Acts - Week 27

Week 27 Acts 8 

Day 1 

READ 

Acts 8:24-25 

24 “Pray to the Lord for me,” Simon exclaimed, “that these terrible things you’ve said won’t happen to me!” 25 After testifying and preaching the word of the Lord in Samaria, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem. And they stopped in many Samaritan villages along the way to preach the Good News. 

After Peter told Simon his heart was not right with God and that he should pray for forgiveness. Simon asked Peter to pray for him. The Scriptures do not record anything further about this; there is no indication that Simon prayed for himself. Peter and John returned to Jerusalem but preached in the Samaritan villages as they went. They took every opportunity to tell others about the risen Savior. 

REFLECT 

Is praying for forgiveness personal with you or do you expect others to ask God for forgiveness for you? 

RESPOND 

With your disciple, read 1 John 1:1-10. This will remind you about sin and forgiveness. 

Day 2 

READ 

Acts 8:26-27 

26 As for Philip, an angel of the Lord said to him, “Go south down the desert road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27 So he started out, and he met the treasurer of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under the Kandake, the queen of Ethiopia. The eunuch had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 

Philip was under the direction of the Lord to now go another direction. On the road that went from Jerusalem to Gaza he met a great authority of the Ethiopian government. “Kandake” is sometimes translated as “Candace.” This was a title of the ruler, not the personal name, as Pharaoh was the title of the ruler of Egypt. Ethiopia does not refer to the country by that name today. It referred to an area south of Egypt. The eunuch had gone to Jerusalem to worship. 

REFLECT 

Has the Lord sometimes placed a burden on your heart and urged you to witness to someone? Tell about it. 

RESPOND 

We are not guided by angels today as Philip was. We have the Scriptures; however, that tells us what to do. Read Matthew 28:19-20 for today’s instructions. 

Day 3 

READ 

Acts 8:28-29 

28 and he was now returning. Seated in his carriage, he was reading aloud from the book of the prophet Isaiah. 29 The Holy Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and walk along beside the carriage.” 

The eunuch of great authority was returning from Jerusalem so he must have been interested in Judaism and was in Jerusalem for celebration. The Holy Spirit directed Philip to walk alongside his chariot. This was preparation for witnessing. Philip had to be close to the individual if he was to have a conversation with him. One pictures Philip walking alongside while the reading aloud continued. 

REFLECT 

Do you see the importance of establishing a closer relationship with those to whom you wish to witness? 

RESPOND 

Talk with your disciple about the need to establish good relationships with those to whom you want to witness. Talk about specific individuals and how you can get closer to them physically and emotionally, hoping to help them spiritually. 

Day 4 

READ 

Acts 8:30-31 

30 Philip ran over and heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah. Philip asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 The man replied, “How can I, unless someone instructs me?” And he urged Philip to come up into the carriage and sit with him. 

Philip asked the eunuch a non-offensive question: “Do you understand what you are reading?” The reply was honest, “How can I, unless someone instructs me?” This provided the opportunity Philip needed as he was asked to join this person of authority in his chariot. Remember, these two had never met so this opportunity was being provided by the sovereign hand of God. What a pleasure it must have been for Philip to realize God was opening an opportunity for him to witness. 

REFLECT 

Think of an experience you have had when you believed the Lord was providentially guiding your actions. 

RESPOND 

Talk with your disciple about the need to be sensitive to the Lord’s urging when He seems to be directing you to witness to someone.  

Day 5 

READ 

Acts 8:32-34 

32 The passage of Scripture he had been reading was this: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter. And as a lamb is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. 33 He was humiliated and received no justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.” 34 The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, was the prophet talking about himself or someone else?” 

What would you think if you were reading this passage as a non-believer or a new believer? At least the eunuch knew it was a prophet speaking. He wanted to know more so he asked a question. In the search for truth, one needs to ask questions and seek answers. It was providential that the question was asked of someone who would know the answer. It is not certain why the eunuch thought that or perhaps he would have asked anyone.  

REFLECT 

Never be reticent to ask questions. Even in teaching the Bible, you need to think of what others might ask and be ready to answer them. 

RESPOND 

Help your disciple never to be reluctant to ask questions, nor to be intimidated when others ask them. It is only by asking and finding answers that one is able to more effectively grow spiritually and teach others.