Philip in Samaria

What would life look like if we got used to listening to the Holy Spirit? If we were eager to be led and if we regularly stepped out of our comfort zone? We would look more and more like the early church.

Last week we looked in Acts 6 at “The Choosing of the Seven.” There were widows being neglected in the daily distribution of food, so 7 men full of wisdom and of the spirit were chosen to oversee that. One of those was a man named Stephen. We looked at his story in chapters 6 and 7. Now we see the account of the second name on that list of 7. A man named Philip. This Philip is not one of the 12 disciples. This man is known as

Philip the Evangelist

Philip the evangelist is the first one we see in the book of Acts taking the gospel beyond Jerusalem. After Stephen was stoned for speaking against the sanhedrin, we see Acts 8:1

Acts 8:1 NIV

1 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.

Acts 8:2–3 NIV

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.

The 12 apostles stayed in Jerusalem at that point. The most dangerous place to be. And so it was all the people new to the faith that began to take the gospel beyond Jerusalem. Beginning the fulfillment of what Jesus had said to the disciples in Acts 1.

Acts 1:8 NIV

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Philip goes North to Samaria. Let’s get in our heads who this man is. Here is a man that was in Jerusalem with the apostles. He would have been there for the crucifixion, the resurrection, and likely the ascension. He was chosen as a part of a new group to help distribute the food to those that needed it. He worked with these other people. He watched his ministry colleague and friend, Stephen, be murdered. I wonder if he felt any guilt leaving Jerusalem. And yet, he is led by the Holy Spirit, and makes his way north to Samaria.

Acts 8:4–6 NIV

4 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. 5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. 6 When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said.

Acts 8:7–8 NIV

7 For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was great joy in that city.

He doesn’t hide. He immediately starts proclaiming the good news of Jesus. He performs signs and wonders. He casts out demons. He restores the broken. A powerful reminder that if we let him, God uses us. Even in the midst of tragedy and fear, the Holy Spirit is working powerfully through Philip.

A few weeks ago, when we started this series, we looked at the unifying theme throughout all of the book of Acts. The unifying theme, or character, is not any particular disciple. It’s the Holy Spirit. Now we see this interesting encounter with Philip in Samaria, filled with the Holy Spirit, two other apostles, also filled with the Holy Spirit, and a man named Simon, who is very interested in acquiring the Holy Spirit.

Starting in verse 9, we’re introduced to a man named Simon who practiced sorcery. People thought he was awesome because of the things he did. But then Simon meets Philip and comes to believe the good news of the kingdom of God and in Jesus. Simon is baptized, and then follows Philip everywhere. Simon knows his own limitations. He knows the way he’s able to fool people. But was it all trickery, or was he able to do some things for real? I don’t know. But it is clear that Simon knew that what Philip was doing is the real deal.

The apostles in Jerusalem hear about the people in Samaria accepting the word of God, they come and lay their hands on the new believers

Acts 8:16–17 NIV

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.

We already know that Simon has accepted the name of Jesus. He was baptized. He’s been with Philip for a while now, and I’m sure has had wonderful talks with Philip. Perhaps Philip even thinks “he’s really seeming to get it!” So we see this

Acts 8:18–19 NIV

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.”

Acts 8:20–21 NIV

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.

Acts 8:22–23 NIV

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.”

This is exactly what this new church of Christ is not about. The temple had become a place of power by the ones that had control. The NEW temple was the individual person coming together as a COLLECTIVE, and being a dwelling place for the Holy Spirit. Not because we are great but because the only true temple is the one made by God Himself. Simon wants to exert power and influence, using money for power. Here is a person who has sought power and influence his entire life. He said he had come to Jesus, and yet in his heart, he still wanted the power and influence.

Acts 8:24 NIV

24 Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”

To his credit, he does seem truly repentant.

Luke, the author of Acts, is highlighting something here to the new believers reading this. The first is this

Jesus is for Everyone

What started as a Jewish promise, a Jewish prophecy, a Jewish messiah, a Jewish group, centered in Jerusalem, is now starting to expand. To people who followed a Samaritan sorcerer, and indeed, the sorcerer himself. The problem was his heart, not his location or his relationship to the temple.

The second is this

The Holy Spirit is a Gift

The Holy spirit cannot be controlled, contained, or directed. God wants us to be a part of what He is doing, but He doesn’t NEED us to lay our hands on someone for them to receive His presence. He wants us to. He wants us to work together. To lay hands on each other. To invite new people into the community.

There’s such beauty in the laying on of hands. I think back to my ordination. When all the pastors came and laid their hands on me, inviting me into this ministry with them. And knowing that there is an unbroken line back to the day of Pentecost. It’s not about power. It’s simply about obedience. Obedience to Christ. To the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Philip has one final big interaction in chapter 8. He’s been in Samaria, and now an angel of the Lord calls Philip to start going South. He tells him to go down the road from Jerusalem to Gaza. Just, go that road.

The green dotted line is that route. Back further into Judea. I wish so bad I could know all the other stories of all the other believers. But Luke is highlighting how even 1 person was fulfilling Jesus call.

On the road, he meets an Ethiopian eunuch. This guy was in charge of the treasury for the queen of the Ethiopians. The Kandake. It says this man had actually been worshiping in Jerusalem.

Acts 8:28–29 NIV

28 and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. 29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”

The man was reading the scroll of Isaiah the prophet,

Acts 8:32–33 NIV

32 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. 33 In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.”

Acts 8:34–35 NIV

34 The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” 35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.

They travelled along the road together, until they came to a place of water, where Philip baptized the man.

Why was he in Jerusalem in the first place? You’ll remember back in 1st Kings, chapter 10, there was a queen from Sheba, which is modern day Ethiopia, although there is some debate that it’s actually modern day Yemen, but from what I’ve seen, my opinion is it’s actually Ethiopia.

The queen came with a large caravan and many gifts to hear the wisdom of Solomon. The relationship clearly continued. Where is that man going back to? Ethiopia. Specifically the queen.

While he is still in Judea, he baptizes a very important person who is going back to Ethiopia. We see the Holy Spirit already at work in the place Philip is sent. Because the Holy Spirit goes ahead of us.

The Holy Spirit Goes Ahead

I heard a pastor give a testimony several years ago. He said he was driving in his car and in prayer, and he said the Holy Spirit directed him in a way he had never experienced before. He was driving past a gas station and suddenly had the urge to park, walk in, say nothing, and stand on his head. He said it was so bizarre because it was in the midst of the prayer, and he fought against that thought, but it became more and more powerful. Like God himself was saying DO IT! It was so strongly pressed upon him that he pulled over, walked in, and stood on his head.

He felt like an idiot. He stood up, and was about to walk back out, when the gas station attendant suddenly said “no way.” They started talking. This worker had a lot going on in his life. He had been at work, desperate. He didn’t know if God was even there. He had said “if you’re real, make somebody walk in here and stand on their head.”

This pastor then got to give his testimony, tell him about the Holy Spirit, and lead this guy in a prayer of repentance and acceptance of Jesus.

In just chapter 8, we see Philip going in certain directions at the prompting of the Holy Spirit, and we see incredible things happen. God wants us to be a part of what He is doing. He wants to show us His unfolding plan.

There are people right now that the Holy Spirit is working in. People you might not really know. People you might be passing by. What would happen if we really started living that way? If we really truly lived like the Holy Spirit was already at work. What kind of trust would that be to listen for His voice, and then to go do, or say, something that we don’t fully understand.

People from the time of Christ to now have taken action at the Holy Spirit’s leading. That only happens if we take time, every day, to listen.

Our challenge today is this.

Go Where the Holy Spirit Leads

What’s that feeling you’ve had that you can’t shake. Is your heart being prepared? What’s that idea the Spirit has placed in your head, that is in line with scripture, that you might not fully understand. Let me encourage you today. Step out in faith. Perhaps even do something like go somewhere and stand on your head because sometime’s that’s what’s needed. Or sometimes it’s just “go to this place.”

But the one thing I can guarantee is this. Very often, the Holy Spirit calls us in a way that makes us step our of our comfort zone, our routine. Even if just for a moment.

Listen for His voice and direction. Take action. Let Him show you incredible things that deepen your trust. And then give testimony. I want to hear about it.