Theme of Acts You will receive power when

Theme of Acts You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. (Acts 1: 8)

Outline of Acts 1: 8

• Persecution located in Jerusalem • Disciples scattered through Judea and Samaria • Apostles stayed in Jerusalem • Saul “began to destroy” the church

Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. Acts 8: 4

Point to Ponder Would you ever pray for a persecution?

Samaria • Between Judea and Galilee • Leftovers from Assyrian invasion (722 B. C. ) who with other • Mount Gerazim was their Jerusalem. mixed races

Samaria Receives the Gospel! • Philip proclaimed Christ there. (5) • Philip worked miracles and cast out demons. • Great joy in the city. (8) • They were baptized. (12)

The Holy Spirit Comes to Samaria • Apostles sent Peter and John. • Holy Spirit had not come on them. • Peter and John laid hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. • This is not the typical order of receiving the Holy Spirit in Acts.

The Holy Spirit Comes to Samaria • Apostles sent Peter and John. • Holy Spirit had not come on them. • Peter and John laid hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. • This is not the typical order of receiving the Holy Spirit in Acts.

The Holy Spirit Comes to Samaria • It appears that this “out-of-theordinary” reception of the Holy Spirit was for the purpose of emphasizing that God truly accepted the Samaritans as Christians.

Simon the Sorcerer • Worked magic • Known as “The Great Power” • Tried to buy the ability to bestow the Holy Spirit. • Rebuked by Peter

The Gospel Spreads Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many 1: 8 Samaritan villages. (8: 25)

The Ethiopian Eunuch • Desert road to Gaza • Ethiopia – Nubia in Southern Egypt • Secretary of Treasury for Nubian Queen • Probably a Jew or Proselyte • Reading Isaiah 53

53 ah ai Is He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth….

Baptism of the Ethiopian • Told him the good news about Jesus. • Ethiopian asked to be baptized. • Vs. 37 is not in oldest manuscripts or newer translations. • Went on his way rejoicing. (39) • Philip went to Azotus (Ashdod) on his way to Caesarea.

…the spirit of the Lord took Philip away…and the eunuch…went on his way rejoicing. (39)

Philip, however, appeared at Azotus (Ashdod)… …and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.