A Diary of Signs Wonders and Miracles
Mini studies from the book of Acts
#Acts 8
Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. 5Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. 6And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 7For 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. 8And there was great joy in that city.
Simon the Sorcerer
9But 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: 10To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. 11And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries. 12But 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. 13Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. Acts 8:
The ministrty of both stephen and both evangelised in their preaching 6;10 8;5. Both oerformed puvlic signs and wonders 6;8 8;6 Luke already describes the apostles teaching as bearing witness to Christ’s commands 4;2 the author uses the veb euangelizo to bring good news used five times here in chapterr eight referring to the good news of the word ch4 and the kingdom of GOd and thename of Jesus (12) thisd tells us an important key that evangelsim cannt be performed without preaching and declaring the name of Jesus as a key to the gospel message.
The question isif the apsotles preached all that Jesus had commanded how come Phillip did not baptise ithese new converts in the Holy Ghost?
Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: 15Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: 16(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 17Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. (Acts 8:14-17).
Neither Stephen nor Phillip were apostles. And it is stated that seeing his signs the crowd..all paid attention to what he had said (v6). And great Joy was brought to the city. (8) .
Phillip preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus (v12) and baptised them into the name. But he did not pray that tey would recive the Holy Ghost. However people belived phippi and were baptised (v13).
In verses 14-17 we read how the apostles heard thqt Samari had accepted the gospel they sent Peter and John to investigate (v14) now we remeber yhat it was John who gave us the revealtion of the new birth where one was born not of water only but water and Spirit (John 3:5) So they prayed for them that they might recive the Holy Spirit (v15). They prayerd for them and laid hands of them that threy might recive the Spirit. Noe of them had recived the Spirit by but they allhad been baptised into thr name of the Lord Jesus. As Jesus had instructed in Matthew 29;18 and elsewhere in the gospels. Peter we know when he preached (eu) dealred that oen ahd to repent and be baptised fo the remissionof sins and be filled withthe Holy Ghost (Acts 238).
How has this passage influenced the gospel message today?
This has baffled many, were tow gospel messages preached here. No! Maybe phillpi had notthe revelation of John maybe he was not gifted as an evangelist to lay hands on folks to recieve the Spirit? What we do know is this Phillip preached the Word and signs followed, and equally so it was the apostles who had the faith gift and revelation of the Holy Ghost baptism as part of the gospel. To them there was no two tier gospel message but one gospel message where a man was born of water and spirit upon repentance (2;38) 10:55-57).
Sure God can use nayone to preach the gospel and wh am I to question how thew Holy Ghost works. It was my own personal experience to recieve the Holy Ghopst before i was baptised in Jesus name, yet this way is discounted by some pentecostals today. My experince was validated and conformed by many including some Pastors. and I know it was real life changing and of God. How God works then is his decision and who can question that.
In dealing with the method of Hod salvation comes then comes down to our understanding of scripture, the revealation of a full slavtion in jesus name according to Jesus in John 3;5 and the apsotle Peter in Acts 238 is. I would preach this becuize peter preached it and as a preacher i want to preach it like Pter preached it and maybe i can see it like Peter saw it. This acts 238 model is the most thorough way and indeed the most effective and the simplest way. repentace water baptism and the reception taking place there and then, the same event inone place at opne time. Amazing, life transforming. Riveting!
The predominant pattern in Acts follows the first gospel message in Acts 2:38.
Sincerely,
Itai Gerbi e a minute to write an introduction that is short, sweet, and to the point. If you sell something, use this space to describe it in detail and tell us why we should make a purchase. Tap into your creativity. You’ve got this.
