Explanation: Acts 8 begins with an account of how Saul and others began persecuting the church severely after they killed Stephen (1-3). The disciples were scattered, but the apostles remained in Jerusalem. Philip, who, like Stephen, was a deacon, was among those who were scattered. Philip went to Samaria and converted many, showing signs and miracles (4-8). Simon, a magician, who was an inhabitant of Samaria, believed Philip's preaching and was amazed by his miracles. The apostles heard about what God was doing in Samaria, and they sent Peter and John to visit Philip in the city. When they arrived, Simon asked them to sell him the ability to work miracles. But Peter rebuked him for the wickedness of his heart and warned him to repent. Simon begged him to pray for him that no evil would come upon him. Peter and John returned to Jerusalem and preached the gospel to many Samaritan villages (9-25). Then, an angel of the Lord told Philip to go toward the south where he would encounter an Ethiopian eunuch who was a court official of Candace. As he traveled, the eunuch was reading about the one who was led like a sheep to the slaughter. Philip joined him in his chariot and told him that the passage was speaking about Jesus. The eunuch believed and was baptized, and the Spirit of the Lord carried him away to Azotus where he began preaching from town to town until he came to Caesarea (26-40).
     [Sermons: William Still. Eric Alexander. John Piper. Various. ]
     [Illustration: Today's paintings reflect three of the key events in today's chapter.]

     ²⁶ And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. ²⁷ And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, ²⁸ Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. ²⁹ Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. ³⁰ And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? ³¹ And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. ³² The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: ³³ In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. ³⁴ And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? ³⁵ Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. ³⁶ And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? ³⁷ And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. ³⁸ And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. ³⁹ And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. ⁴⁰ But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.

---

Home | DAWN Archive

Tomorrow's Picture: TBA

     ADDITIONAL AD LIB MATERIAL: Prose, Poetry, Writers, Visual Artists, Music, DAWN, and ILLUMINATION. ILLUMINATION features a compact, Illuminated Bible. DAWN, the page you are presently visiting, features a new image and explanation daily.

Please Email Comments and Questions To

AD LIB ARTS EMAIL
copyright 2016, Scott Souza