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Jerusalem to Rome: A Journey Through Acts

Jerusalem to Rome: A Journey Through Acts

Bible Studies on the Acts of the Apostles

The Deceitfulness of the Heart (Acts 8:1b – 25)

According to Jesus’ commission, his apostles were to be witnesses in Jerusalem, in Judea and Samaria, indeed, to the ends of the world (Acts 1:8). In 2:1–8:3, Luke narrates how they fulfilled that commission in Jerusalem. It is striking that Luke was not describing the Acts of the apostles as much as the Acts of the ascended Lord Jesus. For they were not implementing their own strategy but were being led step by step by the Lord Jesus through the working of the Holy Spirit.

The Church Persecuted and Scattered; 1b-3

Stephen had taught believers about the significance of Jesus’ coming for observing the law and for the service of God in the temple. As the first martyr of the New Dispensation, Stephen had sealed this pioneering work with his death. Stephen’s arrest had already demonstrated that popular opinion had turned. No matter how sympathetic people had been toward Jesus’ disciples (Acts 2:47; 5:13), “revolutionary” talk about the Law of Moses and the temple was simply unacceptable to many people. For that reason, the Jewish leaders did not need to fear them (cf. Acts 4:21; 5:26). They portrayed Jesus’ disciples as enemies of the temple ministry. For many people that was reason enough to go after them. The temple privileges were protected by Roman law and the safeguarding of them belonged to the high priest and captain of the temple. Persecution broke out, exactly as the Master had foretold (Luke 21:12).

The believers were scattered and preached the Good News wherever they went. They did not consider this privilege to be reserved for full-time preachers but saw it as the duty of every believer (1 Peter 3:15). Thus, it was not the apostles, but these refugees who proclaimed the gospel beyond Jerusalem for the first time. The scattered believers were probably mostly Hellenistic Jews (see Acts 11:19-21). The apostles remained in Jerusalem, probably thinking it was their duty. They were not persecuted until later. The Jerusalem church was therefore mainly Hebrew. The church had at least 25,000 members at that point. Not every believer would have left the city. As happens so often in Scripture, here too the word “all” (v. 1) probably means “many.”

The apostles remaining in Jerusalem, meant that Jerusalem still was the “headquarters” of gospel preaching. As long as it was not yet clear that God had taken the kingdom away from Israel (Matthew 21:43), the “city of God” had to be the starting point for apostolic preaching. According to the prophecy of Isaiah and Micah: “For out of Zion shall go the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem” (Isaiah 2:3; Micah 4:2; cf. Acts 15:2, 6, 22-23; 16:4). There was still no sign of the imminent destruction of the city and temple (Luke 21:20). Jerusalem was not yet surrounded by armies and the apostles were miraculously protected.

Saul, having witnessed and consented to Stephen’s death, tried to destroy the church, going door to door, taking men and women prisoners. This is a bit like today’s jihadists, who will ask “Are you a Christian?” and will be-head or torture you if the reply is in the affirmative. Saul had not been impressed by Stephen’s face “like an angel,” nor by his defense or his vision of “Jesus standing at the right hand of God.” Saul (later Paul) confessed to what he had done (26:9-11). His early career as a persecutor was a heavy burden on his conscience, but he did it out of zeal for God and the traditions of his fathers (Acts 22:4; Galatians 1:13; 1 Timothy 1:13). He was forgiven. During his missionary journeys he himself encountered persecution for the sake of the Gospel (Acts 13:50; 2 Corinthians 12:10; 1 Thessalonians 3:7; 2 Timothy 3:11).

The Church Undermined yet Expanding; 4-25

Verses 4-8: Philip, the Hellenist deacon (6:5), fled to a city in Samaria, where he preached the Good News about the Messiah. Like his Master, Jesus, he performed many miraculous signs, confirming the message that he brought. There was great joy in that city! It is likely that the city was Gitta. According to Justin Martyr it was the birthplace of Simon the Sorcerer.

Verses 9-13: Simon the Sorcerer practiced his dark arts and made a great show of himself, so much so that the citizens exclaimed: “This man is the divine power known as the Great Power.” In early Christian literature he is considered the founder of the gnostic heresy (1 Timothy 6:20-21), but that is not certain: it could be a different Simon. It is important to note that signs and miracles can also be done by Satanic power, as was done in Egypt, when the magicians imitated Moses’ signs. When the people heard and believed Philip, Simon also “believed.” The nature of his belief is unclear. No doubt it was sincere as far as it went, but it was superficial (see Matthew 13:20-21). Jesus himself attached little value to the faith that rested on miracles alone (John 2:23-25). Yet Simon came for baptism, along with the other believers, and followed Philip everywhere, “astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.” Perhaps he hoped to learn the secret of Philip’s miracles.

Verses 14-17: The news about the Samaritan believers had reached the apostles in Jerusalem. They sent Peter and John to Samaria. John, who with his brother James, had once suggested that they should bring fire down from heaven on a Samaritan community (Luke 9:51-56), now went there with the love of Jesus and in fellowship with Christians! The earlier ban on the apostles’ entering any city of the Samaritans (Matthew 10:5) had been lifted by Christ’s commission, in which Samaria was explicitly mentioned (Acts 1:8). This is a significant point in the history of the church: from not associating with Samaritans (see John 4:8), we see the apostles laying hands on the believers. In general, it seems to be assumed in the New Testament that those who believe and are baptized, also have the Spirit of God. This special event, which was possibly accompanied by Pentecost-like signs that impressed Simon, may have been necessary to reassure the formerly despised Samaritans that they were truly part of the new community in Christ.

Verses 18-25: When Simon saw what had happened, he too wanted to be able to impart the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands. He could see that it would increase his authority and popularity. He offered money to the apostles! Peter sees through him and tells him that his heart is not right with God. He calls on him to repent. Simon is afraid and asks for forgiveness. After some more preaching the apostles and Philip returned to Jerusalem, preaching in many Samaritan villages.

Questions:

Satan intended to bring evil to the church through Stephen’s death. How did God turn it into good for the church?

What does the case of Simon teach us about those who falsely profess the faith, or who seek to enter the church with questionable motives?

It is not a sin to become rich. We also know that the love of money is the root of all evil (1 Timothy 6:10). What does this say about Simon, our lives, and that of the contemporary church?

– Alida Sewell