Acts Chapter 8 Study Guide

Family Study Guide for October 19 - October 25, 2006
(Read Acts 8 Online)

Reflections on Acts 8 by Mark Chesner, Coach

There is a parable in the book of Matthew that always bothers me. It is the parable of the sower. As Jesus tells it in Matthew 13:3-8, it goes…

"A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."

The disciples were confused by the parable and asked Jesus about it, and he explained it in Matthew 13:19-23…

"When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."

What has always bothered me about this is how many ways Jesus seems to indicate the gospel can be received by someone, understood, and accepted, but fail to really bring about any change in your life. How would that look in real life? Am I like that?

Well, in Acts 8, we get to see two examples of people who receive the gospel, understand it, and accept it. And we see how in real life this can have very different outcomes: one which leads to joy and faith, and one that leads to a return to an evil life.

First, we meet Simon the Sorcerer (sometimes called Simon Magus from the latin for “Magician”). He is a popular illusionist who has built up a great following by leading people to believe he is not only a performer, but actually some kind of god. They call him “the Great Power”. But, he hears Philip preaching and he “believed and was baptized” (Acts 8:13). Later, Peter and John come to the same place and they learn that the Holy Spirit has not yet been given to these believers, and they begin to lay hands up on them (note: another sign of God having given the apostles special authority). Simon sees this amazing thing and immediately realizes if he could earn so much money with illusion, he could earn a whole lot more with a REAL power like this. He tries to buy the power from the Apostles. Peter is furious and rejects the offer out of hand, and warns Simon that this little thing is an indication that he is not right with God, even if he has been baptized. The gospel story ends here so we don’t know for sure what came next, but church tradition indicates that Simon did not repent and become a humble man. Instead, he turned back to magic and tried to claim he had special powers from God. Tradition indicates that he lead many away from God, and became very rich selling his services. In fact, there is a word “simony” used for thousands of years by the church in reference to Simon the Sorcerer, which means “the making of profit out of sacred things.” It is considered a crime.

Here is our seed that seed choked and killed by the deceitfulness of wealth.

Second, we meet the Ethiopian eunuch – an important government official who was apparently interested in religious things because Philip comes across him reading the book of Isaiah during his free time. God sends Philip up to talk to this man, and he immediately asks Philip to explain to him what Isaiah is talking about. Philip launches into an explanation that shows that Jesus is in fact the Messiah that the prophets talk about, which leads the eunuch to action. He not only receives the gospel, and understands it, but he takes immediate action. He orders his chariot stopped, and uses a nearby bit of water to be baptized – accepting Christ and announcing his change to the world. Note that unlike Simon, he is not looking to make himself look good in front of others. It is very possible the “water by the side of the road” was a muddy puddle, that would leave him damp and messy for whatever important meeting he was going to next. He humbles himself and comes up out of the water rejoicing.

Here is the seed that fell on good soil.

It is rare that we get so clear a real-world view into one of Jesus parables. It is worth studying and carefully considering in our lives today.

Questions to Consider
- Have you received the gospel, believed, and accepted it? Has it made a change in your life?
- When in your life have you let money come ahead of your faith? Have you ever been guilty of “simony”?
- Do you think your life is more like Simon’s or more like the eunuch’s?

Bible.Org Outline for Acts 8

B. Philip’s Ministry (8:1b-40)
1. Setting: the Persecution by Saul (8:1b-3)
2. Philip in Samaria (8:4-25)
a. The Activities of Philip (8:4-8)
b. The Response of Simon (8:9-13)
c. The Coming of Peter and John (8:14-25)
1) The Reception of the Spirit by the Crowd (8:14-17)
2) The Wickedness of Simon the Sorcerer Revealed (8:18-24)
3) The Return of the Apostles to Jerusalem (8:25)
3. Philip and the Ethiopian on the Road to Gaza (8:26-39)
4. Philip on the Coast of Palestine (8:40)

Finish the Verse Questions for Acts 8

Finish the Verse: 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. [Acts 8:1]

Finish the Verse: But Saul // began to destroy
the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison. Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. [Acts 8:3-4]

Finish the Verse: 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. [Acts 8:20-21]

Reference Questions for Acts 8

Q: According to Acts 8:01, that day what?
A: A great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria

Q: According to Acts 8:07, who were healed?
A: Many PARALYTICS and CRIPPLES

Q: According to Acts 8:09, who had practiced sorcery?
A: A man named Simon

Q: According to Acts 8:12, who preached the good news?
A: He - Philip

Q: According to Acts 8:17, who received the Holy Spirit?
A: They - those Peter and John placed their hands on -- the people of Samaria who had accepted the word of God

Q: According to Acts 8:22, repent and what?
A: Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord

Q: According to Acts 8:30, Philip what?
A: Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. "Do you understand what you are reading?" Philip asked.

Q: According to Acts 8:35, Philip what?
A: Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus

Q: According to Acts 8:38, Philip what?
A: Both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.

Q: According to Acts 8:40, Philip what?
A: Philip appeared at AZOTUS and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea