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MESSAGE SERIES: “CHURCH ON THE MOVE”
Acts 8:1-25

INTRODUCTION: Our message series is called Church on the Move, and in today’s passage we see the church moving out due to persecution. Persecution is not a good thing in and of itself, but remember, God turns all things to good and that’s what we see him doing with persecution here in Acts.

Back in Acts 6:7 we looked at a wonderful verse about the church’s growth: “So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.” We saw that the church was growing spiritually as well as numerically and that even members of the opposition joined the team.

But there is a problem hidden in that verse that we skipped over at the time that I want to return to now. It all has to do with the word “Jerusalem.” The church was growing rapidly in Jerusalem.

Well, what’s wrong with that? There’s nothing wrong with that except Jesus told his disciples back in Acts 1:8: “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” So, what’s the problem here? The church was growing rapidly in Jerusalem, but it wasn’t growing anywhere else. Why? Because the gospel wasn’t going anywhere else. The gospel and the church were stuck in Jerusalem, and that was a problem, until the church was scattered by persecution here in chapter eight. (Read Acts 8:1-3 and pray.)

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When Jesus was still on earth, he warned us that we would face persecution for the gospel. The church has enjoyed seasons of peace and prosperity, but we should never be surprised when persecution comes. In fact, we should expect it and prepare ourselves for it.

We have seen growing opposition to the gospel throughout the book of Acts. At first the religious leaders focused just on the apostles. Then came the arrest and killing of Stephen, who was not an apostle. Now we come to the great persecution of the church here in chapter eight where every believer was at risk.

However, the church continued to grow despite persecution. In fact, you could even say the church continued to grow because of the persecution!

Today’s section of Scripture revolves around three different persons: 1) Saul the persecutor; 2) Philip the evangelist; and 3) Simon the sorcerer. As we look at these three persons and their stories, we will see how the church and the gospel finally began to move out from Jerusalem and into Judea and Samaria in fulfillment of Jesus’ words and command.

I. Saul the persecutor (1-3)

We begin with Saul the persecutor. We were briefly introduced to Saul towards the end of chapter seven. When the religious leaders stoned Stephen, we were told that the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.

   A. The great persecution begins (1-2)

Now the great persecution begins, and we meet Saul a second time. Look at verses 1-2:

And Saul was there, giving approval to his death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. (Acts 8:1-2)

When Stephen was martyred for his faith, Saul was right there giving his approval. In this way Saul becomes the link from the Stephen story to the great persecution that broke out against the church in Jerusalem.

This is the first time the word “persecution” is used in Acts. Of course, this has all been building since chapter four when the apostles were first arrested, then warned, threatened, arrested again and then flogged. Then Stephen was martyred, and that was the event which triggered the great persecution. But this is the first time the actual word “persecution: is used.

We need to be careful how we use the word “persecution” when it comes to our faith. We need to be careful because the Bible is careful. We may suffer some embarrassment or inconveniences for our faith here in the United States but compared to other believers throughout history or around the world today, we don’t really suffer persecution. It’s not until Acts 8 that Luke finally uses the word “persecution” for what happened to the church next.

Luke tells us that all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Apparently, the apostles were still respected or at least feared by the religious leaders, but the other believers were scattered. Their lives were at risk. So, they left their homes and families and livelihoods behind. Imagine being driven from your home because of your faith in Christ. Now that certainly qualifies as persecution!

Verse two tells us that godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. Jewish law allowed burying someone who had been publicly executed but not public mourning. These men took a stand. They showed their support for Stephen by mourning for him. They also show us that grieving and mourning when we lose our loved ones is a godly, right and appropriate response.

   B. Saul began to destroy the church (3)

Godly men buried Stephen and mourned for him, but Saul began to destroy the church. Look at verse 3:

But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison. (Acts 8:3)

In contrast to the godly men’s response to Stephen’s death, Saul is out to destroy the church. He goes from house to house, looking for any believers he can find, dragging both men and women out of their homes and throwing them into prison. The great persecution has begun, and the gospel and the church are about to move out of Jerusalem at last.

II. Philip the evangelist (4-8)

Now we move from Saul the persecutor to Philip the evangelist. The persecution of the church had an unintended consequence. As the various believers scattered, the gospel went with them. God took what the enemy meant for evil, and he turned it to good.

Luke tells us those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. So, where did they go? Verse one tells us they were scattered “throughout Judea and Samaria.” Remember, Jesus told the disciples they would be his witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth. So far, the gospel had been confined to Jerusalem. But now as the believers are scattered, the gospel goes out to Judea and Samaria as well.

   A. Philip proclaims Christ in Samaria (4-5)

One of these believers who was scattered was Philip. Look at verses 4-5 with me next:

Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there. (Acts 8:4-5)

We met Philip earlier in the book of Acts. Philip was one of the seven men chosen as deacons back in Acts 6. Notably, Philip was not an apostle. Remember, when the persecution broke out, everyone except the apostles were scattered. Now we learn that all those who had been scattered “preached the word.”

That doesn’t mean they went around preaching sermons. It simply means they shared the gospel wherever they went. You can do that. Do we share the gospel wherever we go? Notice that it is the laypersons who spread the gospel in these verses, not the apostles. It’s not the leaders of the church or the pastors, it’s the people.

Philip goes down to a city in Samaria. We know from the Scriptures and history that Jews and Samaritans did not get along. The Samaritans were not Gentiles, but they were not considered pure Jews either. They didn’t worship in Jerusalem, and they didn’t accept all the Old Testament as scripture, but they were looking for the Messiah. And so, Philip proclaims the Christ to them. He tells them about Jesus, how Jesus is the Messiah who has come.

   B. Revival breaks out! (6-8)

And guess what? Revival breaks out! Look at verses 6-8:

When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said. With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed. So there was great joy in that city. (Acts 8:6-8)

God authenticated Philip’s message through these miraculous signs. When the crowds heard the gospel and saw the miracles, they paid close attention to everything Philip said. Demons were cast out, and people were healed. The kingdom of God came not only with words but with power. The gospel had come to Samaria, and the whole city was filled with great joy.

III. Simon the sorcerer (9-25)

We have looked at Saul the persecutor and Philip the evangelist. Now we come to the third person in our passage—Simon the sorcerer.

   A. The people turn from Simon to Jesus (9-13)

Long before Philip came to the city preaching Christ, Simon had a hold on the city and its people. But when Philip comes along, the people turn from Simon to Jesus. Look at verses
9-13 with me now:

Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is the divine power known as the Great Power.” They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his magic. But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw. (Acts 8:9-13)

Simon had a reputation as a sorcerer. He was either a trickster, or he used actual demonic power to perform his magic. He had quite the following. Luke tells us he amazed all the people. He was also pretty high on himself. Luke tells us he boasted that he was someone great. Philip preached Jesus, but apparently Simon preached himself. Everyone gave him their attention. They even called him “the divine power known as the Great Power.”

But when Philip came preaching Christ, they turned their attention from Simon to Jesus. When you share the gospel with people, you also will turn their attention from whatever is distracting them to Jesus. They may or may not believe, but you will turn their attention to Jesus, even if just for a moment. And that’s a good thing.

When Philip came preaching Christ, the people of Samaria turned their attention from Simon to Jesus. They believed Philip when he preached the gospel and when he told them about Jesus and the kingdom of God. In fact, they not only believed, but they were baptized as well. Just a reminder, one of the first things you should do after you believe is get baptized. The first opportunity you have as a believer, you should get baptized as a sign of your faith in Christ.

Even Simon believed, to a certain extent, and he was baptized, although as we will soon see, he was not sincere in his faith. Simon follows Philip everywhere—like a puppy dog. Remember, Simon was obsessed with power, and he was amazed at the various signs and miracles God worked through Philip in the city.

Simon believed, but his was not a saving faith. It is similar to what happened with Jesus in the gospels when he worked various miracles. We read in the gospel of John: “Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his name. But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men. He did not need man’s testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man” (John 2:23-25).

   B. The apostles investigate (14-17)

When word got out that the Samaritans were coming to Christ, the apostles sent Peter and John down to investigate. Look at verses 14-17 with me next:

When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. (Acts 8:14-17)

This was big news that Samaria was receptive to the gospel, and so the apostles sent Peter and John. When they found out that the people had not yet received the Holy Spirit, they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

This was highly unusual and is not the normal pattern according to Scripture. Acts 2:38 tells us that everyone who believes in Jesus receives the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:13 says we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body. Romans 8:9 says if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. A Christian by definition is someone who has the Holy Spirit. So, why did these Samaritans not receive the Spirit when they believed?

We need to remember that this was a unique moment in salvation history. Remember, Jesus outlined the spread of the gospel for us back in Acts 1:8. The gospel would begin in Jerusalem, then go to Judea and Samaria, and then eventually to the ends of the world.

And so, the Samaritans waiting for the Spirit in Samaria was similar to the apostles waiting for the Spirit in Jerusalem. The apostles waited for the Spirit, and so did the Samaritans. God withheld the Spirit until Peter and John came. Why? So the apostles could be witnesses and affirm the giving of the Spirit to the Samaritan people. That’s why this incident is sometimes called “the Samaritan Pentecost.” The gospel had crossed over a new boundary, and God authenticated it with the giving of the Spirit through the laying on of the apostles’ hands.

   C. Simon is rebuked (18-24)

Well, this got Simon’s attention, and he offered the apostles money so that he could do the same. All he got was a strong rebuke instead. Look at verses 18-24 with me now where we see Simon Peter facing off against Simon the sorcerer:

When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”

Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.” (Acts 8:18-24)

Luke tells us that Simon saw the Spirit being given. This implies that there was some type of visible manifestation when the Spirit was given, just as there were visible manifestations at the original Pentecost in Jerusalem. Luke doesn’t say what happened specifically, but Simon saw something!

And so, he offers Peter and John money. Once again, Simon is obsessed with power, and he wants to buy this ability for himself. Simon wanted the ability to lay his hands on anyone he wanted and make them receive the Spirit. Apparently, he didn’t understand the faith requirement before someone can receive the Spirit! Peter calls it the gift of the Spirit, and you cannot buy a gift with money.

Simon thought that spiritual power could be bought. We even have a religious term named after him today. The word “simony” refers to the act of trying to buy a religious position in the church.

Peter gives Simon a strong rebuke: “May your money perish with you!” This is a strong warning of damnation. J.B. Phillips even translates Peter’s words as: “To hell with you and your money.”

Peter tells Simon, “You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God.” He tells him to repent and pray, and perhaps God will forgive him of this serious sin. Simon is exposed as a pretender in the faith who is under God’s judgment and in need of a Savior.

Simon asks Peter to pray for him that none of this will happen, but it doesn’t work that way. Simon asks Peter, “Pray to the Lord for me,” but Peter told Simon he was the one who needed to pray. You need to pray to God and repent of your sins yourself. No one else can do it for you.

Luke doesn’t tell us the end of the story, but there is a strong tradition in the early church that Simon did not repent of his sin, and that he actually became an enemy of the church and the gospel.

   D. The gospel goes out to Samaria (25)

And so, the gospel goes out to Samaria. We read in verse 25:

When they had testified and proclaimed the word of the Lord, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages. (Acts 8:25)

The gospel continues to go out to other Samaritans as Peter and John get into the action. When they finished testifying and sharing the gospel in the city where Philip was stationed, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages along the way.

CONCLUSION: So, what does all this mean? It means the church continued to grow despite persecution. It’s often been said that the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church. Yes, the persecution caused the believers to scatter, but as they went, they took the gospel with them. And as they shared the gospel, people believed and were baptized, and the church continued to grow.

The church will always face persecution, but that is no reason to stop sharing the gospel. We are all called to be witnesses. We should always be looking for ways to share the good news of Jesus with others.

If we are called to share the gospel even in times of persecution, how much more should we be sharing the gospel when we live in a time of freedom! It took persecution for the church at Jerusalem to move out with the gospel. What will it take for us to move out with the gospel?

We’ve looked at Saul, Philip and Simon this morning. But let’s end with Jesus. The gospel is the power of salvation for everyone who believes. May we never be ashamed of the gospel, but may we always be faithful in sharing Jesus with those around us. May we commit to truly being a church on the move with the gospel.

© Ray Fowler

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