7. Philip the Evangelist with the Samaritans and an Ethiopian Eunuch Receive (Acts 8:1-40)

Introduction

Review and Look Ahead

Up to this point in Acts, the gospel work was centered in Jerusalem, the first stage of the book’s programmatic outline (). Now persecution, in which Saul plays an active role, pushes a lot of the Jerusalem church out into the next stage of that program. In end, Saul the arch-enemy of the faith became Paul the apostle to the Gentiles. In God’s wise providence, the Holy Spirit made some use of Saul even before his conversion.

Jerusalem ()

Jerusalem ()

Judea and Samaria ()

Philip the Evangelist with the Samaritans and an Ethiopian Eunuch ()

Saul the Persecutor: Believers and the Word Scattered Like Seed (vv. 1-3)

Philip the Evangelist in Samaria (vv. 4-25)

Philip the Evangelist with an Ethiopian Eunuch (vv. 26-40)

Saul the Apostle to the Gentiles: His Calling ()

Peter with Cornelius: First Convert from the Nations ()

Syrian Antioch: First Church Among the Nations ()

Herod Agrippa: The Word’s Power Defeats the World’s Power (Acts 12:1-25)

Ends of the Earth ()

Saul the Persecutor: Believers and the Word Scattered Like Seed ()

Believers and the Word Scattered Like Seed ()

Read

Acts 8:1–3 NLT

Saul was one of the witnesses, and he agreed completely with the killing of Stephen. A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem; and all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria. (Some devout men came and buried Stephen with great mourning.) But Saul was going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison.

Study: Who was scattered and to what regions? And why do you think it happened that way?

The deacons’ role in evangelism outside Jerusalem (Stephen and Philip)

"… all the believers except the apostles were scattered throughout regions of Judea and Samaria”

Believers, but not the apostles

Why the believers?

Why not the apostles?

Judea and Samaria

Study: What was Paul’s role in the persecution of the earliest church?

Pray: Pray for the persecuted church scattered through the world. Browse one of the following sites to get information about the persecuted church and makes notes for so you can pray specifically for them when we’re together:

Voice of the Martyrs - https://www.persecution.com/

Open Doors: World Watchlist - https://www.opendoorsusa.org/christian-persecution/world-watch-list/

Operation World - (1) prayer calendar - http://www.operationworld.org/prayer-calendar and (2) country list - http://www.operationworld.org/country-lists

Philip the Evangelist in Samaria ()

Read

Philip’s Ministry (vv. 4-13)

Study: What is remarkable about a Hellenistic Jew like Philip taking the gospel to Samaria?

Study+: What is the historical background for how Samaria related to Galilee and Judea?

Apostles’ Response (vv. 14-23)

Study+: List some reasons why the Jerusalem church sent Peter and John to minister to the newly baptized believers in Samaria?

Reflect: What do you think Simon Magus was really looking for, especially after he saw new believers receive the Holy Spirit when the apostles laid hands on them?

Study: Why did Peter respond so strongly to Simon Magus, even though he was a baptized believer?

Reflect: “Consider times that you have desired the Holy Spirit’s power without submitting yourself to the Spirit. What is dangerous about such an arrangement?” (N. T. Wright, 45)

Reflect: “Consider times that you have desired the Holy Spirit’s power without submitting yourself to the Spirit. What is dangerous about such an arrangement?” (N. T. Wright, 45)

Reflect: What does this this story teach us about how the gospel spreads?

Philip the Evangelist with the Ethiopian Eunuch ()

Study:

Reflect:

Simon’s Response (vv. 18-24)

Study:

Reflect:

Apostles’ Evangelism (v. 25)

Study:

The apostles as evangelists

Reflect:

Philip the Evangelist with the Ethiopian Eunuch ()

Read

The Eunuch (vv. 26-31)

Study: What indications do you see that tell you about the eunuch’s spiritual condition before Philip approached him?

Study: What steps led up to Philip’s evangelization of the Ethiopian eunuch?

The Scriptures and the Gospel (vv. 32-39)

Study: Three-part exercise. Luke cites passages that show that the Ethiopian eunuch was reading from when Philip approached him. (1) Go back and read that whole passage. (2) Briefly summarize what that passages says. (3) Explain how Philip could begin with that passages and use it to evangelize the eunuch.

Identify what Old Testament passage the Ethiopian eunuch was reading when Philip approached him. (2) When you have identified those verses, go back and read the whole that the quotes come from. (3) Summarize what that chapter is about

Study: What steps led to the successful completion of Philip’s evangelistic encounter with the Ethiopian eunuch?

The Old Testament and the Gospel (vv. 34-39)

Reflect: What do people that you know find puzzling about the Bible and/or Christianity? What kind of questions pop up, and how might you answer them in a way that turns them to Jesus?

Study:

Christological interpretation leads to the gospel

Reflect:

Philip’s Evangelism (v. 40; cf. 21:8)

Study: What happened immediately after Philip baptized the Ethiopian eunuch? What are your thoughts about that?

Deacons as e

Reflect: Can you think of any reasons why the H

Conclusion

Conclusion

Study: List the different kinds of evangelism you see in .

Study: What principles of evangelism do you see in ?

Study: Survey and list all the stories that point to fulfillment of the programatic promise/command in .

Pray: Pray that God will include you in his evangelistic enterprise, whether at home or further afield.