The Persecuted Preach Christ

P ERSECUTION ! (8:1) Attempts to stop the message: Attempts to stop the message: – Severe threats, 4:17-18 – Imprisonment, 5:17-18 – Beatings, 5:40 – Disputes, 6:9-10 – Lies and false witnesses, 6:13 – Violence against the innocent, 7:57-58; 8:3 The gospel and believers were not stopped, Acts 5:39, 29; 8:4; Matt. 5:10-12 The gospel and believers were not stopped, Acts 5:39, 29; 8:4; Matt. 5:

Philip Preaches Christ 3 -Philip Acts 6:5; 8:5 -Jesus John 4:4; Luke 17:11 -John Luke 9:54

C ONVERSIONS Result of preaching Christ, 8:5, 35 Result of preaching Christ, 8:5, 35 – Samaritans, 8:5-6, 12 – Simon, 8:13 Restored after sin, 8:20-24 Restored after sin, 8:20-24 – Many Samaritan villages, 8:25 – Ethiopian eunuch, 8:

P REACHING C HRIST S AVED THE S AMARITANS, 8:5-25 Gospel in Samaria, 8:5-13, 25 (1:8) Gospel in Samaria, 8:5-13, 25 (1:8) – Philip preached Christ, 8:5 – Why believe Philip? Jno. 4:39-42 Saw his miracles, 8:6-8 Saw his miracles, 8:6-8 – Contrasted with false signs, 8:9-11 Simon had persuaded many he was the great power of God! (using sorcery) Simon had persuaded many he was the great power of God! (using sorcery) Even he was persuaded by true miracles, 8:13 Even he was persuaded by true miracles, 8:13 5

P REACHING C HRIST S AVED THE S AMARITANS, 8:5-25 What it is to preach Christ, 8:5, 12 What it is to preach Christ, 8:5, 12 – The kingdom of God, Lk. 1:32-33; Mk. 9:1; Jno. 18:36 (Matt. 6:33) – The name of Jesus Christ, Matt. 28:18-19; Acts 4:10-12 – Baptism (plan of salvation), Acts 2:37-38 (8:35-36) 6

S IMON : A C HRISTIAN WHO S INNED, 8:14-24 Simon was a Christian, 8:13 Simon was a Christian, 8:13 He was a new convert (a babe in Christ) who sinned, 8:18-19 He was a new convert (a babe in Christ) who sinned, 8:18-19 His sin caused him to be lost, 8:20-23 His sin caused him to be lost, 8:20-23 Must repent and pray for forgiveness, 8:22, 24 Must repent and pray for forgiveness, 8:22, 24 7

T HE H OLY S PIRIT AND C ONVERSION, 8:14-18 Miracles confirmed the word; they did not save the lost, 8:6, 12 Miracles confirmed the word; they did not save the lost, 8:6, 12 Baptism “in the name of the Jesus” is not Holy Spirit baptism, 8:15-16 Baptism “in the name of the Jesus” is not Holy Spirit baptism, 8:15-16 Gift of the Spirit is not personal indwelling of the Spirit, Acts 2:38; 8:14-16 (3:19) Gift of the Spirit is not personal indwelling of the Spirit, Acts 2:38; 8:14-16 (3:19) 8

T HE H OLY S PIRIT AND C ONVERSION, 8:14-18 Receive the word of God when you are “baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus”, 8:14, 16 Receive the word of God when you are “baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus”, 8:14, 16 Miraculous gifts of the Spirit only obtained from the apostles, Acts 8:14-15, 17 Miraculous gifts of the Spirit only obtained from the apostles, Acts 8:14-15, 17 The Holy Spirit sent preachers to the lost, 8:29 The Holy Spirit sent preachers to the lost, 8:29 9

10 -Peter and John preach, 8:25 -Angel tells Philip to go to the Jerusalem to Gaza road, 8: The Spirit told him to join the chariot, 8:29-30

P REACHING C HRIST S AVED THE E THIOPIAN, 8:26-40 God brought the sinner into contact with the word, 8:26, God brought the sinner into contact with the word, 8:26, Good things did not save the man: Good things did not save the man: – He was devoutly religious, 8:27 – Only reading Scripture, 8:28 (31) – Desiring to know the Scriptures (8:30-31) – Talking about Scriptures, 8:32-34 – Hearing and believing (alone), 8:

P REACHING C HRIST S AVED THE E THIOPIAN, 8:26-40 Ethiopian was saved when he obeyed the word of Christ in faith, 8:36-39 Ethiopian was saved when he obeyed the word of Christ in faith, 8:36-39 – Heard and believed – Confessed his belief – Baptized – Rejoiced (saved) – He was saved when he obeyed – not before – There was no ceremony, no waiting 12

P REACHING C HRIST S AVED THE E THIOPIAN, 8:26-40 A pattern for personal evangelism A pattern for personal evangelism – Start the conversation about spiritual things, 8:30 – If they show an interest, engage them and tell them what they need to hear, 8:35-36 – Explain they are lost, Jesus is the Savior and He has a plan of salvation for them, 8:36-37 – Explain the urgency, the responsibility and the blessing of faithful obedience, 8:36 13