Acts - Week 26

Week 26 Acts 8 

Day 1 

READ 

Acts 8:12-13 

12 But now the people believed Philip’s message of Good News concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. As a result, many men and women were baptized. 13 Then Simon himself believed and was baptized. He began following Philip wherever he went, and he was amazed by the signs and great miracles Philip performed. 

Even though Simon the sorcerer had been imitating supernatural phenomena, the people now believed Philip’s message. They heard the gospel message about Jesus’ death and resurrection and many had trusted in Him as Savior. It was surely a surprise to many when Simon himself said he believed in Jesus as his Savior. The believing people and Simon were baptized, showing their identification with Jesus and His followers. 

REFLECT 

Are you praying for some who you wonder if they will ever trust in Jesus? Think of examples in the Bible of the lives God turned around. There is hope for your unbelieving friends. 

RESPONSE 

With your disciple, talk of examples to encourage yourselves about how God can turn lives around and bring them to Himself. Two examples are Paul in 1 Timothy 1:15-16 and Rahab in Hebrews 11:31. Matthew 1:5 reveals Rahab was in the line of Christ.   

Day 2 

READ 

Acts 8:14-15 

14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had accepted God’s message, they sent Peter and John there. 15 As soon as they arrived, they prayed for these new believers to receive the Holy Spirit. 

God was demonstrating that Samaritan believers were part of the body of Christ. The apostles were concerned about this possibility and sent Peter and John to check it out. The believing Jews had received the Holy Spirit in Jerusalem (see Acts 2), and now the believers in Samaria received Him. The book of Acts is a transition book from God’s dealing with Israel in the Old Testament to His dealing with the Church in the New Testament. Now the Samaritans are shown to be part of the body of Christ. 

RELECT 

Think on the marvelous work of God as He demonstrates all are welcomed into the body of Christ by trusting Jesus as Savior. 

RESPOND 

With your disciple, read John 4:9-10 to see the Jews normally had nothing to do with the Samaritans. Now the Samaritans were being welcomed into the body of Christ. 

Day 3 

READ 

Acts 8:16-17 

16 The Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them, for they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then Peter and John laid their hands upon these believers, and they received the Holy Spirit. 

Notice that the baptism of John the Baptist did not bring the Holy Spirit into the peoples’ lives. Now Peter and John identify with the Samaritan believers by laying hands on them. That was a public declaration to others—especially to Jewish believers—that the Samaritan believers were also part of the same body of Christ. During Old Testament times, the Jews could never believe that someday they would be in the same body.  

REFLECT 

With the tension between various ethnic groups, think often about the fact that every believer in Jesus is in the same body of Christ that you are by believing in Him. 

RESPOND 

Read Ephesians 3:5-7 for documentation that what is being seen in the book of Acts was never revealed in the Old Testament. Thank the Lord and pray for the many Christian brothers and sisters you have in various ethnic groups. 

Day 4 

READ 

Acts 8:18-19 

18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given when the apostles laid their hands on people, he offered them money to buy this power. 19 “Let me have this power, too,” he exclaimed, “so that when I lay my hands on people, they will receive the Holy Spirit!” 

Acts 8:13 indicates that Simon professed to be a believer and was baptized. Verse 18 reveals it may not have been a genuine conversion. He offered money to buy the power to cause others to receive the Holy Spirit. Simon thought spiritual power could be bought. That is impossible. This indicates he did not really believe the gospel that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in the Lord Jesus Christ alone. Apparently Simon thought this extra power he sought could be used in his business of magic. 

REFLECT 

Think how blessed you are that salvation cannot be bought with money or you would never have been able to afford it. The good news is that all can be saved by believing in the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. 

RESPOND 

With your disciple, be reminded of the importance of believing in the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Read 1 Corinthians 15:1-9 and Romans 10:8-9. Believing that Jesus lived on earth at one time is not salvation; it is necessary to believe in His death and resurrection. 

Day 5 

READ 

Acts 8:20-23 

20 But Peter replied, “May your money be destroyed with you for thinking God’s gift can be bought! 21 You can have no part in this, for your heart is not right with God. 22 Repent of your wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive your evil thoughts, 23 for I can see that you are full of bitter jealousy and are held captive by sin.” 

This passage indicates Peter did not think Simon was a born-again believer in Jesus. Simon’s earlier profession of faith and baptism were meaningless. Simon thought that God’s gift could be bought. Peter told Simon his heart was not right with God and he needed to repent and pray to the Lord. Peter thought Simon’s offense was so great he added, “Perhaps he will forgive your evil thoughts.” With the insight of an apostle, Peter could see that Simon had bitter jealousy and was a captive by sin.  

REFLECT 

Think how blessed you are that someone explained what you needed to know so you could trust in Jesus as your Savior. 

RESPOND 

It is not wise for believers today to announce who is a believer and who is not. All they can say is those who have trusted in Jesus alone are believers. It can also be said that those who have added good works to believing in Jesus as a way of salvation are not saved. Read Romans 3:19-20 and Ephesians 2:8-9.