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Scriptural Text [& Editorial]
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Commentary & Explanation
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Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
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CHAPTER 8
Saul persecutes the Church—Philip's ministry in Samaria—He
works miracles and baptizes men and women—Peter and John come to Samaria
and confer the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands—Simon
seeks to buy this gift and is rebuked by Peter—Philip preaches Christ
and baptizes an Ethiopian eunuch.
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Saul [Paul] persecutes the Church, consenting to Stephen's
death—Philip ministers in Samaria performing miracles and baptizing but
not conferring the Holy Ghost—Peter and John come to Samaria and confer
the Gift of the Holy Ghost by priesthood administration—Simon [Maggus]
seeks to buy the power to bestow the Holy Ghost and is rebuked by
Peter—Philip preaches to and baptizes an Ethiopian.
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1 AND Saul was
consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great
apersecution against the bchurch which
was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions
of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
2 And devout men carried Stephen to his
burial, and made great alamentation over him.
3 As for Saul, he made
ahavock of the church, entering into every house, and
haling men and women committed them to bprison.
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4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.
5 Then Philip went down to the city of
aSamaria, and preached Christ unto them.
6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto
those things which Philip aspake, hearing and seeing the
miracles which he did.
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7 For aunclean spirits,
crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with
them: and many btaken with palsies, and that were lame,
were chealed.
8 And there was great joy in that city.
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9 But there was a certain man, called Simon,
which beforetime in the same city used asorcery, and
bbewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself
was some cgreat one:
10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.
11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.
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12 But when they believed Philip
apreaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and
the bname of Jesus Christ, they were
cbaptized, both men and women.
13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when
he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and awondered,
beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
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14 Now when the apostles which were at
Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the aword of God,
they sent unto them Peter and John:
15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
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17 Then alaid they
their hands on them, and they received the bHoly
Ghost.
18 And when Simon saw that through
alaying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given,
he offered them money,
19 Saying, Give me also this
apower, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the
Holy Ghost.
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20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish
with thee, because thou hast thought that the agift of God
may be bpurchased with money.
21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this
matter: for thy heart is not aright in the sight of God.
22 Repent therefore of this thy
awickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the
bthought of thine cheart may be forgiven
thee.
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23 For I perceive that thou art in the
agall of bitterness, and in the
bbond of iniquity.
24 Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.
25 And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.
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26 And the aangel of the
Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way
that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.
27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man
of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the
Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem
for to aworship,
28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
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29 Then the aSpirit said
unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
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32 The place of the scripture which he read
was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a
alamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his
mouth:
33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?
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35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began
at the same scripture, and preached unto him
aJesusa.
36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
37 And Philip said, If thou
abelievest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he
answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
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35a began at the same scripture, and
preached unto him Jesus "He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and
as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth." (Isaiah
53:7) If ever there should be a question as to whom Isaiah was speaking,
here the testimony of the apostle Philip ought to answer that
Isaiah in chapter 53 speaks concerning Jesus Christ. He is the 'lamb to the
slaughter', he is he who 'openeth not his mouth.' He is who the Jews do
term the 'suffering servant' of whom Isaiah is speaking, that servnat who the
Jews term and know as Messiah ben Joseph.
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38 And he commanded the chariot to stand
still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch;
and he abaptized him.
39 And when they were come up out of the
water, the aSpirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the
eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.
40 But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing
through he preached in all the cities, till he came to
aCaesarea.
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