At the end of Chapter 7 we find the ending of Stephen’s speech to the Sanhedrin which was supposed to be his defense but became more of a witness.
If we were to outline chapter 8 it would look something like this:
1. Stephen’s Martyrdom (Acts 7:54-8:1a)
2. Persecution and Dispersal of the Hellenists (Acts 8:1b-3)
3. The Witness of Philip (Acts 8:4-40)
a) The Mission in Samaria (Acts:8:4-25)
b) The Witness to the Ethiopian Treasurer (Acts 8:26-40)
At the end of Stephen’s speech we see that his speech caused the leaders to be livid because Stephen was on trial and now he was putting them on trial. Luke described their anger as being “cut to the heart” and “grinding their teeth” (Psalm 35:16). Stephen’s response to this was he looked into heaven and had a beatific vision. He saw the glory of the heavenly throne room and saw Jesus standing at God’s right hand (v. 55). This is very important, so important that Luke re-stated it in verse 56. Jesus had spoken similar words when He was before the Sanhedrin (Luke 22:69). Jesus is now risen and exalted to His position of authority at God’s right hand. This vision has confirmed Stephen’s testimony, his messianic claims for Jesus were verified in his vision of the exalted Son of Man. In verse 56 Stephen did not refer to Him as simply Jesus, but as the “Son of Man.” There is no other instance in the New Testament that this term is spoken by another person other than Jesus. Another thing to look at here is that it is said that Jesus was standing. Most of the time in Scripture Jesus is referred to as sitting at the right hand of God, so why here is Jesus standing? Some believe that this is a reference to Christ having risen from his seat to welcome the martyr Stephen. Another view is that this vision links with the original Son of Man vision in Daniel 7:13-14, where the Son of Man is seen standing before the Ancient of Days. The primary role of the Danielic Son of Man was that of judgement, and we see in the New Testament that Christ is consistently depicted in this role of eschatological judge. If this is so than the vision of Jesus standing would show that Christ is standing in judgement on his accusers. In my opinion I think either one could work, but I hold more to the first view of Jesus standing welcoming Stephen. In verse 58 we read of Stephen being dragged out and they began to stone him. Paul’s first appearance in Scripture is here as well. The fact that he was standing close enough to be able to have the clothes of Stephen’s killers at his feet show us that he is deep in the involvement of the killing. Stoning was the punishment that was prescribed in the law for blasphemy (Leviticus 24:16), but this was not a formal execution this was an act of mob violence. In verse 60 we read of Stephen’s final words before death. Stephen prayed for God to forgive his killers, just as Jesus had before him (Luke 23:34). And Saul was there giving his approval, Paul’s murderous hatred of the believers is shown here in his attitude toward Stephen (1 Timothy 1:13-15).
So now after this the persecution for the Christians became worse and many of them scattered. Not all of the members of the Jerusalem church were forced to flee, only the Hellenists did probably because Stephen was one of them. The Hellenists were the Greek speaking Jewish Christians. In verse 3 Luke turns his attention to Saul as the opposition to the Christians escalates.
Starting with Acts 8:4 we see the churches witness goes to all Judea and in Samaria, this goes through all of chapters 8-11 (remember Acts 1:8). The mission in Samaria begins in Acts 8:4-25. The witness to the Samaritans falls into two divisions. The initial ministry of Philip (vv. 4-8) and the participation of Peter and John (vv. 14-17). These two passages are linked together by Simon the magician (vv. 9-13, 18-24).
Philip is the first missionary named in Scripture and also the first to be given the title of evangelist. Samaria is the ancient capital of the northern kingdom of Israel, which eventually fell to the Assyrians (722 B.C.) after 200 years of idolatry and rebellion against God. After resettling many of the people in other lands, the Assyrians located gentiles from other areas into the region, resulting in a mix of Jews and Gentiles who became known as Samaritans.
In verses 10-11 Simon claimed to be united to God. Several early church Fathers claimed Simon was a founder of Gnosticism. In verse 13 we read that Simon was motivated by his own selfish reasons and was never genuine. In verse 18-19 Simon offered the disciples money for the power they displayed through the Holy Spirit. Peter was quick to rebuke him and told him he needed to repent. Simon seemed fearful of what Peter said, but he was not willing to repent and seek forgiveness he only wanted to escape the consequences of sin. Verse 25 is a transitional verse and concludes the Samaritan narrative.
Chapter 8:26-40 is a fascinating encounter as an angel of the Lord told Philip to go to Gaza which is one of the five chief cities in Palestine. The original city was destroyed in the first century B.C. and a new city was built near the coast. As he was walking he came across an Ethiopian eunuch, Ethiopia was a large kingdom located south of Egypt and the Ethiopian he came across was probably called the Minister of Finance and whether he was physically a eunuch is not known. The Eunuch was reading from Scripture, This tells us he knew the importance of seeking God through the Scripture, but he did not understand the verse in Isaiah he was reading (Isaiah 53:7-8). His confusion of the passage and whom the passage was talking about was not uncommon because the religious experts often were divided on the real meaning of this passage. Some thought the slaughtered sheep represented Israel and others thought Isaiah was referring to himself still many believed the Messiah was Isaiah’s subject. Philip took this opportunity to tell the eunuch about Jesus and explained that the passage referred to Jesus. The eunuch believed and as they came across some water the eunuch asked to be baptized. The Spirit was in all of this from start to finish. Verse 37 is not in some text like the NIV because it is not found in the early manuscripts of Acts and many scholars believe it was added later by Scribes. The eunuch’s desire to be baptized tells us he responded in faith to Philip’s witness. In verse 39 we see after the eunuch is baptized Philip is snatched away miraculously in the same was a the prophet Elijah (1 Kings 18:12; 2 Kings 2:16). The Spirit led him to this encounter and when he was finished with what he was sent to do he was taken away.Philip was taken away to Azotus which is the first-century name for the ancient Philistine city of Ashdod which was 20 miles north of Gaza. This is probably where he and his family lived (21:9). There are many scholars who have written on different parallels in this story with some in the Old Testament, but the main point of this story is the remarkable missionary advance taken in the conversion of the Ethiopian. This was the beginning to many in the Gentile missions.
keithoconnor 