Acts 8 commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. Timeline of the book of acts from the bible generation word. In the last lesson, we had seen peter and john come to samaria to help philip. Acts chapter 8 explained discover the 66 books of the bible. Clicking on a chapter will show you the text of that chapter of acts in the bible king james version. As modern readers, then, we should approach the book of acts as another channel to lukes view of salvation history. Acts 8 indepth versebyverse bible study and commentary of acts chapter 8 in plain english. Luke notes a similar belief about simon, saying he is known as the great power 8. The book of acts shows how god essentially took a group of fisherman and commoners and used them to turn the world upside down acts 17. A better title would be the acts or the workings of the holy spirit, because he is the real main character of the book. On the radio you are listening to the services of the first baptist church in dallas, and this is the pastor bringing the early morning message entitled additional chapters to the book of acts.
In many ways acts chapter 8 is a significant pivot point. Acts 4 niv peter and john before the sanhedrin bible gateway. At the time of saul consented unto stephens death, there was great persecution against the church at jerusalem and they were all scattered abroad. Verses 58 then philip went down to the city of samaria, and preached christ unto. Commentary on the book of acts bible study lessons. He was one of the first martyrs and there were many more like him who were martyred in the years that followed. Acts 4 new international version niv peter and john before the sanhedrin. Acts 8 niv bible and saul approved of their killing him.
That day a bitter persecution started against the church in jerusalem, and everyone except the apostles scattered to the country districts of judaea and samaria. It was strange, but very true, that the disciples of christ the more they were afflicted the more they multiplied. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at jerusalem. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at jerusalem. Limited objectivity is especially apparent in ancient histories. Study of acts discussion notes chapter 8 introduction our study of the book of acts has been informative and challenging. Exactly how the simon of acts 8 is related to simon magus of later legend is not clear. This persecution is much more severe, since it involves the laypeople and since it comes from the unrelenting hands of saul. Go to previous section go to next section return to book of acts.
The book of acts also describes the work of the two apostles peter and paul. This man appears to have been the first fullfledged gentile that luke recorded being evangelized in acts. David guzik commentary on acts 8 describes the persecution of the church through saul, but people like the ethiopian official, get saved everywhere. These verses contains lukes introduction to the book of acts, and his account of christs parting words to his disciples before his ascension into heaven. Also the great missionary commission, which appears in all four gospels, is confirmed in the book of acts. Godly men buried stephen and mourned deeply for him. Acts these are all of the chapters of the book of acts. A proud person might give an outward display of faith because it is the right thing to do in the eyes of others.
The earlier persecutions of chapters 4 and 5 involved persecutions of the christian leaders, the apostles, by the jewish leaders, primarily the priests. Philip shares the gospel with the ethiopian eunuch acts 8. It has challenged our theology and the depth of our relationship with christ and the holy spirit. The book of acts furnishes a ladder on which to place the epistles. Our story starts off where the gospel of luke left offjesus is back now that hes resurrected, jesus decides to hang out and chat with his disciples whom luke calls apostles for forty days. Acts of the apostles 8, new living translation nlt the. As the book of acts closes, the author places himself beside paul at the roman imprisonment. On that day, there broke out a severe persecution of the church in.
Before the coming of philip and the gospel, simon was an admired holy man in the region, and had been admired for a long time acts 8. Acts 8, new international version niv the bible app. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout judea and samaria. It will help to keep the whole of the book before you as you work your way through each section. It records the burial of stephen, the beginnings of christian persecution, and the spread of the gospel of jesus christ to the people of samaria and ethiopia.
Before you attempt to answer the questions below you should read these chapters in the bible and answer the questions at the end of each chapter found at the website answer the questions below and then click ok to send your answers. Acts bible book with full chapters king james version. The apostles healed the sick in acts chapter 5 verse 16. Of these, the first twelve report events between the time of jesus last meeting with his disciples and the beginning of pauls work as a christian missionary. This is, in effect, an outline of the book of acts see plan and outline below.
An overview of the book of acts the life of the early church is recorded and preserved for us in the book of acts and the epistles. In the opening verses of this critical chapter of acts 8, three progressive features show how god uses evil for good, describing. And in much the same way, the apostles miracles in the book of acts proved that their testimony concerning christ was true. You will be my witnesses in jerusalem, and in all judea and samaria, and to the ends of the earth 1.
God took a christianhating murderer and transformed him into historys greatest christian evangelist, the author of almost half the books of the new testament. According to justin, simon goes to rome during the reign of emperor claudius a. Second, the author gives some evidence of being a physician by the attention he gives to medical detail luke 8. Acts with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. Acts cliffsnotes study guides book summaries, test. It is as if the four gospels had been poured into a funnel, and they all come down into this jug of the first chapter of the book of acts. Paul in his epistle states that luke, not titus, was with him at that time philemon 24. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at. In this chapter we have an account of the persecutions of the christians, and the propagating of christianity thereby. The following outline is intended to be used while studying the book.
Accordingly, we can assume that acts reflects the concerns of its author. Acts 8 niv bible and saul approved of their killing. Acts chapter 8 in the previous chapter of acts, we are told that stephen was stoned. Up to now all the activity concerning the knowledge and spreading of the good news of the gospel has taken place in the city of jerusalem, has been strictly among jews, and the focus of events has revolved around the works of the 12 disciples. He was probably much more sympathetic to the christians gospel than the average gentile.
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