GOSPEL VOICES: OUTBURST OF WONDER
#780 GOSPEL VOICES: OUTBURST OF WONDER
Scripture Acts 8:14-40, NIV Orig. 3/23/1980
Passage: 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.” 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.” 24 Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”
25 After they had further proclaimed the word of the Lord and testified about Jesus, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages.
Philip and the Ethiopian
26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian[a] 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, 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.” 30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. 31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
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.”[b]
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. 36 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?” [37] [c] 38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 39 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. 40 Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.
Purpose: To continue the series from the Book of Acts, calling attention to the various voices giving direction in the lives of the early believers to determine the availability of these voices for us today.
Keywords: Baptism Biography, Phillip Christ, Son of God Communication
Holy Spirit Bible Study, Acts
Timeline/Series: Acts
Introduction
It would make an interesting series from God’s Word for any of us. Take a day by day look and note those occasions that refer to the “ears” of God’s people. There are the common Old Testament expressions of “give ear to” and “incline thine ear.” In the New Testament, a common expression of Jesus was “they that have ears to hear, let them hear.” It was with a magnificent voice that God spoke in creation, and in the “thunder” at Mt. Sinai, and in Christ at Golgotha. On such occasions, a tiny ear may hear sufficiently. But what about those times when God speaks as He did to Elijah, “with a still, small voice”? The “ear” must then have greater receptivity.
Perhaps we have a noise problem today because people are much more interested in talking than they are in listening. It may be that we do not want to listen, not only to others, but to ourselves as well. Niebuhr refers to the “Internal Dialogue of Self.” Listening to the voices of self is the way we discover “who” and “what” we are.
The Bible has a continuing them that men must listen if they are to know God. The “apex” of God’s revelation to the Hebrew was summed up in the “Shema.” Jesus called this “the first and the greatest” commandment. Deuteronomy 6:4, Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord: and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, . . . soul, . . . might. Paul reminded the Romans, 10:17, Faith comes by hearing.
When Glenn Clark interviewed George Washington Carver, the noted black scientist, he asked how he had come to discover so many of the hidden secrets of nature. Dr. Carver answered, “All my life I have risen at four a.m. and have gone into the woods to talk with God. There He gives me my orders for the day. . . . When people are asleep I hear God best and learn my plan.” The Samaritans cause us to consider “Gospel Voices: Outbursts of Wonder.”
I. We Have First Called to Our Attention what the Apostles Heard. And in Jerusalem, the apostles heard that Samaria had received the Word of God, v14. Note please that they did not jump to pretentious conclusions. The apostles were managing to continue their work though persecution raged around. They were concerned about those who had gone out with the gospel and kept in touch. We don’t know the precise means of communication, but only that they heard Phillip’s work went well, people were responding, they were being baptized, but they lacked the signal gift such as seen at Pentecost.
Peter and John were appointed to go into Samaria and give attention to helping Phillip. The scripture speaks of their having been baptized with water, in the name of Jesus, but that they have not received the Holy Spirit (v16).
The apostles had a separate experience. John had baptized with water. The Essene community at Qumran. Spirit baptism awaited Pentecost. Was this separate experience to be standard. Peter clearly taught at Pentecost that the manifestation of the Holy Spirit’s presence and His gifts awaited repentance and baptism, not some unexplainable condition, Acts 2:38. Note Acts 8:20.
The Holy Spirit had a vital lesson for the church to learn, and with the outreach into Samaria the time had come. The best way for the church to know that God had accepted the Samaritans was for them to experience their own Pentecost. We know the price of divisiveness. The Samaritans must not become a “breed” of Christianity unto themselves. It was likewise the best way for the Samaritans to know. The Holy Spirit was withheld deliberately in the sovereignty of God, awaiting the arrival of the apostles.
Unquestionably, the Holy Spirit was already at work. The power of Phillip’s preaching (v6). The signs and wonders accomplished (v13). The joy that spread through the city/cities (v8).
What’s missing here is undoubtedly the Gift of Tongues. They do not seem to be seeking. May not know. This is the means through which they are brought into the fuller family of faith, through which they will know a “voice within.”
II. We Must Also Give Attention to what Simon Heard. V18, And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, saying, Give me also this power. Dare we conclude that this man was a believer? Dare we not? Simon believed, he was baptized, he became friendly with Phillip (v13). He seemed to have regretted what he did, v24.
We must conclude from this that the Holy Spirit has the major role in keeping our eyes on Jesus, and our ears open to truth. John 14:26, The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, . . . shall teach you all things. John 16:13, When he, the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth.
Without this purifying element of the Holy Spirit, Simon heard with ears of sensationalism and power. Those who invade the parameters of religion for the glorification of self. Remember that that is where he had been. V9, Simon . . . used sorcery . . . giving out that he was some great one. He could almost see where such power could be used. Simony—attempt to buy ecclesiastical office. Tradition holds that Simon became an archenemy.
It is worthy of note, that the Apostles, who came down to observe and advise, went back to Jerusalem preaching. See v25.
III. Next, We Must Consider what Phillip Heard. V26, But an angel of the Lord spoke to Phillip saying, Rise up and go along south . . . . V29, And said the Spirit to Phillip: Approach and keep company with this chariot. Have you considered yet that “ear” becomes “hear”? But there are some things that don’t have to “oral” to be heard. Could it have been a dream? Perhaps an awesome awareness of “presence”? But remember that the word ἄγγελος (aggelos)—messenger. Phillip knew only that he was to go south. Jerusalem to Gaza is considerably south of Samaria. As Phillip responds to what he knows he is to do, the next page will be made known. The eunuch was a black man of ancient Ethiopia. In Egypt, eunuchs were often called so only. He was a Gentile who became a Jew (?) who became a Christian. Phillip’s faithfulness to the revealed word resulted in another “people” hearing the gospel.
Phillip also heard the Holy Spirit. We often limit the Holy Spirit to the printed Word. Phillip had no such luxury.
The message that stands out clearly here is that this capacity to understand spirit language is developed. Phillip may have been one of the language groups mentioned at Pentecost. With Stephen and the others (Acts 6) it was said “a man full of faith and the Holy Ghost.” It begins at the discretion of God. Acts 8:15-17. It is noteworthy that on this busy road many people were passing, but Phillip was led only to one.
IV. Note in Conclusion what the Eunuch Heard. V35, Then Phillip began with that very passage of scripture and told him about Jesus. First of all, let’s back up to Acts 2:14-40, Peter’s Pentecostal Apology, the first Christian address. Announcement of the day of the Lord. Affirmation of the basic facts about Jesus’ life. Attests the superiority of Christ over the Law. Called his hearers to decision.
There seems to be little if any variance from that plan. Phillip clearly attests the early church view on Christ as the suffering servant/Messiah. The 37th verse does not appear in early documents. And Phillip sayeth, If thou believest with all thine heart thou mayest. And I believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God. It sounds too formal for a new convert. It shows clearly the attitude of the church. It correctly relates faith to baptism. Faith in Jesus as God’s Son and Saviour. Baptism reflecting repentance and death.
These two men were so full of the Spirit that they parted company hardly aware of their parting. When Phillip came to himself he was in Azotus (Ashdod), on his way back to Samaria. The eunuch went the way of him rejoicing, v39.
Add that “h” to “ear” and you get “hear.” Go a step further and add “t” to “hear” and you get “heart.” The “Outbursts of Wonder” were those who heard not just with their ears, but with their hearts. It is still the same today.
THE FULFILLMENT OF THE GREAT COMMISSION
#779b THE FULFILLMENT OF THE GREAT COMMISSION
Scripture Acts 8:1-13, NIV Orig. 3/16/1980
Passage: 1 And Saul approved of their killing him.
The Church Persecuted and Scattered 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.
Philip in Samaria 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. 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.
Simon the Sorcerer 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. 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. 13 Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.
Purpose: To continue the series from the Book of Acts, calling attention to the fulfillment of the command of Christ to go into all the world. That commission is put into effect when the believers left Jerusalem for Judea and Samaria
Keywords: Church Mission Missions Biography of Phillip Evangelism
Timeline/Series: Acts Bible Study
Introduction
It was probably three years after the ascension of Christ when the scattering of the believers came to crisis proportions. Remember that the church in Jerusalem was almost entirely Jewish. On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit accomplished the conversion of 3,000 souls through Peter’s preaching. They were all Jews, in Jerusalem for the feast. But they were Jews from outside Judea and Galilee. They were Mesopotamian, Asian, Egyptian, Cretan, Arabian, and others; all were Jews and proselytes, with a vested interest in Jerusalem. Undoubtedly they went back to their homes with this new found faith, some perhaps even organizing churches in those places.
They soon came to understand a need for a ministry beyond preaching and prayer, and in Jerusalem this resulted in the singling out of certain people to perform particular ministries. The first bud of missions on the tree of Christianity exposed itself over this problem in the church. The native Jews were being served. The Hellenistic Jews, the ones who had lived outside of Judea, and who had been conditioned somewhat by the Hellenist ideas of the Greeks, were not being served. Out of murmuring of discontent came the selection of seven men of Hellenist background to minister to non-native persons.
One of these so selected was Stephen. They killed him because, in effect, he said, “God is not limited to you, or your Temple, or this land: Others are his people also.” This was a vital and necessary concept before the church could expand to the far places of the earth. It is almost as if the death of Stephen was also the sounding of the “death-knell” of a purely Jewish church. The Jewish leaders are committed to a program of containment. The believers, if they are going to be free to practice their faith, will have to do so elsewhere.
Chapter eight is the story of Christians forced out of Jerusalem by the purge following Stephen’s death. More particularly, it is the story of one believer, Phillip, one of the chosen seven, who in Samaria preaches to the people and leads in organizing a church amongst these half breed Jews.
The last recorded words of Jesus, other than His contact with Saul of Tarsus, are these: Acts 1:8, “You shall receive power with the Holy Spirit coming upon you and you will be my witnesses, in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth.”
I. Fulfilling Christ’s Commission Means People that are at the Disposal of God. 1f, . . . and at that time there a great persecution against the church that was at Jerusalem: . . . they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word. This is precisely the cost of the covenant proclaimed in the Old Testament.
· Psalm 33:12, Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.
· Isaiah 6:8, I heard the voice of the Lord saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?
· Psalm 23:4, Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me, thy rod and staff comfort me.
· Galatians 1:13, For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it.
· I Corinthians 13:9, For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
· Philippians 3:6, Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
· I Timothy 1:13, Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
It was under this mandate that Jesus chose to live His life. Jesus taught His disciples to pray—Matthew 6:10, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done.” In His own agonizing hour of aloneness He prayed—Matthew 26:39, “Nevertheless, not as I will, but as Thou wilt.”
This, clearly, was the only message that would see the church on fire for God. As Jesus was at the disposal of God, we must be those who would be followers of Him. As Jesus was willing to face the most dispelling of circumstances, so must we be who would be followers of Christ.
By the way, nothing has changed: Our call is to be at the disposal of God. It means He has a vested interest in us.
II. Fulfilling Christ’s Commission Means that there are People who have not Heard, who Need to Hear. V5, Phillip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed Christ there.
First, who was Phillip? It was clearly not the apostle Phillip. Synoptics’ only name. John identifies Nathaniel/Greeks/“Show us the Father.” He was a man named Phillip of Hellenist background or learning, who was chosen to serve the non-native Jews. Stephen is mentioned first. Phillip second. He responds to the persecution in Jerusalem by looking for a place to freely serve and proclaim Jesus Lord.
Phillip chose to go into the area of Samaria. He chose a specific place: The city of Samaria, KJ and Greek; a city in Samaria, newer translations. Why the choice of Samaria was significant: Jesus shared His feelings about Samaria and its people. He told of “the good Samaritan,” and the “10th leper,” and the “woman at the well.” He was called “a Samaritan and a devil” (8:48). The devil part he denied.
In John 4 of the Woman at the Well, the woman said to Him, “for the Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.”
Here was a people who had earned the hatred of the Jews. In the 8th Century BC, the northern kingdom, with Samaria as its capital, was captured by the Assyrians. The leaders of the people were taken captive. Their disposition is one of history’s mysteries. Captives from other places brought to Samaria. In the 6th Century, the Jews from the southern kingdom were allowed to return. Ezra—offered to help rebuild. Help refused—reason? Determined resistance. 536 Return/516 Temple/444 wall.
No more important step would ever be taken by followers of Jesus than to move into Samaria. The sovereign will of God included people of every racial and cultural distinction. Hosea 2:23, And I will say to them which art not my people, Thou art my people, and they shall say, Thou art my God. Jesus gave His life to the end that people of every race and clime would own His Father as the eternal God, the Almighty.
Baptist Hymnal #176/148
Word of God across the ages, Comes thy message to our life,
Source of hope, forever present, In our toils and fears and strife;
Constant witness to God’s mercy, Still our grace what e’er befall;
Guide unfailing, strength eternal, Offered freely for us all.
In the tongues of all the peoples May the message bless and heal
As devout and patient scholars More and more its depths reveal.
Bless, O God, to wise and simple, All Thy truth of ageless worth
Till all hands receive the witness, And Thy knowledge fills the earth.
To be a follower of Jesus, and to keep company of those who walk with the Lord, is to be one who reaches out to the “Samarias” around us: by personal witness, by cooperative sharing, whether near or far.
III. There Are Other Things that Testify that this was a Wondrous Event in the Life of the Church. It was a people to people movement. We must not ever lose this. V4, The ones being scattered passed through preaching the word. V1, And all were scattered throughout the countries of Judea and Samaria, except to stay behind.
Why were they allowed to stay behind? Because of respect from the people. Hellenistic Jews may have born the brunt of the attack. Some say that they were the least ready for the faith to be separated from its roots. Many things will keep Jerusalem central. But Christian outlook is outward, to the world. 8:25, Paul and John “returning to Jerusalem they preached the word in many villages of the Samaritans.”
It was a message and ministry movement. Nothing will ever take the place of the preaching of the word. Whether one person to another on a bus. Or, one person to 100,000 in a great stadium. The great TV spectacles have their place but are not primary because they are first of all entertaining. Romans 10:14, How shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? But equally as important is our understanding of ministry. We dare not presume that the simple proclamation of a liturgy twice on Sunday is the extent of faith. James 1:21f, . . . receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only. . . .
What happened in Samaria as a result: It brought the story of Jesus, v4; it brought healing, v7; it brought joy, v8.
Closing
#308, People to People
How do you share the love of Jesus with a lonely man?
How do you tell a hungry man about the bread of life?
How do you tell a thirsty man about the living water of the Lord?
How do you tell him of His word?
People who know go to people who need to know Jesus.
People who love go to people alone without Jesus.
For there are people who need to see,
People who need to love,
People who need to know God's redeeming love.