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1 # And <1161> Saul <4569> was <2258> (5713) consenting <4909> (5723) unto his <846> death <336>. And <1161> at <1722> that <1565> time <2250> there was <1096> (5633) a great <3173> persecution <1375> against <1909> the church <1577> which <3588> was at <1722> Jerusalem <2414>; and <5037> they were <1289> <0> all <3956> scattered abroad <1289> (5681) throughout <2596> the regions <5561> of Judaea <2449> and <2532> Samaria <4540>, except <4133> the apostles <652>.
2 And <1161> devout <2126> men <435> carried <4792> (5656) Stephen <4736> to his burial, and <2532> made <4160> (5668) great <3173> lamentation <2870> over <1909> him <846>.
3 As <1161> for Saul <4569>, he made havock <3075> (5711) of the church <1577>, entering into <1531> (5740) every <2596> house <3624>, and haling <4951> (5723) <5037> men <435> and <2532> women <1135> committed <3860> (5707) them to <1519> prison <5438>.
4 # Therefore <3767> <3303> they that were scattered abroad <1289> (5651) went every where <1330> (5627) preaching <2097> (5734) the word <3056>.
Every believer was considered a preacher in the early church. These ordinary believers went out preaching the Gospel and many people were saved.
- PREACHING

5 Then <1161> Philip <5376> went down <2718> (5631) to <1519> the city <4172> of Samaria <4540> , and preached <2784> (5707) Christ <5547> unto them <846>.
It does not say he preached the Gospel or salvation. It says the he preached Christ. When Christ becomes the center of our ministry, we preach a lot more than the atonement and being born again. Philip also followed up by performing miracles.

6 And <5037> the people <3793> with one accord <3661> gave heed <4337> (5707) unto those things which Philip <5376> spake <3004> (5746) <5259>, hearing <1722> <191> (5721) <846> and <2532> seeing <991> (5721) the miracles <4592> which <3739> he did <4160> (5707).
Just as Jesus showed, the preaching of the Gospel should always include miracles that demonstrate the power of God and also confirm that Jesus is alive.

7 For <1063> unclean <169> spirits <4151>, crying <994> (5723) with loud <3173> voice <5456> , came out <1831> (5711) of many <4183> that were possessed <2192> (5723) with them: and <1161> many <4183> taken with palsies <3886> (5772), and <2532> that were lame <5560>, were healed <2323> (5681).
The main activities which usually accompany the preaching of the Gospel are deliverance and healing. Often these two go together.

8 And <2532> there was <1096> (5633) great <3173> joy <5479> in <1722> that <1565> city <4172>.
9 But <1161> there was a certain <5100> man <435>, called <3686> Simon <4613>, which beforetime <4391> (5707) in <1722> the same city <4172> used sorcery <3096> (5723), and <2532> bewitched <1839> (5723) the people <1484> of Samaria <4540>, giving out <3004> (5723) that himself <1438> was <1511> (5750) some <5100> great one <3173>:
Demonic gifts always exalt the person using them, whereas the Gifts of the Spirit always exalt Jesus.

10 To whom <3739> they all <3956> gave heed <4337> (5707), from <575> the least <3398> to <2193> the greatest <3173>, saying <3004> (5723), This man <3778> is <2076> (5748) the great <3173> power <1411> of God <2316>.
11 And <1161> to him <846> they had regard <4337> (5707), because <1223> that of long <2425> time <5550> he had bewitched <1839> (5760) them <846> with sorceries <3095>.
 - CHRONOS - TIME
12 But <1161> when <3753> they believed <4100> (5656) Philip <5376> preaching <2097> (5734) the things concerning <4012> the kingdom <932> of God <2316>, and <2532> the name <3686> of Jesus <2424> Christ <5547> , they were baptized <907> (5712), both <5037> men <435> and <2532> women <1135>.
Baptism should always be included in the preaching of the Gospel. It is a part of the covenant process that is applied when a person is born again.
- KINGDOM OF GOD

13 Then <1161> Simon <4613> himself <846> believed <4100> (5656) also <2532>: and <2532> when he was baptized <907> (5685), he continued <2258> (5713) <4342> (5723) with Philip <5376>, and <5037> wondered <1839> (5710), beholding <2334> (5723) the miracles <1411> and <2532> signs <4592> <3173> which were done <1096> (5740) (5625) <1096> (5740).
Simon's later behavior has led many to teach that he did not really get born again but only pretended. But since this account was written long after the events, the writer would surely have said that Simon pretended to believe.

This is important because Simon is a clear picture of a believer who is still demonized and how such a person should be dealt with.

14 # Now <1161> when the apostles <652> which <3588> were at <1722> Jerusalem <2414> heard <191> (5660) that <3754> Samaria <4540> had received <1209> (5766) the word <3056> of God <2316>, they sent <649> (5656) unto <4314> them <846> Peter <4074> and <2532> John <2491>:
15 Who <3748>, when they were come down <2597> (5631), prayed <4336> (5662) for <4012> them <846> , that <3704> they might receive <2983> (5632) the Holy <40> Ghost <4151>:
It seems strange that Philip did not have this as part of his ministry. Perhaps an important reason is that laying on of hands can sometimes impart other things and should be done by more mature believers only.

16 (For <1063> as yet <3768> he was <2258> (5713) fallen <1968> (5761) upon <1909> none <3762> of them <846>: only <3440> <1161> they were <5225> (5707) baptized <907> (5772) in <1519> the name <3686> of the Lord <2962> Jesus <2424>.)
Notice that it does not say they were baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. All of the early apostles baptized new believers in the Name of Jesus. They understood that when Jesus spoke of baptizing in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit it only meant that the name of Jesus now embraced the whole Godhead, because Jesus had been given the name above all names.

17 Then <5119> laid they <2007> (5707) their hands <5495> on <1909> them <846>, and <2532> they received <2983> (5707) the Holy <40> Ghost <4151>.
The act of laying hands caused an impartation to take place. Jesus used it to heal the sick, and now it was also used to impart the anointing of the Holy Spirit.


The experience of receiving the Holy Spirit was a visible thing, which means that it caused some kind of manifestation or activity. The most common at that time, and still applies today, is when the person begins to speak with other tongues.


Simon saw this as an authority rather than a divine ability.
- AUTHORITY

18 And <1161> when Simon <4613> saw <2300> (5666) that <3754> through <1223> laying on <1936> of the apostles <652>' hands <5495> the Holy <40> Ghost <4151> was given <1325> (5743), he offered <4374> (5656) them <846> money <5536>,
19 Saying <3004> (5723), Give <1325> (5628) me also <2504> this <5026> power <1849>, that <2443> on <2007> <0> whomsoever <3739> <1437> I lay <2007> (5632) hands <5495>, he may receive <2983> (5725) the Holy <40> Ghost <4151>.
Peter discerned something in Simon and told him that his heart was not right with God.

20 But <1161> Peter <4074> said <2036> (5627) unto <4314> him <846>, Thy <4675> money <694> perish <1498> (5751) <1519> <684> with <4862> thee <4671>, because <3754> thou hast thought <3543> (5656) that the gift <1431> of God <2316> may be purchased <2932> (5738) with <1223> money <5536>.
21 Thou <4671> hast <2076> (5748) neither <3756> part <3310> nor <3761> lot <2819> in <1722> this <5129> matter <3056>: for <1063> thy <4675> heart <2588> is <2076> (5748) not <3756> right <2117> in the sight <1799> of God <2316>.
Peter discerned that Simon was bound by bitterness and an evil spirit. Yet he was a believer, and the demon was still there influencing him.

22 Repent <3340> (5657) therefore <3767> of <575> this <5026> thy <4675> wickedness <2549> , and <2532> pray <1189> (5676) God <2316>, if <1487> perhaps <686> the thought <1963> of thine <4675> heart <2588> may be forgiven <863> (5701) thee <4671>.
He passed the responsibility to them instead of dealing with his own sin. This is a common error in deliverance where believers are concerned. When a demon is resident with a believer, it has a legal right through sin. And only the person can repent and renounce this. Many deliverance ministries fail to get the person first to confess and renounce, and when they try to pray, the demons end up manifesting in the same way as in unbelievers.

But when a believer confesses the sin that opened the door to the enemy and renounces the license they gave to the enemy, the demon no longer has a right to be there and must leave. When you follow this procedure in dealing with demons in believers, it is not necessary to cast the demons out in the same way as with unbelievers.

23 For <1063> I perceive <3708> (5719) that thou <4571> art <5607> (5752) in <1519> the gall <5521> of bitterness <4088>, and <2532> in the bond <4886> of iniquity <93>.
Their preaching now was not to get the people saved since they had already become believers. But now they preached the Word, which included probably some principles of living the spiritual life in Christ.

24 Then <1161> answered <611> (5679) Simon <4613>, and said <2036> (5627), Pray <1189> (5676) ye <5210> to <4314> the Lord <2962> for <5228> me <1700>, that <3704> none of these things <3367> which <3739> ye have spoken <2046> (5758) come <1904> (5632) upon <1909> me <1691>.
It took the work of an angel to bring this revelation to Philip rather than an internal revelation. Here is the function of a messenger angel
- ANGEL MESSENGER - ANGELS

25 And they, when <3303> <3767> they had testified <1263> (5666) and <2532> preached <2980> (5660) the word <3056> of the Lord <2962>, returned <5290> (5656) to <1519> Jerusalem <2419>, and <5037> preached the gospel <2097> (5668) in many <4183> villages <2968> of the Samaritans <4541>.
26 # And <1161> the angel <32> of the Lord <2962> spake <2980> (5656) unto <4314> Philip <5376> , saying <3004> (5723), Arise <450> (5628), and <2532> go <4198> (5737) toward <2596> the south <3314> unto <1909> the way <3598> that goeth down <2597> (5723) from <575> Jerusalem <2419> unto <1519> Gaza <1048>, which <3778> is <2076> (5748) desert <2048>.
27 And <2532> he arose <450> (5631) and went <4198> (5675): and <2532>, behold <2400> (5628), a man <435> of Ethiopia <128>, an eunuch <2135> of great authority <1413> under Candace <2582> queen <938> of the Ethiopians <128>, who <3739> had <2258> (5713) the charge of <1909> all <3956> her <846> treasure <1047> , and <3739> had come <2064> (5715) to <1519> Jerusalem <2419> for to worship <4352> (5694),
This time God did not speak via an angel, but He spoke in his spirit, telling him to go closer to the chariot.

28 <5037> Was <2258> (5713) returning <5290> (5723), and <2532> sitting <2521> (5740) in <1909> his <846> chariot <716> <2532> read <314> (5707) Esaias <2268> the prophet <4396> .
He was clearly reading out loud from the scroll. The fact that he even had a scroll showed that he had wealthy connections because scrolls could not be easily duplicated like books are today. A copy would need to be hand written on a new scroll.

29 Then <1161> the Spirit <4151> said <2036> (5627) unto Philip <5376>, Go near <4334> (5628) , and <2532> join thyself to <2853> (5682) this <5129> chariot <716>.
This was perfect timing, and he invited Philip to join him on the chariot.

30 And <1161> Philip <5376> ran <4370> (5631) thither to him, and heard <191> (5656) him <846> read <314> (5723) the prophet <4396> Esaias <2268>, and <2532> said <2036> (5627), Understandest thou <687> <1065> <1097> (5719) what <3739> thou readest <314> (5719)?
You can see God's foreknowledge and calling here. This man's heart had been prepared and ready to hear the Gospel. He was reading a prophecy about Jesus' work on Calvary. This is why Philip was told to go down to where he was traveling so that he could explain the full Gospel to him. Theologians call the process of preparing a person to receive the Gospel as "prevenient grace." or grace that comes before.

When you are led by the Lord in ministering to unbelievers, you will find God bringing you across the paths of those whom He has already begun to prepare. Then, there is no struggle to get them born again. Their hearts are open and ready to receive.

31 And <1161> he said <2036> (5627), How <1063> <4459> can I <302> <1410> (5739) , except <3362> some man <5100> should guide <3594> (5661) me <3165>? And <5037> he desired <3870> (5656) Philip <5376> that he would come up <305> (5631) and sit <2523> (5658) with <4862> him <846>.
32 <1161> The place <4042> of the scripture <1124> which <3739> he read <314> (5707) was <2258> (5713) this <3778>, He was led <71> (5681) as <5613> a sheep <4263> to <1909> the slaughter <4967> ; and <2532> like <5613> a lamb <286> dumb <880> before <1726> his <846> shearer <2751> (5723), so <3779> opened he <455> (5719) not <3756> his <846> mouth <4750>:
33 In <1722> his <846> humiliation <5014> his <846> judgment <2920> was taken away <142> (5681) : and <1161> who <5101> shall declare <1334> (5695) his <846> generation <1074>? for <3754> his <846> life <2222> is taken <142> (5743) from <575> the earth <1093>.
Philip gave him quite a detailed breakdown and even included the need for water baptism. This is why he asked about baptism when they came to some water.

34 And <1161> the eunuch <2135> answered <611> (5679) Philip <5376>, and said <2036> (5627) , I pray <1189> (5736) thee <4675>, of <4012> whom <5101> speaketh <3004> (5719) the prophet <4396> this <5124>? of <4012> himself <1438>, or <2228> of <4012> some <5100> other man <2087>?
35 Then <1161> Philip <5376> opened <455> (5660) his <846> mouth <4750>, and <2532> began <756> (5671) at <575> the same <5026> scripture <1124>, and preached <2097> (5668) unto him <846> Jesus <2424>.
It is faith in Jesus that saves us, not water baptism. Philip needed to make sure that he understood this before baptizing him.

36 And <1161> as <5613> they went <4198> (5711) on <2596> their way <3598>, they came <2064> (5627) unto <1909> a certain <5100> water <5204>: and <2532> the eunuch <2135> said <5346> (5748) , See <2400> (5628), here is water <5204>; what <5101> doth hinder <2967> (5719) me <3165> to be baptized <907> (5683)?
37 And <1161> Philip <5376> said <2036> (5627), If <1487> thou believest <4100> (5719) with <1537> all thine <3650> heart <2588>, thou mayest <1832> (5748). And <1161> he answered <611> (5679) and said <2036> (5627), I believe <4100> (5719) that Jesus <2424> Christ <5547> is <1511> (5750) the Son <5207> of God <2316>.
This must have been quite an experience for the eunuch. People do not usually disappear. It is one of few cases in the Scripture of someone being supernaturally transported by the Holy Spirit.
- SPIRIT OF GOD

38 And <2532> he commanded <2753> (5656) the chariot <716> to stand still <2476> (5629): and <2532> they went down <2597> (5627) both <297> into <1519> the water <5204>, both <5037> Philip <5376> and <2532> the eunuch <2135>; and <2532> he baptized <907> (5656) him <846>.
39 And <1161> when <3753> they were come up <305> (5627) out of <1537> the water <5204>, the Spirit <4151> of the Lord <2962> caught away <726> (5656) Philip <5376>, <2532> that the eunuch <2135> saw <1492> (5627) <3756> him <846> no more <3765>: and <1063> he went <4198> (5711) on his <846> way <3598> rejoicing <5463> (5723).
40 But <1161> Philip <5376> was found <2147> (5681) at <1519> Azotus <108>: and <2532> passing <1330> (5740) through he preached <2097> (5710) in all <3956> the cities <4172>, till <2193> he <846> came <2064> (5629) to <1519> Caesarea <2542>.