The Movement is Expanding
Listen:
The previous chapter ended with the killing of Stephen by an angry and enraged Sanhedrin who could not tolerate the truth which he spoke and so they stoned him to death outside the city walls. Stephen was not the last. What happened that day started a wildfire of persecution that led to the scattering of believers all over the place. And what seemed to be the end of the movement is actually the beginning of God’s Expansion.
Chapter 8 then is a critical turning point in the early history of the church.
Remember that the early church started in Jerusalem, it would have been easy and convenient if the movement would just stay there, but God’s purpose is to the uttermost part of the world, not just Jerusalem. Satan hates when God’s movement grows. So he caused persecution to destroy the church. But persecution did not stop the church, it scattered it and expanded it.
Today as we study Acts 8, let us find three important Truths about the Expansion of God’s Movement:
I. Persecution Scattered the Movement
A. Saul Persecuted the Church v.1-3
And Saul approved of their killing him. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. 2 Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. 3 But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.
This is the first time we hear of Saul, who later we would know as Paul the Apostle. Stephen’s death was only the beginning. It triggered the floodgates of persecution against the Christian movement. Saul became so passionate in persecuting the Christians.
Saul did not stop in Stephens death but went on to cause “havoc” (Destroy). He did not spare women and children, throwing them into prisons. Because of that many of believers were on the run.
This is a case of when Satan meant to do evil in the growing church but God used it to benefit the movement because while they were scattered we find them preaching the Word.
B. Believers Preached Everywhere v.4
Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. (v.4)
Persecution pushed the Christians beyond Jerusalem and into Judea and Samaria—thus fulfilling the second part of Jesus’ command (see 1:8). The persecution helped spread the gospel. God would bring great results from the believers’ suffering. This is amazing - the persecuted became preachers.
Persecution forced the believers out of their homes in Jerusalem, and along with them went the gospel. Persecution promoted the very thing that it meant to destroy. Persecution is good for the church. It turns the church loose. It disconnects the church from its comfort and sends it out in dependency.
Sometimes we have to become uncomfortable before we’ll move. We may not want to experience it, but discomfort may be best for us because God may be working through our hurts. When you are tempted to complain about uncomfortable or painful circumstances, stop and ask if God might be preparing you for a special task.
C. Philip Pioneered in Samaria v.5
Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. (v.5)
Luke now introduces in detail Philip. This isn’t Philip the apostle, this is Philip the deacon. He becomes a key figure in the movement. Like Stephen, he was one of the seven men chosen to serve the church family in practical ways when the dispute regarding Hellenist widows arose (Acts 6:5).
Now, because of the havoc caused by Saul, Philip is led by the Holy Spirit to go to Samaria thereby fulfilling what Jesus promised in Acts 1:8, that they will become His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, and SAMARIA.
C. Unbelievers Paid Attention v.6-7
6 When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. 7 For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed.
Undoubtedly, one reason there was such fruit was that Jesus had sown the seed in Samaria during His ministry (John 4:1-26). Now Philip reaped the harvest.
Philips ministry did not draw attention to himself but to Jesus Christ, the content of what he was saying. Add to that, the first time we find Philip was when they were choosing people to help in the distribution of food, but now we find him performing miraculous signs and wonders that led people to focus on God’s Word not just on God’s provision of food.
Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, (Zechariah 4:10)
The Joy that resulted from the Expansion of the Movement
8 So there was much joy in that city.
The preaching of the Word of God resulted in “much” joy in the city of Samaria. The pain that was brought by persecution resulted in great Joy. God can use our greatest pain to bring about great joy when we continue to minister to others. Listen, the first fruit of salvation is joy. The first fruit of salvation is joy. When people believe the gospel and are saved, their experience is an experience of joy.
II. Pretender Slipped into the Movement v.9-25
Now, as the church expanded and demonstrated the mighty power of God, it also attracted false believers or pretenders. These are people who professed their faith in Jesus but whose hearts and souls are never changed. By all physical attributes they can be considered “Christians” but spiritually they’re not. An example of this is a man named Simon.
9 Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria.
Simon was a sorcerer. That means he dealt in supernatural power before he ever heard Philip preach or ever heard of Jesus Christ. He used his magical arts for a long time in Samaria (according to Acts 8:9–11), and amazed the people. He knew real power when he saw it.
Signs of a Pretending Christian:
A. Wrong Position of Self 9-12
9 Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, 10 and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is rightly called the Great Power of God.” 11 They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his sorcery.
The early church Fathers claimed he was one of the founders of Gnosticism, which asserted there were a series of divine emanations reaching up to God. They were called “Powers,” and the people believed he was at the top of the ladder.
12 But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
B. Wrong Perception of Salvation 13
13 Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.
Simon’s perception of salvation is merely superficial. Christianity starter pack
1. profess you’re a believer,
2. have yourself baptized and
3. join the ministry;
but being born again is more than just superficial things being born again is a supernatural thing. Notice where his attention was all the time, “he saw” and was astonished by the great signs and miracles. He did not live by faith, he live by sight. The object of Simon's faith—the thing in which he believes—is the power of supernatural phenomena—the power of miracles that you can see with the physical eye, not Jesus Christ and the glory of his grace.
In contrast to the other converts in Samaria whose focus was not on Philips miracles but on Philips Message the gospel.
C. Wrong Possession of the Holy Spirit 14-19
14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria. 15 When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money 19 and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
Simon thought he can purchase the Holy Spirit when the Gifts of God is freely received by faith.
D. Wrong Preoccupation of the Heart 20-23
20 Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! 21 You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. 23 For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”
“Right from the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” and Simon revealed the preoccupation of his heart when he tried to purchased the Holy Spirit. Peter rebuked him with some strong words “To hell with you and your money.”
In the outward appearance he seems to have good intentions to want to give the Holy Spirit but Peter discern that he only has wickedness in his heart, that his heart is not right before the Lord, that his heart is bitter and captive to sin.
E. Wrong Petition when Rebuked
24 Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”
Although Simon was certainly fearful, he was unwilling to repent and seek forgiveness, wanting only to escape the consequences of his sin.
Instead of pleading to God, he made his plea to Peter instead. Thus, he refuses to act personally. He still tries to put the responsibility off onto someone else, while he desires only to escape the penalty.
I take this to mean that Simon was not truly converted nor born again. He has no part or lot in this matter of Christianity. His heart is not right with God. He still needs to repent. He is still enslaved to bitterness and iniquity. He is still in his sin and not yet converted. This is confirmed by the entire tradition of the early church that says Simon went on to become a heretic and not a true Christian (cf. Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Jerome, etc.).
His case is a warning to anybody who thinks that just because he or she has made a profession of faith or has gone through certain motions expected of Christians that he or she is right with God for that reason. That is not the case.
III. Philip Spread the Movement v.26-40
The last 15 verses in this chapter is the most important one and will serve as our application for this message. This about how Philip spread the movement outside Jerusalem through his witnessing to an Ethiopian eunuch.
This conversation between Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch is very crucial because traditions tell us that this the reason why Ethiopia became a Christian nation. Irenaeus wrote in the second century that this Ethiopian eunuch became a missionary among his people (Against Heresies iii.12.8).
There are four action points reflected in Philip's life that I want to challenge us to make as a commitment to the Lord.
How to Be a Channel of the Holy Spirit in leading others to Christ
A. Perceive the Call v.26-28
Philip had ears to hear the word of the Lord.
Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. (Acts 8:26-28)
Philip was in the middle of a revival in Samaria and God called him because his heart was tender enough to hear God. Now, Philip didn't know anything about God's plan, because God's ways are often unknown. God just said, “Go south." And Philip got up and went.
Philip had no way of knowing that he was going to be used of God to win a very important and strategic man in all of North Africa, and a man that God would later to open up all of North Africa to the gospel.
Christians do not need an explanation from God when He calls. Instead, we need to say, "God, I'll do it. Wherever You want me to go. Whatever You want me to do. If You explain it, fine. If you don't, that's fine, too. But God I'm going to do it."
We have to perceive the call of God. Listen to what God is saying. We have to have the same attitude of boy Samuel when he said, “speak Lord for your servant is listening” (1 Sam. 3:10).
B. Perform the Command v.29-30a
The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. (Acts 8:29-30a)
Philip did not take a leisurely stroll. He doesn’t argue with the Lord or dillydally, but he ran. Why? Because that chariot was moving on. There was a split second and God wanted instant obedience. When the spirit said go, he went.
I have a feeling that had Philip been the kind of Christian that some are, he may have said, "I can't go. He is a rich man. I am a poor preacher man. He is in a gold chariot. I can't go up there." But riches didn't keep Philip from going.
Or he might have said, "He's a different race than I am. And I don't feel comfortable talking to someone of a different race." But race didn't keep him from going. Or he might have said, "I don't want to disturb him. He is reading and he looks so busy.”
How many golden opportunities have we passed by? Three things I want you to do this week, be inclined to the cause of the Spirit, be insistent to the cause of the Spirit, be instant to the commands of the Spirit. Don't go to heaven alone, take somebody with you.
C. Preach the Christ v.30b-38
“Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading:
“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.” The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. (Acts 8:30b-35)
He didn’t preach to him about race. He didn’t preach to him about economics. He didn’t preach to him about the social and political situation in Ethiopia. He preached to him Jesus.
By God’s providence, this eunuch was reading Isaiah 53, particularly verses 7 and 8. Verse 35 simply says, “Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.” I am sure Philip was excited to do a quick bible study on Isaiah 53.
Three Crucial Elements of Witnessing Jesus
1.The Content - Jesus’ sacrificial death and resurrection (v.35)
Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. (Acts 8:35)
2. The Challenge - to believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior (v.37)
Sharing the gospel is not just telling people the content, the truths about Jesus and what He has done for us. We have to challenge them on what to do with Jesus.
I want you to look verse 37 now. Does your Bible have verse 37? If it’s missing, try reading the footnote. Some footnotes say, “This verse is not found in the oldest and most reliable manuscripts.” Others, “Some manuscripts include here.”
Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” The eunuch answered, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” (Acts 8:37)
3. The Commitment - for baptism (v.38)
As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. (Acts 8:36, 38)
Baptism is compulsory for all who believe in Jesus. Why? Because of three reasons:
It is Commanded by Jesus - Matt. 28:19
It is a sign of our Commitment to follow Jesus
It is our Communion with Jesus, our identification with Him and with His body, the Church.
When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. (Acts 8:39)
When this man was baptized, the Bible says he went on his way rejoicing. Baptism and joy are linked in the Bible. And the reason that some of you who claim to be saved don't have any joy is you've not been obedient about the matter of baptism.
D. Pursue the Cause v.39-40
When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea. (Acts 8:39-40)
So Philip gets snatched away – this is teleportation. This is the amazing leap from one place to another without traversing the space in-between. Philip found himself at Azotus. The Holy Spirit brought him to Azotus and he passed through and kept preaching the message, the gospel, to all the cities, until he came to Caesarea. The Lord relocated him in a miraculous way; really an astonishing reality.
Why was Philip suddenly transported to a different city? This miraculous sign showed the urgency of bringing the Gentiles to belief in Christ. Azotus is Ashdod, one of the ancient Philistine capitals. Philip probably lived in Caesarea for the next 20 years (21:8). And this means that Philip pursued the cause of the movement.
Closing
The Holy Spirit is probably preparing somebody in your office, your school, your neighborhood, or your family. Will you be sensitive to pursue His cause to witness when He calls?
It is time we got excited about what excites the Holy Spirit and that is bringing people to Jesus Christ. We need to be perceive His call, perform His command, preach the gospel and pursue the Spirit’s cause. Then let us wait and see how the Spirit will expand our church. Amen.