Studies in Acts, Lesson 4

Read Acts 8.

True or False:

1. Opposition to the church takes a definite turn in procedure beginning with the eighth chapter.
   True – 8:1. No longer did the persecutors find the need to conduct a trial – even a bogus one. They just dragged the people off to jail. Note: The prophesy of Jesus Acts 1:8 is coming true: the gospel has been preached in Jerusalem and is now spreading through Judea and Samaria.
2. This change, or turn, was the fact that the Sadducees now took up the persecution whereas it was formerly the Pharisees.
   False – 8:3. Previously, the main opposition were the Sadducees, objecting to the teaching on the resurrection. Saul, however, was a Pharisee.
3. The book of Acts teaches us that this persecution was confined to Jerusalem.
   True – 8:3. This particular persecution does seem to be confined to Jerusalem, causing disciples to flee. Later on, it spreads to other areas, e.g. Saul on his way to Damascus to bring Christians back to Jerusalem.
4. There is a record of the apostles hiding themselves in Jerusalem, which is why they were able to stay in the city.
   False – 8:1. There’s no record of their hiding. In fact, later, Peter and John go to Samaria to help new Christians there.
5. "The word" they preached was preached everywhere.
   True – 8:4. To quote one preacher, “As they preached, they ran, and as they ran, they preached.” By now, you have thousands of “missionaries.” 4:4 – 5,000 men; 5:14 – multitudes of men and women added to their number; 6:7 – the number of disciples increased greatly. Many of them may have been returning to their homes, having gone to Jerusalem for the Passover and Pentecost, and staying there, enjoying their new-found freedom in Christ and fellowship with others.

Circle the letter of the correct word or phrase.

1. Philip went to Samaria and proclaimed unto them:
   a. The Messiah (New Living Translation)
   b. The Christ 8:5 (Most translations)
   c. Jesus
2. This Philip was:
   a. Philip the apostle
   b. Philip, one of the Seven in Jerusalem (6:5; 8:5. Acts 21:8 refers to him as “Philip the evangelist, “one of the seven”)
   c. Another Philip
3. Philip became an evangelist:
   a. When he was ordained by the apostles
   b. When he started evangelizing (8:5 – Like so many other disciples.)
   c. Later in Caesarea
4. Among the diseases healed by Philip was:
   a. Demon possession (8:7 – as well as the paralyzed and the lame)
   b. Blindness
   c. Deafness
5. As the result of the preaching and healing, there was much:
   a. Conviction
   b. Joy (8:8)
   c. Conflict in the city
6. The record states that Simon amazed the people by:
   a. Sorcery (8:9)
   b. Ventriloquism
   c. Both
7. All believed Simon from the least to the greatest, because:
   a. He had been doing it for such a long time (8:11)
   b. He was the mayor of the town
   c. He had an agreement with the leaders of the city.
8. They believed Philip instead of Simon because:
   a. Not all heard Simon
   b. Some never did believe in Simon
   c. Philip's message and work were superior to Simon's (8:12 – “but”; 8:13 – even Simon was amazed.)
9. Acts 8: 12 compares very well with:
   a. Acts 2:38
   b. Acts 3:19
   c. Mark 16: 15,16 – mentions both belief and baptism. Verse 17 also mentions casting out demons, which is what Philip had been doing.

Locate the following verses and answer the short question (Quoted from New King James Version):

1. Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 8:14
   Why?
   Comments: So they could impart the gift of the Holy Spirit (verse 15), which apparently Philip could not do.  The believers had received the gift of the Holy Spirit at baptism (2:38), but not any kind of miraculous power (8:17-18). In verse 15, the apostles also prayed for them, and in verse 25, they preached to them.
2. “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! ... Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity." 8:22,23
   Was Simon a Christian?
   Comments: Some said No. Just because it says Simon believed doesn’t mean he was a Christian. James 2:19 – “Even the demons believe, and tremble.” Also, Peter tells him he is “in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity.” Others – Yes. In context, James is talking about an empty faith not followed by action. Simon, however, followed up on his faith by submitting to baptism. Over time, his mercenary nature got the best of him, and he saw there was profit to be made in spiritual gifts. Peter told him there was a way he could be right with God again: repent and pray for forgiveness.
3. So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading? And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” 8:36
   What two attitudes do you see in Philip and the eunuch that we might emulate?
   
   [Again, we didn’t finish in an hour. REST OF THE ANSWER NEXT WEEK!]
   
4. Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. 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?”
   From the context, what did "preaching Jesus” include?
5. 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 his way rejoicing. But Philip was found at Azotus.
   What did the two men do after the baptism? (See also 8:25.)