Acts 8:5-14 - Great Joy in the city

Introduction

Acts 8:5 “Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.”

“Then” means “now”

While havoc was made of the church at Jerusalem and some in the church were scattered abroad preaching the word - Phillip goes to Samaria.

The reason Luke records he went down, even though Samaria was north had to do with topography of the area. Jerusalem is on hills that reach over 2500 feet in elevation, surrounded by the Judean mountains. a person would have to go down from the hills and mountains of Judea to arrive at Samaria.

Luke was not specific to which city in Samaria Phillip went to. It does not seem likely he went to the Old Testament city of Samaria, which was the capital of Israel during the divided Kingdom age.

We know Phillip as one of the 7 men chosen by the church to deal with physically and financially hurting widows within the church at Jerusalem.

He was the second of seven men mentioned by Luke in Acts 6.

Philip was second on the list behind Stephen

We can see why:

First chronologically, Stephen’s recorded ministry occurs before Philip’s

Stephen is the first recorded martyr

Stephen’s ministry catapulted the church at Jerusalem to have a more global ministry.

Why was Philip second?

His ministry extended beyond serving tables.

Because of Philip’s faithfulness in serving tables, God expanded his ministry opportunities.

He is the first one given the title of “Evangelist.” - Acts 21:8 “And 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.”

Significance with the title of an evangelist

Ephesians 4:11 “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;”

Apostolic Purpose

Ephesians 2:20 “And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;”

Ephesians 3:5 “Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;”

1 Corinthians 9:1 “Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?”

1 Corinthians 15:8-9 “And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.”

Evangelist

Someone who had a gift in Gospel preaching.

Missionary today.

Perhaps Paul had Philip in mind when he exhorted Timothy to do the work of an evangelist - 2 Timothy 4:5 “But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.”

The Gospel breaches walls of separation

Acts 8:5 “Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.”

Every society and generation erects walls that divide us and as much as life changes, these walls do not change much

Racial walls

Ethnic

Economic walls

Educational Walls

Political Walls

Illustration - President Reagan June 12, 1987 to General Secretary Gorbachev - Tear down this wall!

The Gospel should breach these walls.

Historically, the Gospel has mixed results in breaching these walls:

Even the church at Jerusalem struggled with some of the walls - Ethnic and racial.

Book of James economic

Illustration: 92 Little Rock Arkansas

Consider where he went - Samaria

A traitorous place to go preach the Gospel. There was animosity for around 1000 years.

Rejection of the Davidic kingdom

Hybrid race and religion

Philip went where no one else wanted to go.

G. Campbell Morgan said: “The Jews have no dealings with Samaritans, but Christians have, and Phillip came to Samaria.”

Preached Christ unto them

John records in John 4:4 “And he must needs go through Samaria.”

Must needs was more than Geographical - Within the context of John’s Gospel - Jesus had a must need becasue of the Father’s will for Him to proclaim to Samaritans that He was the Messiah.

Philip, a man filled with the Holy Ghost - Had a Holy Ghost must need to go into Samaria for the same reason - To proclaim that Jesus was the Messiah.

There was a necessity

The basis of him going was authority.

Authority - 2 ways to see His authority

“Preached” - Herald - one who acts as the medium of the authority of one who proclamation he makes

Philip was speaking on behalf of Jesus Christ, His authority.

Matthew, Mark Luke and Acts gives us a proper presentation of the portrayal of the Great Commission. The picture provided before us is clear. What gives the Great commission legs to stand on is authority. Matthew 28:18-20 “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

The places where this authority resides in are Acts 1:8 “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

There are not just four phases of the Great Commission but four places to preach the Gospel. Do you have a must needs in your place to preach the Gospel?

Jesus is King, He is God. There is no higher authority than Jesus!

He is authorized to act, not simply to enjoy the right to act.

He had the authority to preached

Imperfect tense - over and over again.

Active - He was not waiting for anyone else.

Indicative - Assertion. He did not wait for the right condition, He asserted himself into the picture of heralding the good news about the Christ.

Christ is the New Testament word for Messiah

Based upon the conversation Jesus had with the Samaritan woman at the well, the Samaritans believed in the Messiah coming - John 4:24-25 “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.”

What did it mean for Philip to preach Christ unto them?

Jesus was not the Messiah in the traditional sense

Jesus dies a gruesome, disgustingly ugly and bloody death to save His people from their sins

The death pictures the ugliness of sin

Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin.

The focus of early Gospel preacher was preaching about Jesus!

Preaching a Biblical Jesus pleases God.

You have to say Biblical today becasue there are so many different versions of Jesus!

Acts 4:2 “Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.”

Acts 8:35 “Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.”

Acts 9:20 “And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.”

Acts 9:27 “But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.”

Acts 17:18 “Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.”

2 Corinthians 1:19 “For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea.”

Romans 15:19 “Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.”

Philippians 1:18 “What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.”

The more you know about Jesus, the deeper and more powerful your gospeling the gospel becomes.

One accord

Acts 8:6 “And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.”

Context

The Jews persecuted them

The persecution led Philip going to Samaria

The Samaritans disliked the Jews as much as the Jews disliked the Samaritans.

Yet, the people who heard were in one accord in their listening to Philip.

You can say it was becasue of the miracles

Stephen did miracles and was stoned to death - Acts 6:8 “And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.”

Jesus fed five thousand men, plus women and children - John 6:66 “From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.”

Yet, why was Stephen stoned and why did the followers of Jesus leave Him in the midst of miracle working? The message of how they are corrupt and Jesus is the solution.

one accord - they gave heed - that is, they listened intently to what Phillip had to say.

His preaching arrested this Samaria village.

They heard and saw the miracles

Unclean spirits came out of many

Palsies and lame were healed.

The miracles created the platform but for them to continue to listen something - no someone else was at work.

Acts 18:9-10 “Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.”

Cornelius - Needed the Gospel of Jesus Christ preached.

Response

Great Joy in the city - Acts 8:8 “And there was great joy in that city.”

But is a term of contrast

The contrast change of direction from beign influenced(bewitched) by the darkness of sorcery to surrendering to the light

Liberated from sorcery

Acts 8:9-12 “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.”

Simon the sorcery who proclaimed himself

Phillip proclaimed another - Jesus the Christ!

How were they liberated, which brought Great Joy?

Believed Philip - Acts 8:12 “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.”

Kingdom of God

The name of Jesus Christ - Imagine all of your life being taught that you are a compromiser, traitor, wicked, unworthy to worship God, and unworthy to be God’s people, by the Jews. Then you hear someone say, though this is true, there is hope in Jesus Christ!

Baptized - They followed in believers baptism - a public declaration that says, I am following Jesus!

They had received the word of God - Acts 8:14 “Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:”

Significant statement

Acts 2:41 “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.”

Acts 11:1 “And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.”

Salvation.

Received middle voice - The subject is being affected by their action.

C. H. S.

There was joy in Samaria because the gospel was preached there.

But there was still more joy in Samaria because there were signs of blessing going with the gospel.

Once more, there was great joy in Samaria because so many believed, and were saved.

There was also great joy in Samaria because of the changed lives of those who believed.

Conclusion

Derek Thomas - There is a deliberate contrast established in the passage: the church in Jerusalem is being ravaged, and the city of Samaria is experiencing “much joy” (Acts 8:1, 8)....The trials of one community had brought blessing to another. (Ibid)

The devil stole man's true joy in his successful temptation in the Garden (cf Ps 16:11), but the glorious Gospel received restores supernatural joy to our soul (cf Gal 5:22+).

God makes persecution to serve missions