ACTS LESSON 17


    We will begin this lesson in Acts 8:1 "And Saul was consenting
unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against
the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad
throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles."

    This persecution seemed to be vented against the followers of
Jesus at Jerusalem.  The thousands who had joined the church were a
threat to the rulers of the temple.  So many, even devout Hebrews, had
joined this great Christian movement.  These leaders of the temple
thought they must stamp out this Christian movement, before it
overthrew the worship in the temple.  One thing they feared so much,
was the great miracles that were done by the apostles in the name of
Jesus.  This persecution served its purpose in scattering the people
for fear they would lose their lives.

    Acts 8:2 "And devout men carried Stephen [to his burial], and made
great lamentation over him."

    When a cruel, selfish man dies hardly anyone notices.  Stephen was
the opposite, he was a faithful, just, hard working man.  He loved
others more than himself.  He even asked God to forgive the men who
killed him.  He was a true follower of the Lord Jesus Christ with
signs and wonders following.  Stephen would be sorely missed.  This is
the reason for the lamentation.

    Acts 8:3 "As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into
every house, and haling men and women committed [them] to prison."

    Saul was a Pharisee.  He felt that he was doing God a favor by
rounding up all these Christians and punishing them.  He had no regard
for their lives at all, whether they were men or women.  He even went
into their homes, and drug them out, and imprisoned them.

    Acts 8:4 "Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every
where preaching the word."

    No one understands why, but the greatest move of Christianity is
always during the greatest persecution.  The fact that Saul was
hunting them down and arresting them, just made them more determined
to spread the good news of the gospel.

    Acts 8:5 "Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and
preached Christ unto them."

    We see that Philip took the message of Christ to what had been
thought of by the Jews as a heathen nation.  If he couldn't preach
Christ one place, then he would just go to another place and preach.
Perhaps, had it not been for the great persecution , the gospel would
not have been spread so widely.

    Acts 8:6 "And the people with one accord gave heed unto those
things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he
did."

    Just as many followed Jesus because of the miracles He did, we see
here, that many believed because of the miracles which God did through
Philip.  We read in John 14:11 what Jesus said about this very thing,
"Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me:  or else
believe me for the very works' sake."  You see, it takes a miracle for
some to believe.

    Acts 8:7 "For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of
many that were possessed [with them]: and many taken with palsies, and
that were lame, were healed."

    The spirit of Satan or demon spirits cannot stay where the Spirit
of God is, because the Light (Spirit of God) does away with darkness.
The way to get rid of darkness is just apply the Light. These
miraculous healings were for a sign to these unbelievers.

    Acts 8:8 "And there was great joy in that city."

    You can certainly understand the joy.  The lame could walk, the
sick of palsy were healed, and people were set free to worship the
Lord Jesus Christ.  The whole city was touched by this revival.

    Acts 8:9 "But there was a certain man, called Simon, which
beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of
Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:"

    Simon was a magician who practiced controlling other people's
minds.  He had a great number of these people believing he was
Messiah, because he hypnotized them and told them this.  Once he had
them under his spell, he could tell them anything and they would
believe it.

    Acts 8:10 "To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the
greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God." Acts 8:11 "And
to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched
them with sorceries."

    Their great regard for him was because he had control of their
mind and will.  Many young people today all over the world have been
tricked by Satan's crowd and are blindly following, because they have
turned over their mind and will to these evil people.  They brainwash
them and they believe they are doing the right thing.  When they are
found, they must be deprogrammed to be able to use their own will and
function as a normal human being.

    Acts 8:12 "But when they believed Philip preaching the things
concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were
baptized, both men and women."

    As we said earlier, the way to do away with darkness is to apply
the Light of Jesus.  When Philip presented Jesus Christ (the Light of
the World), they were freed from this darkness in their life and
received the Light freely.  Men and women were baptized.  There was no
difference then and there is no difference now in God's sight.  Women,
as well as men, must repent of their sins and receive Jesus as their
personal Saviour and Lord.  Each individual must do this for himself.

    Acts 8:13 "Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was
baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the
miracles and signs which were done."

    This Simon, the sorcerer, could not deny the miracles.  He was
wise enough to know that there was nothing fake about these miracles.
The Light always does away with darkness, and it was no different with
Simon.  Simon could not resist and he was baptized, as well.

    Acts 8:14 "Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard
that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter
and John:"

    It seemed as though Peter and John were constant companions now.
Peter seemed to be the last word in the church.  He had been given the
keys by Jesus, you remember.

    Acts 8:15 "Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that
they might receive the Holy Ghost:" Acts 8:16 "(For as yet he was
fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the
Lord Jesus.)"

    It seems as though Philip had stopped with water baptism.  None of
these people had been baptized with the baptism of fire, the Holy
Ghost.

    Acts 8:17 "Then laid they [their] hands on them, and they received
the Holy Ghost."

    You see, the baptism of the Holy Ghost is received most of the
time by laying on of hands.

    Acts 8:18 "And when Simon saw that through laying on of the
apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,"
Acts 8:19 "Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay
hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost."

    We see, here, a real fallacy in many people in the church.  So
much emphasis is put on money now in the church that it really
concerns me.  The things of God, cannot be bought or sold.  This power
of the Holy Ghost is a free gift from God.  No one can teach you how
to receive it or can get it for you.  You must receive it from God.
Any Christian can lay hands on you and ask God to fill you, but it is
God who fills you, not the person praying for you.  This is a terrible
mistake that Simon has made.

    Acts 8:20 "But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee,
because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with
money."

    Peter sees right through Simon the sorcerer.  He knows that Simon
is not truly a Christian, but one in name only.

    Acts 8:21 "Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy
heart is not right in the sight of God."

    You see, what we are is in our heart.  Our heart is either right
with God or desperately wicked.  Simon's heart is wicked.  Simon went
through the formality of baptism, but was not truly saved, because his
heart was not cleansed and pure.  Salvation occurs first in the heart.

    Acts 8:22 "Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God,
if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee."

    Peter cut no corners for Simon (who had been the sorcerer).  Peter
told him that he must start all over again and truly repent in his
heart.  Sins are born in the heart.  Peter is saying to Simon, let God
cleanse your heart and, perhaps, God will for give you.

    Acts 8:23 "For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness,
and [in] the bond of iniquity."

    Peter tells him that he is a slave to sin.  Simon's jealousy of
Peter's abilities to bestow the Holy Ghost has made him bitter.  All
of this is sin.  We must never be jealous of the gifts God has given
someone else.  Rejoice with them to the glory of God.

    Acts 8:24 "Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for
me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me."

    There is no explanation of what happened to Simon.  It does appear
from verse 24 that he repented.  He even asks Peter to pray for him.
It appears to me that it is really a little more fear of what might
happen to him, than true repentance.  We are not his judge, however,
God is.  Leave his fate to God.

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                           Acts 17 Questions


1.  When great persecution came to the church at Jerusalem, what
    happened?
2.  Who was the exception?
3.  Who buried Stephen?
4.  Why was their great lamentation over Stephen?
5.  Who was the one man responsible for much of the persecution?
6.  Were just the men persecuted?
7.  Those that were scattered abroad went everywhere doing what?
8.  Who went down to the city of Samaria and preached?
9.  What two things caused the people to believe?
10. In verse 7 it gives specific miracles, what were they?
11. What effect did it have on the city?
12. Who was the man who had before bewitched the city?
13. What kind of control had he used on the people?
14. Who did the people think Simon the sorcerer was?
15. What happened when they believed Philip's preaching?
16. How do you do away with darkness?
17. When Simon believed and was baptized, what did he do?
18. When the apostles at Jerusalem heard about the happenings at
    Samaria, which two came?
19. What did they do that Philip had not done?
20. What did Simon the sorcerer try to buy?
21. How did they receive the Holy Ghost?
22. Why did Peter say thy money perish with thee?
23. What was not right about Simon?
24. What did Peter tell Simon to do?
25. What is Simon slave to?
26. In verse 24, what moves Simon to ask Peter for help?

                                 Notes