The One Year Bible Club with Teaching
Commentary by Nick Boork
June 12
Acts 8:14-40
Commentary by Nick Boork
June 12
Acts 8:14-40
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June 12 ~ Acts 8:14-40
Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, 15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16 For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. 18 And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! 21 You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. 22 Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.”
24 Then Simon answered and said, “Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me.” 25 So when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans. 26 Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is desert. 27 So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, 28 was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet. 29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.” 30 So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 The place in the Scripture which he read was this:
“He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so He opened not His mouth. 33 In His humiliation His justice was taken away, and who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth.” 34 So the eunuch answered Philip and said, “I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. 36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” 37 Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” 38 So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. 39 Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea.
OKAY, HERE'S MY TEACHING COMMENTARY
Acts chapter 8 is full of spiritual ministry and evangelism!
It picks up with the apostles Peter and John coming down to Samaria to follow up with the work that the Evangelist Phillip had started. It appears that Philip was able to manifest Jesus Christ through the preaching of the Gospel in such a powerful way the multitudes received Christ we’re healed, delivered of demons and baptized in water. However, according to these Scriptures they still lacked something very important. What was it? The baptism of the Holy Spirit! This is a great example that shows that salvation and the baptism of the Holy Spirit are two separate experiences. Don’t get me wrong, every Christian has the Holy Spirit within them at the new birth when they receive Jesus Christ because Romans 8:9 says he that does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. It does not say that a believer has to speak in tongues to be saved and go to Heaven! It’s only by the Holy Spirit that we are made part of the body of Christ according to 1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.
Being baptized into one body is the work of the Holy Spirit when someone receives Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and they’re born-again. However notice that it also says that these believers have been made to drink into one Spirit. Evidently this is a separate experience that the apostle Paul writing to the Corinthians is explaining. Remember how Jesus said if anyone thirsts let them come to me and drink for out of this innermost being or belly will flow rivers of living water? Ref; John 7:37-39 The Scripture says that Jesus was talking about receiving the Holy Spirit and that the Spirit of God had not yet been given because Jesus had not yet been glorified. However by this time Jesus had been crucified, risen from the dead, ascended to the Father, sat down at his right hand and then sent the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost.
The Bible says that these believers in Samaria had not yet received the Holy Spirit as He had not yet “fallen” on any of them. This is why Peter and John laid their hands on them and the Bible says they received the Holy Spirit. They already had the Spirit of God in the sense that they were now born again believers but they didn’t have the Holy Spirit in power. Some try to explain away the baptism of the Holy Spirit and that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are not for today by twisting some Scriptures to say something that they really don’t say. Additionally, some people are taught wrong and so resist any teaching about the baptism of the Holy Spirit as a second experience after salvation.
All I can say is first I believe the Bible is the Word of God and that the Holy Spirit baptism and the gifts of the Holy Spirit are for today. Second I personally received the baptism of the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands, spoke in new tongues and continue to do so to build myself up praying in the spirit (Jude 20, 1 Cor. 14:3) I have also seen several gifts of the Holy Spirit listed in the Bible manifesting in my ministry. To minimize the importance of receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit would be to deprive believers of the fullness of the Holy Spirit today. If Jesus Christ himself needed to be filled with the Holy Spirit, the apostles and early church how much more do we need the Holy Spirit in his fullness today?
The other thing that we see in the Scriptures is Simon the sorcerer trying to purchase the power of God through money so that he would be able to lay hands on people to receive the Holy Spirit. The apostle Peter rebuked him saying your money can perish with you because you’ve thought that you could buy the gift of God. No friends you can’t buy the Holy Spirit or sell the anointing! There’s nothing wrong with receiving an offering for your ministry because the Scriptures teach that the worker is worthy of his wages but I think some ministers go way overboard today trying to sell holy oil from Israel, anointed prayer cloths and all kinds of religious paraphernalia for money. I’ve actually received letters from preachers promising to pray and prophesy everything that you write down for them in a letter if you will just send them money! This is a down right deception and a bunch of rubbish!
Finally, we see Philip the evangelist coming out of a great revival that the Lord used him to initiate. The Holy Spirit spoke to Phillip to run up next to a chariot in an isolated road in the desert, returning from Jerusalem going down to Ethiopia. Sure enough, Philip encountered a man reading a scroll of the prophet Isaiah but he did not understand the Scriptures. Philip was invited by him to explain to him what the prophet was writing. This man had questions and Philip had the answers! He began to preach to him Jesus as the fulfillment of what he was reading. His spiritual eyes were opened and he saw Jesus Christ as the Son of God in the Scriptures and believed. They came to a place where there was water and Philip baptized him. It doesn’t say that the Holy Spirit used Philip to do a miracle here, he just explained the Scriptures about Jesus and the man believed and was baptized in water. This is a great example of how we can have small group Bible studies and the Holy Spirit can do the work to produce faith and salvation just by hearing the Word of God. Of course repentance is also included in this process of being saved because Jesus said, unless you repent you are likewise perish (Ref; Luke 13:5)
What’s also really amazing to me is that the Bible says that after Philip came up out the water after baptizing this man the Holy Spirit caught him away. Philip was supernaturally transported by the Holy Spirit to another place to preach! The Ethiopian didn’t see him after he came up out of water. It doesn’t say that he walked off down the road to another city to preach but that the Holy Ghost caught Philip away! Sounds to me like what will happen at the catching away of the Church when Jesus returns.
WHATS THE BOTTOM LINE?
1) The baptism of the Holy Spirit is seen as a separate experience from salvation in these Scriptures because Peter and John laid their hands on these Samaritans after they already believed that we’re baptized in water. They were already saved before Peter and John laid hands and them and prayed for them to “Receive” the Holy Spirit.
2) Simon the sorcerer thought that he could purchase or buy his way into the Apostolic Ministry of Peter and John. He wanted to be able to lay hands on everyone like Peter and John. His motive was totally wrong because he was deep into the occult and I wanted to manipulate the Spirit of the Lord and be equal with Peter and John by having the power to grant the Holy Spirit to others!
3) You can’t buy the gift of the Holy Spirit! Never permit someone to purchase their way into your ministry!
4) Philip was used mightily to reach both an entire city and after this was supernaturally directed by the Holy Spirit to go witness to one-man who is ready to receive Christ.
5) The Bible says that Philip was caught away by the Holy Spirit supernaturally and the Ethiopian didn’t see him anymore but went his way rejoicing! Philip was found preaching in another city. Now that is totally supernatural because our God is not limited! Let’s call on him today according to Jeremiah 33:3 Call on Me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things which you know not.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Share your thoughts and questions on our Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/oneyearbibleclub/
Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, 15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16 For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. 18 And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! 21 You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. 22 Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.”
24 Then Simon answered and said, “Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me.” 25 So when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans. 26 Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is desert. 27 So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, 28 was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet. 29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.” 30 So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 The place in the Scripture which he read was this:
“He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so He opened not His mouth. 33 In His humiliation His justice was taken away, and who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth.” 34 So the eunuch answered Philip and said, “I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. 36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” 37 Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” 38 So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. 39 Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea.
OKAY, HERE'S MY TEACHING COMMENTARY
Acts chapter 8 is full of spiritual ministry and evangelism!
It picks up with the apostles Peter and John coming down to Samaria to follow up with the work that the Evangelist Phillip had started. It appears that Philip was able to manifest Jesus Christ through the preaching of the Gospel in such a powerful way the multitudes received Christ we’re healed, delivered of demons and baptized in water. However, according to these Scriptures they still lacked something very important. What was it? The baptism of the Holy Spirit! This is a great example that shows that salvation and the baptism of the Holy Spirit are two separate experiences. Don’t get me wrong, every Christian has the Holy Spirit within them at the new birth when they receive Jesus Christ because Romans 8:9 says he that does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. It does not say that a believer has to speak in tongues to be saved and go to Heaven! It’s only by the Holy Spirit that we are made part of the body of Christ according to 1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.
Being baptized into one body is the work of the Holy Spirit when someone receives Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and they’re born-again. However notice that it also says that these believers have been made to drink into one Spirit. Evidently this is a separate experience that the apostle Paul writing to the Corinthians is explaining. Remember how Jesus said if anyone thirsts let them come to me and drink for out of this innermost being or belly will flow rivers of living water? Ref; John 7:37-39 The Scripture says that Jesus was talking about receiving the Holy Spirit and that the Spirit of God had not yet been given because Jesus had not yet been glorified. However by this time Jesus had been crucified, risen from the dead, ascended to the Father, sat down at his right hand and then sent the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost.
The Bible says that these believers in Samaria had not yet received the Holy Spirit as He had not yet “fallen” on any of them. This is why Peter and John laid their hands on them and the Bible says they received the Holy Spirit. They already had the Spirit of God in the sense that they were now born again believers but they didn’t have the Holy Spirit in power. Some try to explain away the baptism of the Holy Spirit and that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are not for today by twisting some Scriptures to say something that they really don’t say. Additionally, some people are taught wrong and so resist any teaching about the baptism of the Holy Spirit as a second experience after salvation.
All I can say is first I believe the Bible is the Word of God and that the Holy Spirit baptism and the gifts of the Holy Spirit are for today. Second I personally received the baptism of the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands, spoke in new tongues and continue to do so to build myself up praying in the spirit (Jude 20, 1 Cor. 14:3) I have also seen several gifts of the Holy Spirit listed in the Bible manifesting in my ministry. To minimize the importance of receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit would be to deprive believers of the fullness of the Holy Spirit today. If Jesus Christ himself needed to be filled with the Holy Spirit, the apostles and early church how much more do we need the Holy Spirit in his fullness today?
The other thing that we see in the Scriptures is Simon the sorcerer trying to purchase the power of God through money so that he would be able to lay hands on people to receive the Holy Spirit. The apostle Peter rebuked him saying your money can perish with you because you’ve thought that you could buy the gift of God. No friends you can’t buy the Holy Spirit or sell the anointing! There’s nothing wrong with receiving an offering for your ministry because the Scriptures teach that the worker is worthy of his wages but I think some ministers go way overboard today trying to sell holy oil from Israel, anointed prayer cloths and all kinds of religious paraphernalia for money. I’ve actually received letters from preachers promising to pray and prophesy everything that you write down for them in a letter if you will just send them money! This is a down right deception and a bunch of rubbish!
Finally, we see Philip the evangelist coming out of a great revival that the Lord used him to initiate. The Holy Spirit spoke to Phillip to run up next to a chariot in an isolated road in the desert, returning from Jerusalem going down to Ethiopia. Sure enough, Philip encountered a man reading a scroll of the prophet Isaiah but he did not understand the Scriptures. Philip was invited by him to explain to him what the prophet was writing. This man had questions and Philip had the answers! He began to preach to him Jesus as the fulfillment of what he was reading. His spiritual eyes were opened and he saw Jesus Christ as the Son of God in the Scriptures and believed. They came to a place where there was water and Philip baptized him. It doesn’t say that the Holy Spirit used Philip to do a miracle here, he just explained the Scriptures about Jesus and the man believed and was baptized in water. This is a great example of how we can have small group Bible studies and the Holy Spirit can do the work to produce faith and salvation just by hearing the Word of God. Of course repentance is also included in this process of being saved because Jesus said, unless you repent you are likewise perish (Ref; Luke 13:5)
What’s also really amazing to me is that the Bible says that after Philip came up out the water after baptizing this man the Holy Spirit caught him away. Philip was supernaturally transported by the Holy Spirit to another place to preach! The Ethiopian didn’t see him after he came up out of water. It doesn’t say that he walked off down the road to another city to preach but that the Holy Ghost caught Philip away! Sounds to me like what will happen at the catching away of the Church when Jesus returns.
WHATS THE BOTTOM LINE?
1) The baptism of the Holy Spirit is seen as a separate experience from salvation in these Scriptures because Peter and John laid their hands on these Samaritans after they already believed that we’re baptized in water. They were already saved before Peter and John laid hands and them and prayed for them to “Receive” the Holy Spirit.
2) Simon the sorcerer thought that he could purchase or buy his way into the Apostolic Ministry of Peter and John. He wanted to be able to lay hands on everyone like Peter and John. His motive was totally wrong because he was deep into the occult and I wanted to manipulate the Spirit of the Lord and be equal with Peter and John by having the power to grant the Holy Spirit to others!
3) You can’t buy the gift of the Holy Spirit! Never permit someone to purchase their way into your ministry!
4) Philip was used mightily to reach both an entire city and after this was supernaturally directed by the Holy Spirit to go witness to one-man who is ready to receive Christ.
5) The Bible says that Philip was caught away by the Holy Spirit supernaturally and the Ethiopian didn’t see him anymore but went his way rejoicing! Philip was found preaching in another city. Now that is totally supernatural because our God is not limited! Let’s call on him today according to Jeremiah 33:3 Call on Me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things which you know not.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Share your thoughts and questions on our Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/oneyearbibleclub/
ORDINATION
We provide Ministry Credentials and Ordination through Diamond Ministerial Association. Click to learn more and apply! http://www.diamondinstitute.org/ordination
ONLINE COURSES
For Bible courses and ministry resources see our online school Diamond Institute. Enroll free today and get access to our free and pay as you go courses. http://www.diamondinstitute.org/enroll
We provide Ministry Credentials and Ordination through Diamond Ministerial Association. Click to learn more and apply! http://www.diamondinstitute.org/ordination
ONLINE COURSES
For Bible courses and ministry resources see our online school Diamond Institute. Enroll free today and get access to our free and pay as you go courses. http://www.diamondinstitute.org/enroll