Page 46 - Acts Student Textbook

Study Section 9: Part 2: Spread of the Gospel in Judea
and Samaria — Chap. 8-12

9.1 Connect.

Sometimes when we are too comfortable with the good, God usually pushes us in
uncomfortable positions to bring out in us the best of His purposes. Sometimes His method
may not be very pleasing to us. In this chapter, we see another landmark in the progress of the
Church. This chapter accomplishes Jesus second prediction of how the witnesses would carry
out His message (in Samaria). The Christians were too comfortable in Jerusalem that they did not
seem to show any intention of expanding into outside boarders. This was accomplished through the
persecution of the church. Here we also see Luke’s missiological aspect of the book’s lay out. This
second step was first carried out not by the chief witnesses (the Apostles), but by one of the seven
(Philip). Let’s see how all this unfolds….

9.2 Objectives.

1. The student should be able to discuss how the Gospel started expanding to other
regions.

2. The student should be able to explain how Christianity becomes a uniting factor of
different social groups.

3. The student should be able to explain how the Samaritans are saved in the same way as the Jews.

4. The student should be able to confirm how the Old Testament prophecies get fulfilled in the New
Testament.

9.3 Acts 8: Philip’s Work in Samaria

How did Persecution work out for the good of the Church? (8:1-4)

Interestingly, Luke says, 8:4 "those who had been scattered went about preaching the word"
Notice it was not the Apostles, because they remained in Jerusalem, but the Hellenistic Jewish
Christians scattered throughout the region who became the early evangelists. It is amazing
that the worldwide mission of the church was instigated, not by the Apostles, but by Stephen and
Philip. Why the Apostles stayed we are not told, but this will become significant later. Note that they
were still in Jerusalem as recorded in v14.

The "word" here must surely mean the gospel, but also the added worldwide, non-Jewish focus of
Stephen (Great Commission, 1:8; Matt. 28:18-20; Luke 24:47).

Stephen’s death began a period of great persecution, in which we will see Saul had a leading role.
The truth had been accepted gladly by great numbers when first preached (chap. 2). Then the leaders
opposed it but tried to avoid violence (chap. 4,5). Then they tried debate, but were publicly defeated
(chap. 6). Finally, they began a role of active physical persecution beginning with the stoning of
Stephen and then proceeding to a general persecution. This is often the progression of hearts that
harden to truth.

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