<![CDATA[CORNERSTONE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP - \'LIVELY STONES\' MEDITATIONS]]>

ACTS 8:3-8

As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.
Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.
Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them.
And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed.
And there was great joy in that city.

Of necessity, studying a whole chapter in a short meditation is never going to do justice to the totality of the Holy Spirit word expressed. My impression of Acts 8 is that of The Word being disseminated out into the wider community, and it is significant that the chapter begins with Saul (later Paul) who was to become the chief proclaimer of Christ’s word to the Gentiles.

Those first three verses seem placed awkwardly at the beginning of the chapter, but this is Paul's backstory, his introduction; preparing the way for the major role he is to play in the building of Christ's church. We can see as we read on, that Paul’s persecution of the Jews hastened the spreading of The Word. “For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction”, Newton’s Third Law of Motion, describes the physical realm, but also has relevance in human interaction. Persecution inspires rebellion.

The scene then shifts to Philip ('the evangelist'), who in Acts 8 is named fourteen times — a number representing a double measure of spiritual perfection (7 x 2), Christ’s victory on the Cross. This mention appears more often than anywhere else in the New Testament. Peter and John are also named but not to the same extent. There is without doubt an evangelical scattering expressed in this chapter.

The word ‘preached’ appears five times in Acts 8, and ‘preaching’ twice, confirming that this is the turning point, when God’s grace witnessing to Jesus’ words begins to spread forth — not just in Judea — but to the world. Eight is the number of new beginnings in Scripture numerology and in Acts 8 we see this new beginning indeed for God’s Word, despite Saul’s persecution. God’s plan has begun and powerfully so.

We learn that Philip preached to an Ethiopian (a gentile)…

So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him.
ACTS 8:30-31

The man was reading but did not understand the fullness of what he was being given, and so Philip ministered to him giving him the revelation of the truth…

Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?”
Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.”
And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.
ACTS 8:35-38

…and to Simon the Sorceror, who, recognising the greater power in the disciples than he held, wanted it for himself…

And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money,
saying, “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money!
Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.
For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.”
Then Simon answered and said, “Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me.”
ACTS 8:18-20+22-24

What is the lesson for you and I in this? Just as it was for the disciples; to be who our Lord Jesus Christ has created and called us to be — witnesses in our daily walk to Him and the Holy Spirit; knowing that it is Christ within us who works for The Father’s purpose. None of us know His fullness at first. We need encouragement and experience of The Father’s love pointing the way ahead to confirm us on that road, and His glory will be revealed to us with each passing day.

It is never meant to be an easy journey, but we have the surety of a close friend in our hearts, who furthermore is guide, mentor, holy and almighty forevermore.

Philip was an evangelist, and Philip means ‘lover of horses’ (horses being a type of the natural man without God); someone who could relate easily and bring the love of Christ to people. He had the gift of speaking truth to ordinary men and women. Not all of us have that gift, but The Lord has gifted each one of us something from Him that makes His love and compassion shine forth with His Holy Spirit, blessing and speaking to others.

Let your faith shine forth, and share the Christlife with others whenever the Holy Spirit points the way.

‘YOU TUBE’ PRAISE — ‘WE PREACH CHRIST’ — Baptist Music Virtual Ministry

A CLOSING WORD from… CHARLES HADDON SPURGEON

“If we are to see the church of God really restored to her pristine glory, we must have back this plain, simple, gospel-preaching.”

“… I do believe that the hiding of the cross beneath the veil of fine language and learned dissertation is half the cause of the spiritual destitution of our country.
Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. He came to seek and to save that which was lost.
I would sooner say these few words and then cease my testimony, than utter the most splendid oration that ever streamed from the lips of Demosthenes or of Cicero, but not have declared the gospel of Christ. We must keep to this. This must be the hammer that we bring down upon the anvil of the human heart again, and again, and again.
God forbid that we should glory save in the cross of Jesus Christ our Lord! God forbid that we should know anything among men save Jesus Christ and him crucified!”

LISTEN TO ‘CHRIST IS PREACHED’ BY CLICKING ON THE LINK BELOW

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COMING NEXT… #564 BOOK REVIEW 2025

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