The Acts of the Apostles, the history of the early church, by Luke the physician - Acts 8:1- 13 comments : Saul (Paul) begins persecuting the early church

 

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. 2  And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. 3  As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

 

Saul will have his name changed to Paul. See Acts 13:9. As Saul he was a great terror to the early church, and he admitted his guilt.

 

1Corinthians 15:9  For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

 

Galatians 1:13  For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:

 

Phillipians 3:6  Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

 

1Timothy 1:13  Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

 

There was a great persecution at Jerusalem and many fled, save for the Apostles. The Christian Jews were scattered abroad. Note how it is referenced elsewhere. Jews had moved to many parts of the known world then, as far as China, down in Africa, and had a significant presence in Rome and the city of Babylon. There are many references to gathering the scattered Jews together. This persecution drove the Christians out of Jerusalem.

 

Acts 8:4 ¶  Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. 5  Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. 6  And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 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. 8  And there was great joy in that city. 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: 10  To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. 11  And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries. 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. 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 persecution led to a great effort of evangelization. Now, many more people would hear the gospel because the siege mentality, the bunker mentality, which is almost always wrong, was wiped out by the persecution and Christians moved abroad to spread the Good News of Christ.

 

Now it says that the Apostles remained in Jerusalem. This then should be Philip the servant/deacon who was elected to serve the congregation at Jerusalem that is now dispersed abroad.

 

Acts 6:1 ¶  And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. 2  Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. 3  Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. 4  But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. 5  And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a

man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: 6  Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.

 

Acts 21:8 ¶  And the next day we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him. 9  And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.

 

People here believe and are baptized, even Simon the sorcerer, but no mention is made of them receiving the Holy Ghost, yet. It is important to note that in this early stage of the church this passage is one of those that makes it clear that you must believe to be baptized and no mention is made of baptizing someone who cannot believe, like a baby, for instance.

 

Also note that Simon uses sorcery, the word in Greek being phonetically translated as mag-yoo-o, the root from which we get magic. These people departed from their amazement at Simon to their faith in Christ. All of the tricks of his trade could not prevent that or keep even him from believing but with a shallow faith laced with greed and a desire for self-aggrandizement.