Acts 8

Acts 8:1-4 . PERSECUTION CONTINUED, IN WHICH SAUL TAKES A PROMINENT PART--HOW OVERRULED FOR GOOD.

1. Saul was consenting unto his death--The word expresses hearty approval.
they were all scattered abroad--all the leading Christians, particularly the preachers, agreeably to their Lord's injunctions ( Matthew 10:23 ), though many doubtless remained, and others (as appears by Acts 9:26-30 ) soon returned.
except the apostles--who remained, not certainly as being less exposed to danger, but, at whatever risk, to watch over the infant cause where it was most needful to cherish it.

2. and devout men--pious Jews, probably, impressed with admiration for Stephen and secretly inclined to Christianity, but not yet openly declared.

3. Saul . . . entering into every house--like as inquisitor [BENGEL].
haling men and women, &c.--See his own affecting confessions afterwards ( Acts 22:4 , Acts 26:9 Acts 26:10 , 1 Corinthians 15:9 , Galatians 1:13 , Philippians 3:6 , 1 Timothy 1:13 ).

4. they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching--Though solemnly enjoined to do this ( Luke 24:47 , Acts 1:8 ), they would probably have lingered at Jerusalem, but for this besom of persecution which swept them out. How often has the rage of Christ's enemies thus "turned out rather unto the furtherance of the Gospel" (see Philippians 1:12 Philippians 1:13 ).

Acts 8:5-25 . SUCCESS OF PHILIP'S PREACHING IN SAMARIA--CASE OF SIMON MAGUS.

5. Then Philip--not the apostle of that name, as was by some of the Fathers supposed; for besides that the apostles remained at Jerusalem, they would in that case have had no occasion to send a deputation of their own number to lay their hands on the baptized disciples [GROTIUS]. It was the deacon of that name, who comes next after Stephen in the catalogue of the seven, probably as being the next most prominent. The persecution may have been directed especially against Stephen's colleagues [MEYER].
the city of Samaria--or "a city of Samaria"; but the former seems more likely. "It furnished the bridge between Jerusalem and the world" [BAUMGARTEN].

6-8. the people with one accord gave heed to . . . Philip--the way being prepared perhaps by the fruits of our Lord's sojourn, as He Himself seems to intimate the providence of God in sending a Grecian, or a Hellenistic Jew, to a people who from national antipathy would have been unlikely to attend to a native of Judea" [WEBSTER and WILKINSON].

8. great joy in that city--over the change wrought on it by the Gospel, as well as the cures which attested its divine character.

9-13. used sorcery--magical arts.
some great one . . . the great power of God--a sort of incarnation of divinity.

10. To whom all gave heed . . . because of long time he had bewitched them--This, coupled with the rapidity with which they deserted him and attached themselves to Philip, shows the ripeness of Samaria for some religious change.

12. were baptized, both men and women--the detection of Simon's frauds helping to extend and deepen the effects of Philip's preaching.

13. Then Simon himself believed also--Left without followers, he thinks it best to join the man who had fairly outstripped him, not without a touch of real conviction.
and . . . was baptized--What a light does this throw on what is called Baptismal Regeneration!
he continued with Philip--"was in constant attendance upon" him.

14-17. the apostles . . . sent Peter and John--showing that they regarded Peter as no more than their own equal.