Acts 7:59-8:25

Last week we studied a portion of Scripture in which we have the record of the first of the many persecutions that the followers of Jesus Christ have endured throughout the centuries…and which many of our brothers and sisters in other parts of the world endure even today. We have discussed, last week and at other times, that even we sometimes endure persecution for our faith…but I do want to make it quite clear and distinguish without a doubt that the persecution that the early church faced and that the church in China and the Middle East endures today is not to be put on the same level as that discomfort which we sometimes endure today and in this country…at least in the Treasure Valley of Idaho.

This first martyrdom we have read about in Acts 7:54-60 is the cataclysm, it is the spark, for the dispersion of the church, for the growth of the very church being hunted down. In it, we see the hand of God. For as a brother last week put it very well…the death of a Believer is a tragedy to those who remain behind…but it is a homecoming celebration for the one who dies…and so very often that death plays the role of midwife to the birth of new Believers!

Acts 7:59-8:4

I have had us read the last two verses of chapter 7 in order to bind together these first few verses of chapter 8. For you see, Stephen is stoned…Stephen dies, and the Word tells us that this Saul consents to that death…in other words, this Saul considered the death of Stephen as a good thing, he agreed wholeheartedly with the sentence being carried out. This Saul, to whom we are introduced in Acts 7:58, is content at the death of Stephen.

Brothers and sisters, allow me to digress and share a thought with you. We all know whom Saul becomes. We all know that in future chapters we shall see his heart of stone made alive…he who now happily approves the death of a follower of Jesus Christ will himself die in the service of that greatest Name of all…he whom we see here as Saul will as Paul write that “to live is Christ, and to die is gain…[f]or I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better” Philippians 1:21,23

Do you think that after studying his Scriptures, Saul realized what he was doing was wrong…that he was convinced through his observation that to persecute the church was a sin? That having come to this conclusion he decided he’d change his name to Paul and then begin serving this Christ he’d heard about? Obviously no! What happened in the life of Saul was a supernatural and miraculous intervention by the Sovereign God of creation! A miracle that happens every time someone comes to Christ and is saved!

What I am saying is that as we note this man Saul and his eagerness to see Christians die…realize that the power of Christ is truly amazing when it can take this man and turn him into Paul…change his heart to such a degree that instead of attacking the church he becomes its most fervent missionary! This is the incredible power of the God whom we serve…
Look now, however, at the rest of this first verse in chapter 8.

“a great persecution arose”

And again, this persecution led to the dispersion of the faithful from Jerusalem…and accompanying the faithful was that which they were faithful to…the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ as verse 4 tells us.

But look now at verse 3. Saul “[makes] havoc of the church.”

How petty are the ways of men who would make God their enemy. Saul in his zealousness thinks he is vanquishing this sect of Jesus…but he has no clue that this Jesus is the one through Whom the Father created the heavens and the earth!

Read Psalm 2:1-6

Again, how petty are the ways of men who would make God their enemy. Brothers and sisters…when you are in danger of despairing over the wickedness of man…when you are worried that Christians may be losing the battle…think of this portion of Scripture and remember that our God is a Mighty God…that the Father put “all things under [the] feet [of Jesus]” as we are told in Ephesians 1:22 Above all, remember that NEVER is there a danger of the war being lost. God is triumphant already, and His Word tells us that Satan the enemy will be cast into the lake of fire and “will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” Revelation 20:10

Fellow Believers…this is not a mere possibility…this is a certainty.

Amen?

Read Acts 8:5-13

We see in verse 5 that Philip, one of those who had been chosen to serve as a deacon, wanders north to Samaria, quite likely as one of those escaping the persecutions but also likely that he just went out as an evangelist to proclaim the Truth.

In either case, he arrives in the land of Samaria and the preaching of the gospel is accompanied by many signs and wonders…not only to establish the authority of the Truth being proclaimed, but as a means by which to bring about the conversion of those who witnessed the miracles…note that the nature of the miracles included not only healings but also the casting out of demons.

Now we come across the man named Simon, whom the word tells us was one who practiced magic arts. Verse 11 tells us that Simon had been practicing his wicked acts for some time…and convincing them all that he was someone to be reckoned with, in fact, the commentators I read all mentioned that he gave himself out to be sent from God. Even so, the people of the region believed him to be such a servant. But when Philip came, they quickly recognized the true man of God and, as we learn in verse 12, they “believed Philip” and came to faith and were baptized.

Now look at verse 13, in which we read that even the false one, the practitioner of magic…even he believed. The Scripture says he was baptized…and was continually amazed at the things which he saw Philip do in the name of God…amazed perhaps because he say the genuine power of God in practice, as opposed to the false arts which he had previously practiced.

Before we say any more about Simon, let us read the next section and discuss that curious event.

Read Acts 8:14-25

We note first that the church at Jerusalem hears the wondrous news that Samaria has been reached for Christ, and they send the big guns in to help and/or continue the work that has there begun.

The curious thing we learn now is what the apostles do when they arrive. They pray for the people there to receive the Holy Spirit! In fact, verses 16 tells us they did this because the Holy Spirit had not yet fallen on them. “They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.” And so the Scripture tells us that the apostles lay hands on those who had professed faith and then, “they received the Holy Spirit.”

Yet verse 12 tells us that these people had become Believers, with the possible exception of Simon, of whose peculiar circumstance we’ll learn more later.

There are two possibilities here…at least two that I read about. Brother Dave may offer up another one.

1)
This passage refers not necessarily to the actual pouring out of the Holy Spirit, but to the gifts of the Holy Spirit. John Gill and Matthew Henry both propose this, referring to verse 16 which says “as yet He had fallen upon none of them” and interpreting this to mean that His enabling power was not yet theirs until the laying on of hands was done. According to this, then, the gifts were the particular powers of which we later see Simon being envious.

2)
Barnhouse is of the opinion that the apostles came and actually were the conduit if you will, of the Holy Spirit. He maintains that at this point in the life of the church, as close as it was to Pentecost, the Spirit was not actually present upon the moment of conversion as it later on would be and the laying of hands was needed to accomplish this presence.

Regardless, however…the most important thing for us to know is that whatever the case was in this early church, today the Holy Spirit is present upon conversion. Paul says that “having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance…” Ephesians 1:13-14

But let us turn now to the case of Simon.

In verses18-19, we see that Simon offers money to the apostles…and in exchange he wants this ability of theirs!! Hypocrisy is indeed revealed. All commentators agree that Simon is here revealed to be one who falsely professed Christ as Lord and Savior. He believed in his head that which he could not believe in his heart. He was impressed by what he was seeing, but not to the point of submission.

As we see in verse 21...his heart was not right with God.

Note the following as it relates to Simon:

He was called upon to repent and he was described as bound by iniquity.

Note also the response of Simon. Is it one of repentance?

Not necessarily. He does not do as Peter suggests…he does not pray for forgiveness…instead he asks the apostles to pray for him, and he does not ask for a prayer of forgiveness but a prayer of avoidance of punishment! John Gill maintains that the early church fathers taught that this Simon was never converted and in the tradition of the church was one set against the work of God. At any rate, this distasteful episode having been completed…the apostles return to Jerusalem, further preaching the word of God as they made their way home.

Questions or comments?

As a final thought:

What can we learn from this episode?

1. That no persecution can thwart the will of God. Quite the contrary, those who fight against the work of God will discover all too soon that what they meant for evil God will use for good.

2. That we must be mindful of wolves in sheep’s clothing. While it is distasteful to think of it…there are those within the church who seek to destroy the church. We must be ready at all times to stand strong for the Truth’s taught in Scripture. Whether you like to think so or not…doctrine is VERY important. The purity of the teachings of the church must be maintained and fought for, even when those around us want only to have their ears tickled.

End in Prayer