5 Then G1161 Philip G5376 went down G2718 to G1519 the city G4172 of Samaria, G4540 and preached G2784 Christ G5547 unto them. G846
6 And G5037 the people G3793 with one accord G3661 gave heed G4337 unto those things which Philip G5376 spake, G3004 G5259 hearing G1722 G191 G846 and G2532 seeing G991 the miracles G4592 which G3739 he did. G4160
7 For G1063 unclean G169 spirits, G4151 crying G994 with loud G3173 voice, G5456 came out G1831 of many G4183 that were possessed G2192 with them: and G1161 many G4183 taken with palsies, G3886 and G2532 that were lame, G5560 were healed. G2323
8 And G2532 there was G1096 great G3173 joy G5479 in G1722 that G1565 city. G4172
9 But G1161 there was a certain G5100 man, G435 called G3686 Simon, G4613 which beforetime G4391 in G1722 the same city G4172 used sorcery, G3096 and G2532 bewitched G1839 the people G1484 of Samaria, G4540 giving out G3004 that himself G1438 was G1511 some G5100 great one: G3173
10 To whom G3739 they all G3956 gave heed, G4337 from G575 the least G3398 to G2193 the greatest, G3173 saying, G3004 This man G3778 is G2076 the great G3173 power G1411 of God. G2316
11 And G1161 to him G846 they had regard, G4337 because G1223 that of long G2425 time G5550 he had bewitched G1839 them G846 with sorceries. G3095
12 But G1161 when G3753 they believed G4100 Philip G5376 preaching G2097 the things concerning G4012 the kingdom G932 of God, G2316 and G2532 the name G3686 of Jesus G2424 Christ, G5547 they were baptized, G907 both G5037 men G435 and G2532 women. G1135
13 Then G1161 Simon G4613 himself G846 believed G4100 also: G2532 and G2532 when he was baptized, G907 he continued G2258 G4342 with Philip, G5376 and G5037 wondered, G1839 beholding G2334 the miracles G1411 and G2532 signs G4592 G3173 which were done. G1096 G1096
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Acts 8
Commentary on Acts 8 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 8
In this chapter we have an account of the persecutions of the Christians, and the propagating of Christianity thereby. It was strange, but very true, that the disciples of Christ the more they were afflicted the more they multiplied.
Act 8:1-3
In these verses we have,
Act 8:4-13
Samson's riddle is here again unriddled: Out of the eater comes forth meat, and out of the strong sweetness. The persecution that was designed to extirpate the church was by the overruling providence of God made an occasion of the enlargement of it. Christ had said, I am come to send fire on the earth; and they thought, by scattering those who were kindled with that fire, to have put it out, but instead of this they did but help to spread it.
Act 8:14-25
God had wonderfully owned Philip in his work as an evangelist at Samaria, but he could do no more than an evangelist; there were some peculiar powers reserved to the apostles, for the keeping up of the dignity of their office, and here we have an account of what was done by two of them there-Peter and John. The twelve kept together at Jerusalem (v. 1), and thither these good tidings were brought them that Samaria had received the word of God (v. 14), that a great harvest of souls was gathered, and was likely to be gathered in to Christ there. The word of God was not only preached to them, but received by them; they bade it welcome, admitted the light of it, and submitted to the power of it: When they heard it, they sent unto them Peter and John. If Peter had been, as some say he was, the prince of the apostles, he would have sent some of them, or, if he had seen cause, would have gone himself of his own accord; but he was so far from this that he submitted to an order of the house, and, as a servant to the body, went whither they sent him. Two apostles were sent, the two most eminent, to Samaria,
Act 8:26-40
We have here the story of the conversion of an Ethiopian eunuch to the faith of Christ, by whom, we have reason to think, the knowledge of Christ was sent into that country where he lived, and that scripture fulfilled, Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands (one of the first of the nations) unto God, Ps. 68:31.