Bible Commentaries

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Acts 8

Introduction

1	By occasion of the persecution in Jerusalem, the church being planted in Samaria, by Philip the deacon, who preached, did miracles, and baptized many;
9	among the rest Simon the sorcerer, a great seducer of the people;
14	Peter and John come to confirm and enlarge the church; where, by prayer and imposition of hands giving the Holy Ghost;
18	when Simon would have bought the like power of them, Peter sharply reproving his hypocrisy and covetousness, and exhorting him to repentance, together with John preaching the word of the Lord, return to Jerusalem;
26	but the angel sends Philip to teach and baptize the Ethiopian Eunuch.

Verse 1

And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.

And Saul: This clause evidently belongs to the conclusion of the previous chapter; there is scarcely a worse division of chapters than this.; 7:58, 22:20
there: 5:33,40, 7:54, Matthew 10:25-28, 22:6, 23:34, Luke 11:49,50, John 15:20, 16:2
the church: 2:47, 7:38, 11:22, 13:1
and they: 4, 11:19-21, Matthew 5:13, Philippians 1:12
Samaria: 14, 1:8, John 4:39-42
except: 5:18,20,33,40, Exodus 10:28,29, Nehemiah 6:3, Daniel 3:16-18, 6:10,23, Hebrews 11:27

Verse 2

And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.

devout: 2:5, 10:2, Luke 2:25
made: Genesis 23:2, 50:10,11, Numbers 20:29, Deuteronomy 34:8, 1 Samuel 28:3, 2 Samuel 3:31, 2 Chronicles 32:33, 2 Chronicles 35:25, Isaiah 57:1,2, Jeremiah 22:10,18, John 11:31-35

Verse 3

As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

7:58, 9:1-13,21, 22:3,4, 26:9-11, 1 Corinthians 15:9, Galatians 1:13, Philippians 3:6, 1 Timothy 1:13

Verse 4

Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.

11:19, 14:2-7, Matthew 10:23, 1 Thessalonians 2:2

Verse 5

Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.

Philip: 1,14,15,40, 6:5, 21:8
the city: Rather, "to a city of Samaria," for the city of Samaria had been utterly destroyed by Hyrcanus, and the city built by Herod on its site was called [Sebaste] that is, Augusta, in honour of Augustus. Samaria comprised the tract of country formerly occupied by the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, west of Jordan, lying between Judea and Galilee: beginning, says Josephus, at Ginea in the great plain, and ending at the toparchy of Acrabateni.; 1:8, Matthew 10:5,6
preached: 35-37, 5:42, 9:20, 17:2,3, John 4:25,26, 1 Corinthians 1:23, 2:2, 3:11

Verse 6

And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

with one: 13:44, 2 Chronicles 30:12, Matthew 20:15,16, John 4:41,42

Verse 7

For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.

unclean: 5:16, Matthew 10:1, Mark 9:26, 16:17,18, Luke 10:17, John 14:12, Hebrews 2:4
palsies: 9:33,34, Mark 2:3-11
lame: 3:6,7, 14:8-10, Isaiah 35:6, Matthew 11:5, 15:30,31

Verse 8

And there was great joy in that city.

13:48,52, Psalms 96:10-12, 98:2-6, Isaiah 35:1,2, 42:10-12, Luke 2:10,11, Romans 15:9-12

Verse 9

But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:

used: 13:6, 16:16-18, 19:18-20, Exodus 7:11,22, 8:18,19, 9:11, Leviticus 20:6, Deuteronomy 18:10-12, 2 Timothy 3:8,9, Revelation 13:13,14, 22:15
giving: 5:36, John 7:18, 2 Thessalonians 2:4, 2 Timothy 3:2,5, 2 Peter 2:18

Verse 10

To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.

they: 2 Corinthians 11:19, Ephesians 4:14, 2 Peter 2:2, Revelation 13:3
from: Jeremiah 6:13, 8:10, 31:34, Jonah 3:5
the great power: 1 Corinthians 1:24

Verse 11

And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.

he had: Isaiah 8:19, 44:25, 47:9-13, Galatians 3:1

Verse 12

But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

they believed: 35-38, 2:38,41, 16:14,15,31-34, Matthew 28:19, Mark 16:15, Romans 10:10, 1 Peter 3:21
concerning: 1:3, 11:20, 20:21,25, 28:31, Luke 9:2,60
both: 5:14, 1 Corinthians 11:11, Galatians 3:28

Verse 13

Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

Simon: This Simon was probably, as several learned men suppose, the same who is mentioned by Josephus, as persuading Drusilla to leave her husband, and live with Felix.
believed: 21, Psalms 78:35-37, 106:12,13, Luke 8:13, John 2:23-25, 8:30,31, James 2:19-26
and wondered: 3:10, 13:44, Habakkuk 1:5, John 5:20, 7:21
miracles and signs: Gr. signs and great miracles.; 7, Mark 16:17

Verse 14

Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:

when: 1, 11:1,19-22, 15:4, 1 Thessalonians 3:2
received: 2:41, 17:11, Matthew 13:23, John 12:48, 1 Thessalonians 2:13, 2 Thessalonians 2:10
Peter: 3:1-3, Galatians 2:9

Verse 15

Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:

prayed: 2:38, Matthew 18:19, John 14:13,14, 16:23,24, Philippians 1:19

Verse 16

(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

he was: 10:44-46, 11:15-17, 19:2
only: 2:38, 10:47,48, 19:5,6, Matthew 28:19, 1 Corinthians 1:13-15

Verse 17

Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

laid: 18, 6:6, 9:17, 13:3, 19:6, Numbers 8:10, 27:18, 1 Timothy 4:14, 5:22, 2 Timothy 1:6, Hebrews 6:2
they received: Romans 1:11, Galatians 3:2-5

Verse 18

And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,

he offered: 2 Kings 5:15,16, 8:9, Ezekiel 13:19, Matthew 10:8, 1 Timothy 6:5

Verse 19

Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

9-11,17, Matthew 18:1-3, Luke 14:7-11, John 5:44, 1 Corinthians 15:8,9, 3 John 1:9

Verse 20

But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

Thy: 1:18, Deuteronomy 7:26, Joshua 7:24,25, 2 Kings 5:26,27, Daniel 5:17, Habakkuk 2:9,10, Zechariah 5:4, Matthew 27:3-5, 1 Timothy 6:9, James 5:3, 2 Peter 2:14-17, Revelation 18:15
thou: 22, Deuteronomy 15:9, 2 Kings 5:15,16, Proverbs 15:26, Matthew 15:19
the gift: 2:38, 10:45, 11:17, Matthew 10:8

Verse 21

Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.

hast: Joshua 22:25, Ezekiel 14:3, Revelation 20:6, 22:19
for: 2 Chronicles 25:2, Psalms 36:1, 78:36,37, Habakkuk 2:4, Matthew 6:22-24, John 21:17, Hebrews 4:13, Revelation 2:23

Verse 22

Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

Repent: 2:38, 3:19, 17:30, Romans 2:4, 2 Timothy 2:25,26, Revelation 2:21
pray: 9:11, Deuteronomy 4:29,30, 1 Kings 8:47,48, 2 Chronicles 33:12,13, Isaiah 55:6,7, Amos 5:6, Matthew 7:7,8, Luke 11:9-13, Revelation 3:17,18
if: Daniel 4:27, Joel 2:13,14, Amos 5:15, Jonah 1:6, 3:9, 2 Timothy 2:25
the thought: 20, Hebrews 4:12

Verse 23

For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.

the gall: Deuteronomy 29:18-20, 32:32,33, Job 20:14, Jeremiah 4:18, 9:15, Lamentations 3:5,19, Hebrews 12:15
the bond: Psalms 116:16, Proverbs 5:22, Isaiah 28:22, John 8:34, Romans 6:17-22, Titus 3:3, 2 Peter 2:4,19

Verse 24

Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.

Pray: Genesis 20:7,17, Exodus 8:8, 10:17, 12:32, Numbers 21:7, 1 Samuel 12:19,23, 1 Kings 13:6, Ezra 6:10, 8:23, Job 42:8, James 5:16

Verse 25

And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.

when they had: 1:8, 18:5, 20:21, 26:22,23, 28:23,28,31, John 15:27, 1 Peter 5:12
villages: Luke 9:52-56

Verse 26

And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.

The angel: 5:19, 10:7,22, 12:8-11,23, 27:23, 2 Kings 1:3, Hebrews 1:14
Arise: 1 Chronicles 22:16, Isaiah 60:1-22
Gaza: Joshua 13:3, 15:47, Zechariah 9:5
desert: It is probable, that we should refer [eremos] desert, not to Gaza, but to [hodos] the way; though Gaza was situated at the entrance of the desert, and the ancient city was in ruins, being destroyed by Alexander.; Matthew 3:1-3, Luke 3:2-4

Verse 27

And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, 28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.

he arose: Matthew 21:2-6, Mark 14:13-16, John 2:5-8, Hebrews 11:8
a man: Psalms 68:31, 87:4, Isaiah 43:6, 45:14, 60:3,6, 66:19, Jeremiah 13:23, 38:7, 39:16, Zephaniah 3:10
queen: 1 Kings 10:1, Matthew 12:42
and had: 1 Kings 8:41-43, 2 Chronicles 6:32,33, Psalms 68:29, Isaiah 56:3-8, John 12:20

Verse 28

And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, 28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.

and sitting: 17:11,12, Deuteronomy 6:6,7, 11:18-20, 17:18,19, Joshua 1:8, Psalms 1:2,3, Psalms 119:99,111, Proverbs 2:1-6, 8:33,34, John 5:39,40, Colossians 3:16, 2 Timothy 3:15-17
Esaias: 28:25, Isaiah 1:1
Isaiah: Luke 3:4, 4:17

Verse 29

Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.

10:19, 11:12, 13:2-4, 16:6,7, 20:22,23, Isaiah 65:24, Hosea 6:3, 1 Corinthians 12:11, 1 Timothy 4:1

Verse 30

And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?

ran thither: 27, Psalms 119:32, Ecclesiastes 9:10, John 4:34
Understandest: Matthew 13:19,23,51, 15:10, 24:15, Mark 13:14, Luke 24:44-45, John 5:39, 1 Corinthians 14:19, Ephesians 5:17, Revelation 13:18

Verse 31

And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.

How: Psalms 25:8,9, 73:16,17,22, Proverbs 30:2,3, Isaiah 29:18,19, 35:8, Matthew 18:3,4, Mark 10:15, Romans 10:14, 1 Corinthians 3:18, 8:2, 14:36,37, James 1:10,21, 1 Peter 2:1,2
And he: 2 Kings 5:9,26, 10:15,16

Verse 32

The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:

He was: Isaiah 53:7,8
as a: Psalms 44:11,12, Jeremiah 11:19, 12:3, 51:40, Romans 8:36
and like: John 1:29, 1 Peter 1:19, 2:21-24
opened: Psalms 39:2,9, Matthew 26:62,63, Luke 23:34, John 18:9-11

Verse 33

In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.

his humiliation: Philippians 2:8,9
judgment: Job 27:2, 34:5, Isaiah 5:23, 10:2, Habakkuk 1:4, Matthew 27:12-26, John 19:12-16
and who: Psalms 22:30, Isaiah 53:8,12
for: Psalms 22:15, Isaiah 53:10,12, Daniel 9:26, Zechariah 13:7

Verse 34

And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?

of whom: Matthew 2:2-4, 13:36, 15:15

Verse 35

Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.

opened: 10:34, Matthew 5:2, 2 Corinthians 6:11
began: 18:28, 26:22,23, 28:23, Luke 24:27,44-47
preached: 3:20, 9:20, 11:20, 17:3,18, 19:13, 1 Corinthians 1:23, 2:2, Ephesians 4:21, 1 Peter 1:11,12

Verse 36

And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

See: 10:47, Ezekiel 36:25, John 3:5,23, Titus 3:5,6, 1 John 5:6

Verse 37

And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

If: 12,13,21, 2:38,39, Matthew 28:19, Mark 16:16, Romans 10:10
he answered: 1 Peter 3:21
I believe: 9:20, Matthew 16:16, John 6:68,69, 9:35-38, 11:27, 20:31, 1 Corinthians 12:3, 1 John 4:15, 5:1,5,10-13

Verse 38

And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

and he baptized: John 3:22,23, 4:1

Verse 39

And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.

were: Matthew 3:16, Mark 1:10; *Gr:
the Spirit: 1 Kings 18:12, 2 Kings 2:16, Ezekiel 3:12-14, 8:3, 11:24, 2 Corinthians 12:2-4
and he: 8, 13:52, 16:34, Psalms 119:14,111, Isaiah 35:1,2, 55:12,13, 61:10, 66:13,14, Matthew 13:44, Romans 5:2, 15:10-13, Philippians 3:3, 4:4, James 1:9,10, 4:16

Verse 40

But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.

at: Joshua 15:46,47, 1 Samuel 5:1, Zechariah 9:6
Ashdod: he preached.; Luke 10:1,2, Romans 15:19
Caesarea: 10:1, 21:8, 23:23,33, 25:4

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