A C T S Go Tell the Good     News! Lesson 8  Acts 8

Severe Persecution Arises (Acts 8:1-4) Acts 26:9-11 “…many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.  And I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.” Severe Persecution Arises (Acts 8:1-4) Devout men bury Stephen, and great lamentation is made for him. (8:2, 1 Thess. 4:13) A great persecution arises against the church, and disciples are scattered throughout Judea and Samaria, except the apostles (cf. 1:8) Saul makes havoc of the church Entering EVERY HOUSE Dragging off MEN and WOMEN Committing them to PRISON

Philip preaches in Samaria (Acts 8:4-8) Those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word! Philip preaches Christ in Samaria Was Philip an apostle? How did he receive this miraculous ability? How did the miracles Philip performed influence the reception of his preaching? What was the reaction in the city?

Simon the Sorcerer Believes (Acts 8:9-17) Simon had a great following among the people because of his sorcery. But the people believed Philip’s preaching about Jesus and the kingdom, and they had been baptized. Simon also believed and was baptized. He was amazed at the signs and miracles done by Philip When Peter & John came to Samaria, they imparted the miraculous measure of the Holy Spirit to believers.

Simon’s Sin (Acts 8:18-25) Simon tries to buy the power to impart the Holy Spirit. Peter informs Simon that his thinking and his heart are not right in the sight of God. What does Peter tell Simon to do? With what had Simon been poisoned? By what was he bound? What did Simon request? What did the apostles do on their way back to Jerusalem?

Philip Preaches to the Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:26-40) An angel instructs Philip to go toward the south along the road from Jerusalem to Gaza. An Ethiopian who had come to Jerusalem to worship was returning home. The man is described as a eunuch of great authority; the treasurer in the court of Candace, queen of Ethiopia.

Philip Preaches to the Ethiopian (Acts 8:26-40) The Spirit instructs Philip to overtake the chariot. The Ethiopian is reading from Isaiah (Isa. 53:7-8) When Philip asks if he understands what is reading, the Ethiopian says he needs guidance. Philip starts in Isaiah 53 and preaches Jesus!

Philip Preaches to the Ethiopian (Acts 8:26-40) As they are going down the road, they come to some water and the Ethiopian asks, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” How does he know he needs to be baptized? According to Acts 8:37, what does Philip answer, and what is the Ethiopian’s response? Is Acts 8:37 in your Bible? “And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.” What does this illustrate about the mode of baptism? The Ethiopian went on his way rejoicing! Did the “good news” spread to Ethiopia at this time?

Philip evangelizes from Azotus to Ceasarea (Acts 8:40) “But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea.” (Acts 8:40)