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.