and dragged both men and women off to prison.

Therefore those who were scattered abroad went around preaching the word.

Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ.

The multitudes listened with one accord to the things that were spoken by Philip when they heard and saw the signs which he did.

For unclean spirits came out of many of those who had them. They came out, crying with a loud voice. Many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed.

There was great joy in that city.

But there was a certain man, Simon by name, who used to practice sorcery in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, making himself out to be some great one,

to whom they all listened, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is that great power of God.”

They listened to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his sorceries.

But when they believed Philip preaching good news concerning God’s Kingdom and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

Simon himself also believed. Being baptized, he continued with Philip. Seeing signs and great miracles occurring, he was amazed.

Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them,

who, when they had come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit;

for as yet he had fallen on none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of Christ Jesus.

Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

Now when Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money,

saying, “Give me also this power, that whomever I lay my hands on may receive the Holy Spirit.”

But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!

You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart isn’t right before God.

Repent therefore of this, your wickedness, and ask God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.

For I see that you are in the poison of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity.”

Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that none of the things which you have spoken happen to me.”

They therefore, when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the Good News to many villages of the Samaritans.

Then an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise, and go toward the south to the way that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. This is a desert.”

He arose and went; and behold, there was a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure, who had come to Jerusalem to worship.

He was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah.

The Spirit said to Philip, “Go near, and join yourself to this chariot.”

Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”

He said, “How can I, unless someone explains it to me?” He begged Philip to come up and sit with him.

Now the passage of the Scripture which he was reading was this, “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter. As a lamb before his shearer is silent, so he doesn’t open his mouth.

In his humiliation, his judgment was taken away. Who will declare His generation? For his life is taken from the earth.”

The eunuch answered Philip, “Who is the prophet talking about? About himself, or about someone else?”

Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, preached to him about Jesus.

As they went on the way, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Behold, here is water. What is keeping me from being baptized?”

He commanded the chariot to stand still, and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.

When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, and the eunuch didn’t see him any more, for he went on his way rejoicing.

But Philip was found at Azotus. Passing through, he preached the Good News to all the cities until he came to Caesarea.

Chapter overviewAI-generated

Overview.
This chapter recounts the expansion of the gospel beyond Jerusalem in the wake of Stephen’s martyrdom, focusing on Philip’s evangelistic work in Samaria and his encounter with an Ethiopian eunuch. It highlights the breaking down of ethnic and religious barriers as the message of Christ reaches Samaritans and a Gentile convert, signaling the gospel’s universal scope.

Flow.

Persecution under Saul scatters believers, who respond by proclaiming the word wherever they go.
Philip preaches in Samari, performs signs, and sees a city respond with belief and baptism, including the sorcerer Simon.
Peter and John are sent to confirm the Samaritan believers, who receive the Holy Spirit through apostolic laying on of hands—Simon’s attempt to buy this power is rebuked.
Philip is directed to an Ethiopian eunuch, explains Isaiah’s prophecy as fulfilled in Christ, and baptizes him, marking the gospel’s advance into Africa.

Connections.
Following chapter 7, which culminates in Stephen’s death and Saul’s rise as a persecutor, chapter 8 shows how persecution becomes the means by which the church spreads. The scattering of believers launches the mission beyond Jerusalem, a movement that chapter 9 will continue with Saul’s own conversion. The inclusion of the Samaritans anticipates the wider Gentile mission in chapters 10–11, while the eunuch’s baptism foreshadows the breaking down of ethnic and ceremonial barriers in the body of Christ.

What it teaches.
The gospel is not confined by geography, ethnicity, or former religious status, as seen in the reception of Samaritans and an Ethiopian proselyte. The laying on of hands by apostles to receive the Spirit (WCF 27.4) underscores the continuity and authority of the apostolic church, while Simon’s error highlights the danger of treating spiritual gifts as commodities (WCF 18.4; HC LD 32). The eunuch’s conversion fulfills Scripture’s witness to Christ () and affirms that faith, not lineage or nationality, makes one part of God’s people (WCF 6.3; BC Art. 27). Baptism follows belief, reflecting the order of repentance and faith (WCF 28.5; HC LD 27).

Apply.
The Spirit directs believers to cross social and cultural boundaries to bring the gospel to unexpected people in unexpected places.

AI-generated. Not a substitute for Scripture, your pastor, or the confessions.