Acts 8:1 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.(map).and Samaria, except the apostles.

Matthew 10:1-4.

Acts 8:2,3 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial and made great lamentation over him. As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house and haling.men and women, committing them to prison.

Acts 22:19,20.

Acts 8:4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.

Acts 8:5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ unto them.

He preached that Christ was raised from the dead and that those in Christ also would be resurrected and because of this they had no fear of dying:.Hebrews 11:36-39. This brought them great joy.

Acts 8:6-8 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did...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...And there was great joy in that city.

Acts 8:9 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.

Typical attitude of those regarding themselves as the 'elite' ones today; the cabal.

Acts 8:10 To whom they all gave heed from the least to the greatest saying, This man is the great power of God.

Typical response by non thinking people, who are duped.
Matthew 7:15,16; 15:14.

Acts 8:11 And to him they had regard because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.

Acts 8:12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Emmanuel the Christ they were baptized both men and women.

Acts 8:13 Then Simon himself believed also and when he was baptized he continued with Philip and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

Acts 8:14-17 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John, Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost, for as yet it was fallen upon none of them, only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Emmanuel. Then laid they their hands on them and they received the Holy Ghost.

This 'laying on of hands' is not necessary (Acts 19:11,12; Hebrews 6:1,2), but was a means of showing appreciation and transferring the love one has in God to the other. This verse shows that because of our actions others can be affected by the power of the Creator. The things that take us into higher levels of consciousness are prayer, meditation, contemplation, study and today in this way we effectively reach the hearts of others, because we are all connected.

Acts 8:18,19 And when Simon.(which Simon was he?).saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands.(Acts 8:14-17).the Holy Ghost.(today called by science 'the energy of the quantum field'; an amazing and real intelligent energy).was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

This Simon the sorcerer was of the same spirit (attitude) of Judas who sold Emmanuel into death for a way to make a buck that he could selfishly spend on himself.

Acts 8:20 But Peter said unto him, Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

Acts 8:21 You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God.

Acts 8:22-24 Repent.(means to be willing to change, to turn your way around from the direction you were heading into:.Matthew 21:32).therefore of this your wickedness and pray God, if perhaps the thought of your heart be forgiven.(why the 'if'?.2Chronicles 6:27). For I perceive that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity. Then answered Simon and said, Pray to the Lord for me, that none of these things which you have spoken come upon me.

Acts 8:25 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.

Acts 8:26 And the angel of.(*).the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise and go toward the south unto the way that goes down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.

Acts 8:27,28 And he arose and went. And, behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians.(Genesis 10:6).who had the charge of all her treasure and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, was returning and sitting in his chariot reading Esaias.(Isaiah).the prophet.

.Where in Isaiah was he reading?.Isaiah 53:7.

Acts 8:29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip.(how does the Spirit speak to you?), Go near and join yourself to this chariot. 

Acts 8:30,31 And Philip ran thither to him and heard him read the prophet Esaias and said, Are you comprehending what you're reading? 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. 

Acts 8:32 The place of the scripture which he read was this.(Isaiah 53:7).'He was led as a sheep to the slaughter and like a lamb dumb before his shearer so opened he not his mouth. 

Acts 8:33-36 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the Earth'. And the eunuch answered Philip and said, I pray thee, of whom speaks the prophet this of himself or of some other man? Then Philip opened his mouth and began at the same scripture and preached unto him Emmanuel. And as they went on their way they came unto a certain water. And the eunuch said, See, here is water, what does hinder me to be baptized?

This was practiced in the early church right up to and including today, but not necessary today? Why?

Acts 8:37 And Philip said, If you believe with all thine heart, you may. And he answered and said, I believe that Emmanuel the Christ is the Son of God.

This belief, this acceptance of the truth is key to removing the vail clouding the truth from us:.2Corinthians 3:16.

Acts 8:38,39 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 when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip.(Barnes Notes:."This phrase has been usually understood of a forcible or miraculous removal of Philip to some other place. Some have even supposed that he was borne through the air by an angel. To such foolish interpretations have many expositors been led. The meaning is clearly, that the Spirit, who had directed Philip to go near the eunuch.(see verse 29), now removed him in a similar manner."), that the eunuch saw him no more and he went on his way rejoicing.(happy in heart).

Acts 8:40 But Philip.(Acts 21:8).was found at Azotus and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.
 

....continues to Chapter 9

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