Acts: Transforming Our World for Christ Lesson Scripture: Acts 8:26-40

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1 April 6, 2014 Acts: Transforming Our World for Christ Lesson Scripture: Acts 8:26-40 Memory Verse So Philip proceeded to tell him the good news about Jesus, beginning from that Scripture. Acts 8:35 Dig Deeper? You can do additional reading on Acts 8 using the Intervarsity Commentary at: Step by Step through the Week Monday: Read Acts 8:1-25 Acts in Context Acts 8 describes a pivotal time in the life of the church, as the Holy Spirit moved the gospel out of Jerusalem and Judea and into Samaria. The persecution of Jesus followers in Jerusalem (particularly by a zealous religious leader named Saul) forced the believers to take the gospel out of the city and into the neighboring regions. Philip (one of the six men set aside for service in Acts 6) made his way to Samaria, where he preached the message of Jesus Christ and performed miracles of healing and casting out evil spirits. The name of Jesus was not unfamiliar in Samaria; there were many there who had certainly heard of the Savior through the witness of the woman at the well (John 4). This may have contributed to the response to Philip s witness in the city; many Samaritans received Christ and were baptized as a result of Philip s ministry. One of the converts, Simon the sorcerer, showed a keen interest in the apostle s miracle-working power. When the news of the Samaritan revival reached Jerusalem, Peter and John were sent to investigate the authenticity of this event. While there, the apostles confirmed the faith of the Samaritans by the laying on of hands. Acts 8:15-17 is a difficult passage to interpret pertaining to receiving the Holy Spirit. There are several different interpretations for this passage; however, the most likely purpose for Peter and John laying hands on the Samaritans was to either (1) bestow an apostolic approval on the new believers, or (2) affirm special gifts given by the Spirit to the Samaritan converts. The second option seems most likely, based on Simon s reaction in verse 18; he was apparently amazed by a demonstration of the Holy Spirit s power. Simon revealed his spiritual immaturity by equating the apostle s power to his own magical powers (or lack thereof). When he tried to offer Peter money for the secret to their power, the apostle gave him instead a righteous tongue lashing. In fear, Simon begged for prayer and forgiveness.

2 Tuesday: Continue your study by praying that the Holy Spirit would reveal God s truth to you and provide the wisdom you will need to obey God s word. Read and meditate on Acts 8. What words, phrases, or ideas stand out to you? What truth(s) could the Lord be revealing to you? Reread the passage. What is God teaching you about our responsibility to be witnesses of the gospel of Jesus Christ? Reread the passage. What do you need to be praying for based on the truth God has revealed to you? Wednesday: Read Acts 8. If possible, read the passage in two or three different versions of the Bible. Multiple versions are available at Observe: Acts 8:26-29 What did the Lord (or His Spirit) say in this passage? How did Philip respond each time the Lord spoke to him? Describe the man Philip met on the road to Gaza? Why was the man traveling? What does the passage tell us about the eunuch s understanding of God? Examine: Acts 8:26-29 SAMARIA: Samaria s reputation is well-established in the New Testament through Jesus parable of the Good Samaritan and His encounter with the woman at the well; the Jews despised the Samaritans, considering them in even lower esteem than Gentiles. This ethnic hatred was rooted in the history of Israel more than 800 years prior to Christ. After King Solomon died, his son s unjust rule led to a national crisis of confidence. Jeroboam s revolt led to a political division in which Israel was divided into northern and southern kingdoms. The northern kingdom kept the name Israel, while the southern kingdom became Judah. During the reign of Omri, the leader of the northern kingdom purchased Samaria to become Israel s national capital. Samaria was not only the national s capital, but also became the center of religious activity for an increasingly idolatrous nation. Israel s wicked rulers, Ahab and Jezebel, instituted Baal worship and persecuted. When Samaria was captured by the Assyrians, the conquering nation deported most of the Jews and repopulated the area with exiles from other nations. The religious practices of this area already compromised before the exile, became increasingly confusing during the exile. The Jews

3 remaining in Samaria intermarried with pagans and practiced a limited form of Judaism. Not only were their Scriptures confined to the Pentateuch (first five books of Moses), but they also believed Moses was God s only prophet. Once the Jews returned to Israel after the exile, they developed a deep-seated hatred of the Samaritans because of their disobedience to the law (intermarriage) and their unorthodox religious practices. How do you think Philip s ministry among the Samaritans (8:4-24) might have prepared him to witness to the Ethiopian eunuch? Apply: Acts 8:26-29 What types of people do you feel least comfortable talking with or being around? How could you reach to those who do not look or act like you? Thursday: Read Acts 8. If possible, read the passage from a different version of the Bible. Observe: Acts 8:30-34 Did the eunuch understand the Scripture he was reading? How do you know? The Scripture the eunuch was reading was from Isaiah 53:7-8. In this passage, note each occurrence of the word he, his, or him. In your own words, what does Isaiah say about this mysterious person? Find a Bible map of Israel during the Act period and note Philip s journey from Jerusalem to Caesarea. Click this link if you need an online map: What do you observe about this journey? Examine: Acts 8:30-34 SUFFERING SERVANT: Perhaps the greatest of all Messianic prophecies in the Tanakh (the Hebrew Scriptures / the Old Testament) concerning the advent of the Jewish Messiah is found in the 53rd chapter of the prophet Isaiah. This section of the Prophets, also known as the Suffering Servant, has been long understood to speak of the Redeemer who will one day come to Zion. Unfortunately, modern Rabbis of Judaism believe that the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53 refers perhaps to Israel, or to Isaiah himself, or even Moses or another of the Jewish prophets. But Isaiah is clear - he speaks of the Messiah. The second verse of Isaiah 53 confirms this clarity. The

4 figure grows up as a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground. The shoot springing up is beyond reasonable doubt a reference to the Messiah, and, in fact, it is a common Messianic reference in Isaiah and elsewhere. The Davidic dynasty was to be cut down in judgment like a felled tree, but it was promised to Israel that a new sprout would shoot up from the stump. Messiah was to be that sprout. He is the one highly exalted before whom kings shut their mouths. Messiah is the shoot who sprung up from the fallen Davidic dynasty. He provided the ultimate atonement. Isaiah 53 must be understood as referring to the coming Davidic King, the Messiah. King Messiah was prophesied to suffer and die to pay for our sins and then rise again. He would serve as a priest to the nations of the world and apply the blood of atonement to cleanse those who believe. There is One alone to whom this can refer, Jesus Christ! Those who confess him are his children, his promised offspring, and the spoils of his victory. According to the testimony of the Jewish Apostles, Jesus died for our sins, rose again, ascended to the right hand of God, and he now serves as our great High Priest who cleanses us of sin (Hebrew 2:17; 8:1). Jesus, the Jewish Messiah, is the one Isaiah foresaw. (Adapted from Michael Houdmann, gotquestions.org) Based on your knowledge of Scripture, how does Isaiah s prophecy (Acts 8:32-33) match the events at Jesus crucifixion? If you need additional information, you can read Luke 22:47-23:47. Apply: Acts 8:30-34 Which Scripture(s) would you use to begin sharing the gospel with someone? Why would you use these? Friday: Read Acts 8. If possible, read the passage from a different version of the Bible. Observe: Acts 8:35-40 According to this passage, what is the requirement for baptism? How would the Ethiopian man have known about being baptized? What happened to Philip once he baptized the eunuch? Examine: Acts 8:35-40 WITNESS: The legal concept of witness found in the Old Testament is continued in the New Testament. This aspect of witness, as well as new ones, is covered by only one Greek word, martureo, and its many derivatives. The legal sense of witness/testimony occurs in the gospels during the trial of Jesus (Matt 26:65; Mark 14:63; Luke

5 22:71). Paul employed this legal concept when he bore witness to the Galatians of their care for him (Gal 4:15). In a more technical sense of witness, he reminded Timothy not to act too hastily in accusing an elder without at least two or three witnesses (1 Timothy 5:19). Nowhere is this sense of witness more developed than in John's writings. Jesus is the supreme witness to God and His love. In John 1:1, John the Baptist bore testimony to the truth of Jesus' witness. In John 5:1, Jesus argued pointedly that John the Baptist, the Father, and the Scripture all bear witness to Him. In John 8:1, Jesus reminded His hearers that according to the law the testimony of two people is true. Thus His hearers needed to respond to the truth of His witness. For John, Jesus's message as witness was inseparable from His very personhood. Jesus is true and faithful, and so is His message. A response is demanded. This concept of one's person being involved in the witness informs the way witness is used to describe the early believers. Believers were challenged by Christ Himself to be His witnesses throughout the world (Acts 1:8). As Jesus had indicated earlier, this witness is informed and empowered by the Holy Spirit (John 15:26-27). Throughout the New Testament, believers are instructed that their witness is to be true and faithful, reflected both in speech and life-style. This high commitment to witness/testify exemplified by Christ resulted in His persecution and death. Likewise, with His followers there would be persecution for their witness (John 15:20). (Baker Bible Dictionary) The NASB translates the first few words of verse 35 as Then Philip opened his mouth What does this phrase indicate about being a witness for Jesus Christ? Apply: Acts 8:35-40 If someone reading this passage in Isaiah asked you the same question as the eunuch, how would you explain the gospel to him starting with these verses? Pray and seek opportunities to share the gospel starting with this passage in Isaiah.