Acts 08

Acts 8

Acts 7 - ends with Stephen being stoned, Saul minding the coats

Acts 8:1 - Saul approved of this killing.  See details in Ch 7

Acts 8:1b-3

There had been some persecution and attack

eg Pete and John jailed and told not to preach but released

Now, Stephen’s death.

• What happens?
• What’s the effect on the church? On Saul?

Acts 8:4-8

• did the persecution/scattering stop the spread of the word?
• Whose plans are working here?
• Where is Samaria? How did Jews and Samaritans relate?
• Why did people pay close attention to Philip?
• What was the impact on the city/region?

Acts 8:9-25

Simon: a Jewish/Samaritan name

Sorcery, “practicing magic” A magician

• How had he affected the people?
• What did they think of him?
• What did they call him?
• How long had he been there?
• Did he claim supernatural powers?
•  

See Acts 13:6

• What was this sorcerer called?

See Acts 19:13-16

• What’s the risk for sorcerers?
• did Simon become a believer? (13)
• Did he really understand? (18)
• Did he show “Christian virtues”, fruit of the Spirit?
• What was Peter’s response to Simon’s request? (20-23)
• Is there a warning to “faith healers” here?
• How should they respond? (24)

Acts 8:14-17

• Should it have surprised the apostles that Samaritans were converted? (Acts 1:8)
• What kind of baptism had these new believers been given?
• How did Peter and John add to this?
• Can baptised believers ask to receive the Holy Spirit?
• Who from?
• Was Philip a gifted, Spirit-filled Christian? (Acts 6:5)
• Had he not told them about the Holy Spirit?
• See Acts 19:1-6

Acts 8:26-40

• Why did Philip move on? (26)
• Who did he encounter? (27)
• What was the eunuch reading? (28)
• Who was in charge here? (29)
• Is the response to Philip’s question surprising? (30, 31)
• Who is the quote from Isaiah about? (32-33. Is 53:7,8)
• Could you explain the good news about Jesus only from the Old Testament? Or this passage?
• How did the explanation affect the eunuch? (36-38)
• What happened to Philip next? (39,40)
• What happened to the eunuch?