Acts 8 - Expansion (notes)

Acts 8 - Expansion

In Acts 1:8

The Lord said that they would get the power and then go into Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth.

In Acts 8:1

Persecution caused the church to go into Judea and Samaria.

Saul

• Was a witness and in complete agreement with the murder of Stephen.
• Went everywhere to destroy the church.
• Went from house to house, dragging out both men and women and threw them into prison.
• Was a fierce opponent of the church and did whatever he could do to stop the expansion of the church.

Persecution

Sent the believers into the regions of Judea & Samaria and I’m sure they preached Jesus in those places. Here in this chapter we see one of them, Philip is used in a mighty way of the Holy Spirit. He went to a city of Samaria & preached Jesus. They were eager for the Gospel and thus miracles and signs and wonders were performed by Philip.

The Ministry

• Of Philip was also characterized by the casting out of demons. Many paralyzed and lame people were healed also and this brought great joy in that Samaritan City.
• Of Philip also got the attention of a man named Simon.

Principles

• The Baptism & Manifestations of the Holy Spirit
• Can not be bought.
• Must be sought after by humble, servant minded believers.
• Can function in the life of every believer.

Peter & John

• Heard of the revival of the Samaritans and came and checked it out for themselves. They prayed for some believers and they were baptized in the Spirit.
• Simon the sorcerer amazed the people of Samaria for years.
• Simon saw how people were baptized in the Spirit and wanted to buy that power. Peter rebukes him.

Simon

• Asked Peter to intercede for him.
• We don’t know what happened to Simon, it is possible that he was born again but we just don’t know.

Peter & John

Preached the Word in Samaria then decided to return to Jerusalem. On the way home they stopped in many Samaritan villages and preached the Gospel to them.

Philip

• Is visited by an angel of the Lord.
• And told him to go south down the desert road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza.
• There he meets the treasurer of Ethiopia, a man of great authority under the queen of Ethiopia. He must have been hungry for God for he had just visited Jerusalem to worship God. In his chariot he was reading from Isaiah 53.
• Through obedience to the Holy Spirit leaves a great revival and goes to meet with this key person. Philip shares the Gospel with him and the man is saved.

The Name

The Key to the father sending the Holy Spirit is the name of Jesus. John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

What can we learn from the events mentioned?

1. People like Saul (Paul) is an example of people in the world today that are fighting the church but are key figures for the next move of God.
2. God will send out people from places where persecution is happening.
3. Revivals always break out in the places that are least expected.
4. Let’s expect nothing less from the Holy Spirit for our lives today.