Exposition of Acts 8:1-5
TEXT: Acts 8:1-5
TOPIC: Exposition of Acts 8:1-5
Pastor Bobby Earls, FBC, Center Point, August 13, 2008
We are slowing down as we come to this 8th chapter of Acts, one of the great chapters of the bible. We sped through the 7th chapter of Acts faster than Michael Phelps can swim 100 meters for a gold medal.
I don’t want to move that fast through the Scriptures.
Acts 8:1 - Saul takes the lead in persecuting the Church
Saul never got over this experience. Listen to Paul’s testimony he would share many years later.
12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has lenabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, 13 although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 14 and the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 15This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.
Stephen's martyrdom prepared the way for Saul's Damascus Road experience.
"they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles."
This persecution scattered the Jerusalem fellowship and led to the first missionary outreach of the church.
A purposeful scattering - see I Peter 1.1 KJV - Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
Compare Acts 1:8 - But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Acts 8:2 - And devout men carried Stephen to his burial,
A word about Christian burial --- not opposed to cremation, simply do not prefer it. The Bible doesn’t speak directly to the practice in part because it was not practiced. (J. Vernon McGee’s views)
Passages such as 1 Thessalonians 4 and 1 Corinthians 15, Paul speaks of the burial of the body as a seed is buried in the ground in hope of the future resurrection.
You don’t burn seed before you plant it.
“So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: it is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body” (1 Cor. 15:4–4).
Acts 8:3 – Paul later confessed his persecution of the Christian church, 1 Cor. 15:9, For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
The words “made havoc” was used in extra biblical writings to refer to the destruction of a city or mangling by a wild animal.[1]
Acts 8:4 - the effect of the persecution. Actually, it did not hinder the church but furthered the work of the church. Later on, Paul would give this same kind of testimony after he had been put into prison in Rome. Later on, Paul would give this same kind of testimony after he had been put into prison in Rome. “But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel” (Phil. 1:12).
In fact the words, went everywhere preaching the word speaks of the great missionary and evangelistic witness of the early church believers.
Acts 8:5 – introduces us to the second deacon who was used mightily of the Lord, Phillip. Notice also that the Gospel is now preached in Samaria for the first time.
Philip becomes the first missionary named in Scripture and the first to be given the title “evangelist” (21:8).
The city of Samaria. The ancient capital of the northern kingdom of Israel, which eventually fell to the Assyrians (722 b.c.) after over 200 years of idolatry and rebellion against God. After resettling many of the people in other lands, the Assyrians located Gentiles from other areas into the region, resulting in a mix of Jews and Gentiles who became known as Samaritans [2]
Author: A. Catherine Hankey composed a great old hymn
1 I love to tell the story
Of unseen things above,
Of Jesus and His glory,
Of Jesus and His love:
I love to tell the story
Because I know ’tis true;
It satisfies my longings
As nothing else can do.
2 I love to tell the story;
’Tis pleasant to repeat
What seems each time I tell it,
More wonderfully sweet:
I love to tell the story,
For some have never heard
The message of Salvation
From God’s own holy Word.
Chorus I love to tell the story,
‘Twill be my theme in glory
To tell the old, old story of
Jesus and His love.[3]
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l 1 Cor. 15:10
[1]MacArthur, John Jr: The MacArthur Study Bible. electronic ed. Nashville : Word Pub., 1997, c1997, S. Ac 8:3
[2]MacArthur, John Jr: The MacArthur Study Bible. electronic ed. Nashville : Word Pub., 1997, c1997, S. Ac 8:5
[3] Logos Hymnal. 1st edition. Oak Harbor, WA : Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995