Walking in the Spirit

INTRO

Studying Acts 8 for me is a little like going “old school.” It’s one of the passages that helped launch Time to Revive. In Acts 1:8, Jesus promised His disciples they would receive power from the Holy Spirit, with which they would become His witnesses, not just in Israel, but throughout the world. The disciples took this promise so much to heart, that they found seven men, who were also full of the Spirit and could take on the tasks of service, so that they could fulfill their assignment as witnesses (Acts 6:3–5). One of these seven chosen for service was Phillip. Although Phillip was chosen to serve, his role changed in Acts 8.

TEACHING

Acts 8:1–4: The first part of verse 1 is important for us: “Saul agreed with putting [Stephen] to death.” That sets the stage for much of what will come in the book of Acts. Verse 1 continues to explain that after the stoning of Stephen (Acts 7), severe persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and the apostles were scattered throughout the surrounding areas (v. 1). Stephen’s body was buried and mourned over by devout men, while Saul was sent from house to house, arresting both men and women who followed Christ. Luke described Saul’s actions as “ravaging the church” (vv. 2–3). At this point, Saul, the devout Jew, hated the church and hated that the church shared the story of Jesus. As the apostles scattered, they did what they had been given to do—preach the gospel of Jesus Christ (v. 4). Notice how God used Saul and the persecution of the Jews to spread the Gospel.

Acts 8:5–8: Phillip, chosen to be a server, went to a city in Samaria and began to preach (v. 5). And the people listened to him, heard his message, and saw the signs he performed—unclean spirits were cast out, and the lame and sick were healed (vv. 6–7). In response to what they saw, the people rejoiced (v. 8). Phillip was walking out God’s witness.

Acts 8:9–13: Simon was one of the men who heard Phillip, and he was a man who practiced sorcery and claimed to have been given great power from God. Simon had astounded the people for a long time (vv. 9–10). But when the people heard Phillip’s message, they recognized that Phillip preached about the kingdom of God and Jesus Christ. Many were baptized (v. 12), including this Simon (v. 13a). From then on, Simon went everywhere with Phillip and was truly astounded by the signs and miracles he saw Phillip perform (v. 13b).

Acts 8:14–25: When the apostles who were still in Jerusalem heard that Phillip had preached the message to Samaria and that the Samaritans had welcomed God’s message, they sent Peter and John there (v. 14). Did Peter and John go there to see if it was real, or were they the reinforcements who went in to help because a movement of God was taking place? As Richard Blackaby has always said, “Find out where God is at work and join Him there.”¹When Peter and John arrived, they prayed the Samaritans would receive the Holy Spirt, which had not yet happened (vv. 15–16). Then Peter and John laid hands upon them and the Samaritans received the Holy Spirit (v. 17). Theologically, I don’t get this impartation of the Holy Spirit. Jesus’ followers received the Holy Spirit from Jesus before He ascended. So, did Phillip not communicate the Spirit to them? Shouldn’t the Samaritans have received the Spirit when they were baptized? For whatever reason, it happened. Simon saw it and offered to pay the apostles if they gave him the same power (vv. 18–19). We tend to give Simon, the former sorcerer, a hard time about this, but really what he wanted was the ability to do the same thing. Simon’s sin was in thinking he could buy the power. Peter stated Simon’s silver should be destroyed with him because he tried to buy what came as a gift from God (v. 20). Peter said Simon’s heart was not right before God (v. 21). Sadly, this is a picture of prosperity mentality—an attempt to make money in situations where the gospel should be pure. Peter told Simon to repent of the wicked intent of his heart so God could forgive him (vv. 22–23). While Peter basically questioned Simon’s conversion, Phillip hadn’t. Our job as witnesses is simply to deliver the good news. It’s not our job to judge whether the good news has been truly accepted. Simon shows the truth of his conversion in his request for Peter to pray for him (v. 24). Then Peter and John evangelized many of the Samaritan villages as they returned to Jerusalem (v. 25). It’s safe to assume Phillip was part of the group returning to Jerusalem.

Acts 8:26–40: Then the scene changed radically. As they were going, an angel told Phillip to go to the desert road that went south from Jerusalem to Gaza (v. 26). Phillip obeyed (v. 27a). An Ethiopian eunuch who was a high official of the queen had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning to Ethiopia in his chariot, reading the book of Isaiah aloud (vv. 27b–28). The Spirit told Phillip to join the chariot, and Phillip obeyed (v. 29). Notice God can speak to us in a multitude of ways—through angels, through the Word of God, through an audible voice, through others, and through visions, signs, and dreams.

Philip ran and went to where he was told to go. Phillip was “full of the Spirit” and responded to Him (v. 29). When he heard the Ethiopian reading, Phillip asked him a question, “Do you understand what you’re reading?” (v. 30). Phillip was Spirit led and discerned the Ethiopian was open to the gospel. Phillip was prepared to answer the Ethiopian’s questions about Isaiah (v. 30–35). Phillip had been preparing for this encounter through his witnessing and preaching in Samaria. When the eunuch asked Phillip who the prophet was talking about, Phillip told him about Jesus (Isaiah 53:7–8). This shows how important it is to understand all Scripture, because it can all be used to lead someone to Christ.

After Phillip’s explanation, they came to water, and the eunuch asked if anything could keep him from being baptized (v. 36). How did the eunuch know the significance of water and baptism? Phillip must have shared that with the eunuch as he explained the good news of Christ. We can’t be sure how long this interaction took—days, hours? This was probably not overnight because there’s no record of those details. Phillip ordered for the chariot to be stopped, and he baptized the eunuch (v. 38). Notice that Phillip got into the water with the eunuch. When they came out of the water, the Spirit carried Phillip away and the eunuch didn’t see him again (v. 39). Phillip appeared in Azotus and evangelized the towns there until he came to Caesarea (v. 40).

CLOSING

In Time to Revive, we have four words of how to approach someone. All four can be demonstrated by Phillip’s approach with the eunuch:

• Love: Philip showed the Ethiopian eunuch that he loved him because he ran to the eunuch.
• Listen: Philip listened to what the Ethiopian was reading and engaged him in conversation with a question.
• Discern: Philip recognized that the Ethiopian was open to the Gospel.
• Respond: Philip got into the chariot with the eunuch, and he talked about Jesus.

Philip didn’t see his job as a witness to be complete after he led the eunuch to Christ. He kept traveling and preaching. He kept traveling and baptizing. He kept traveling and spreading the message of Jesus Christ. Our job is to keep walking it out, spreading His Word, one person at a time by loving, by listening, by discerning, and by responding to them.