Acts - Week 25

Week 25 Acts 8 

Day 1 

READ 

Acts 8:1 

1 Saul was one of the witnesses, and he agreed completely with the killing of Stephen. A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem; and all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria. 

As Stephen was stoned to death, Saul was one of the witnesses who agreed with his killing. Then a wave of persecution broke out over the believers in Jerusalem. This scattered them through the areas of Judea and Samaria. Perhaps on their own they would not have gone into these regions, but now they were fleeing persecution. Acts 1:8 promised they would be witnesses in not only Jerusalem but also in Judea and Samaria. Now they were forced out to witness to others. 

REFLECT 

Have you sometimes been caused to do something against your will that turned out to be a blessing for the Lord? Give an example. 

RESPOND 

Up until now the disciples were taking the gospel to the Jews first. Now they were being sent out wider and even to Gentiles. Read Romans 1:16-17 to see Paul’s testimony as he was writing to Gentiles in Rome.  

Day 2 

READ 

Acts 8:2-3 

2 (Some devout men came and buried Stephen with great mourning.) 3 But Saul was going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison. 

Saul was a Jewish Pharisee and this shows his zeal for persecuting followers of the Messiah. Think of it! Going from house to house and dragging out Christ-followers so they could be thrown into prison. As mentioned previously, Saul was also known as Paul. After his conversion he will greatly regret what he did to believers in the Lord Jesus.  

REFLECT 

Do you have some regrets of your behavior before you trusted in Jesus? Was it toward other believers? 

RESPOND 

People cannot change their past, but they can repent of it and turn to God. This is what Peter told unbelievers to do in Acts 2:38. Talk about this with your disciple.  

Day 3 

READ 

Acts 8:4-5 

4 But the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went. 5 Philip, for example, went to the city of Samaria and told the people there about the Messiah. 

God accomplished what at first the believers likely thought was terrible as they were driven from Jerusalem. They preached the gospel wherever they went. Luke, the author of Acts, tells about Philip who went to Samaria and told people there about the Messiah. The Jews looked down on the Samaritans and likely would not have gone to them had the persecution not forced them out of Jerusalem. 

REFLECT 

Has God sometimes used you to tell others about Jesus who you might not have met had circumstances not changed for you? 

RESPOND 

Difficulties can sometimes turn out to accomplish a spread of the gospel. People can experience that during a pandemic when they meet others they would not ordinarily have met. Read Philippians 1:12-14 to see Paul considered his imprisonment to result in the further spread of the gospel. 

Day 4 

READ 

Acts 8:6-8 

6 Crowds listened intently to Philip because they were eager to hear his message and see the miraculous signs he did. 7 Many evil spirits were cast out, screaming as they left their victims. And many who had been paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was great joy in that city. 

Philip was enabled to do miraculous signs and this was getting the attention of others. They listened intently and were eager to hear more of what he had to say. He was able to cast out evil spirits and heal the infirm. This caused much rejoicing in the city. One can only imagine how excited the people were to see all of this happening. So often, however, Satan will try to counterfeit the work of God. Will it occur now? 

REFLECT 

Have you experienced the joy that comes from seeing God at work? What are some of things you were sure they had to be of God? 

RESPOND 

When Jesus fed the 5,000 many were attracted to His miracles. With your disciple, read what He told the inquisitive people in John 6:26-29. What was the people’s real need? 

Day 5 

READ 

Acts 8:9-11 

9 A man named Simon had been a sorcerer there for many years, amazing the people of Samaria and claiming to be someone great. 10 Everyone, from the least to the greatest, often spoke of him as “the Great One—the Power of God.” 11 They listened closely to him because for a long time he had astounded them with his magic. 

Sure enough, someone arrives on the scene who wants the power Philip had. People had been taken in by his magic. They even called him “the Great One—the Power of God.” This reveals how people can be deceived when they think someone can do the supernatural. Philip’s power was coming from God; not so with Simon the sorcerer. He was deceiving the people.  

REFLECT 

Do you realize the importance of being suspicious of what seems to be supernatural when it may not be? You should be careful not to be drawn into something deceitful. 

RESPOND 

Read Deuteronomy 13:1-5 and notice that you are to test a miracle by the message. Talk with your disciple about this.