These two chapters were action-packed and I took home a lot of key insights. God's word is so exciting!
Observations
Chapter 8 (v. 1-8)
The church was persecuted in Jerusalem and was scattered into all Judea and Samaria. Saul continues to persecute the church and Stephen was buried after being martyred. The scattered church continued to preach the gospel and the church grew. Phillip taught in Samaria, performed signs and healed many - crowds began to follow him.
(v. 9-25)
Simon, a sorcerer, was practicing magic and the people of Samaria began to follow him. The disciple named Phillip began to rise up and start preaching the Word which then began to attract people to him, even Simon the sorcerer. Then crowds got saved and were baptized, including Simon. Once the apostles in Jerusalem heard about the people getting saved, John and Peter were sent to help out. Then they laid hands on the converts to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Simon wanted this "power" and thought he could buy it - Peter rebuked Simon.
(v. 26-40)
Phillip was told by the Holy Spirit to go minister to a Ethiopian (Eunuch) man who was trying to read the Bible (Isaiah 53) but could not understand it. Phillip did as he was asked and baptized the man and explained to him the text. Philip then was mysteriously "taken" by the Holy Spirit as soon as the Ethiopian was raised in the water.
Chapter 9
(v. 1-30) Saul was on his way to Damascus to continue to persecute the Christian church. Saul has an encounter with God, and was blinded for three days. Saul went to the city as was instructed by God. Simultaneously, Ananias a disciple, was told about a vision Saul was experiencing and was to go lay hands on his eyes that he may see. Ananias was frightened however because of Saul's reputation.
"But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name." (Acts 9:15)
Ananias went and healed Saul's eyes and Saul immediately began to preach God's word. People were leery of Saul because they knew of his reputation for persecuting the church. The Jews sought to kill Saul but he was able to escape. Saul went to be with the disciples in Jerusalem, but they were scared of him because of his past. Barnabas (Son of Encouragement) stood up for Saul and convinced the disciples that he a changed man and all was well. Saul, whose name was changed to Paul, continued to preach and debate with the Grecian Jews but the Jews wanted to kill him because of his over-zealousness.
Thoughts and Findings
I love how Phillip jumped in and started preaching God's word despite Simon's magic nonsense. The people were looking for somebody to follow and they turned from Simon to Phillip and in turn were saved. This is an example of how the power of God is faithful to show up no matter what is going on. It is also interesting how Peter was able to see Simon's motives and discern they were not good. Simon wanted to buy what only God can do.
I also thought it was key that John and Peter were sent to the new converts to pray that they would receive the Holy Spirit. They not only prayed, but they laid hands on them. This illustrates the need of being filled with the Holy Spirit over and above being saved. A person can be saved but they must also be baptized with the Holy Spirit in order to receive God's power to ascertain not only the Scriptures but for everyday victory. Phillip was also obedient to the leading of the Holy Spirit to take the Jerusalem road down to Gaza, to minister to the Ethiopian Eunuch. He baptized him and led him to the power to be able to dissect the scriptures for himself. This man no doubt took the message and spread the good news to his hometown, and so the early church grew. :) May we be obedient as well to go where God instructs us amd minister to those who need God's Word.
I was amazed as we went through these chapters because Saul's (Paul) life is of particular interest to me. Paul was completely turned around by the power of Jesus. It is amazing to think that God can take a man who was completely against God's Kingdom and turn him around by no real choice of his own. Saul was the son of a Pharisee, trained under the great Gamaliel, (the leader of the Pharisees) and a Jew from the tribe of Benjamin. Saul was zealous in whatever he did, whether preaching God's word or plotting to have Christians killed. God, for some reason, saw Saul and chose to do great things through him as he was later thought to be "The Founder of the Christian Faith". Paul is no doubt a hero as his zealousness seemed to carry him throughout his life no matter the situation.
But God also explained to Ananias in Acts 8 that not only was Saul to bring God's word to the Gentiles and people of Israel, but he was also to suffer for the Lord as well. Ouch. And did he ever suffer. Paul went through incredible trials and tribulations to follow the Lord and carry out his God-given mission.
"We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything. " 2 Corinthians 6:3-10
"Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. " 2 Corinthians 11:24-28
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