2. . Separate spiritual favour and money

8:4-25

Samaria

Philip & Samaritans

8:4-25 Those who had been scattered (out of Jerusalem) went around preaching the word. Phillip was gong down to the city of Samaria to proclaim the Christ to them. The crowd heeded the things being said by Philip with one mind. They also saw the signs he was working. Many of those who had unclean spirits came out crying with a loud voice. Many who were paralysed and the lame were healed. There was much joy in that city. Now there was a certain man named Simon who was previously practised magic in the city and who astonished all of Samaria. They thought he was someone great and all of them, from the greatest to the least heeded him. (They said) "This man is great in the power of God" They heeded him because he had astonished them with his magic for a considerable time. But when they believed Phillip who was preaching about the kingdom of God and in the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Now Simon himself also believed. And having been baptized he was attaching himself to Philip. On seeing the signs and the great and powerful deeds happening he was amazed. Meanwhile in Jerusalem the apostles heard that Samaria had received the word of God. They sent Peter and

John to them. On going down they prayed for them so they (the Samaritans) might receive the Holy Spirit. For he (the Holy Spirit) had not fallen on any of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they (Peter and John) laid hands on them (the Samaritans) and they received the Holy Spirit. On seeing (all this) Simon saw that through the laying on of the hands of the apostles the Spirit was given. He (therefore) offered them money saying "Give me this authority as well so that on whomever I lay my hands he may also received the Holy Spirit." But Peter said to him. "May your silver be to your perdition because you have supposed that you could obtain the gift of God through money. You have no right in this matter for your heart is not right before God. Therefore repent from this wickedness and ask the Lord if perhaps he will forgive you the thought of your heart. For I see in you a gall of bitterness and a bond of iniquity." And answering Simon said "You ask the Lord for me so that none of the things you have spoken about will come upon me." They (Peter and John) therefore gave solemn witness and on speaking the word of the Lord they returned to Jerusalem. Many of the villages of the Samaritans were evangelized.

3. . Trust the Inter-racial

8:26-40

Ethiopia

Philip & Ethiopian

8:26-40 But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying. "Get up and go south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." Now this is desert. Rising up he went. And behold he came across an Ethiopian man who was a eunuch and a courtier of Queen Candace of Ethiopia. He was in charge of all her treasure and had come to Jerusalem to worship. He was returning (home) and sitting in his chariot reading the prophet

Isaiah.The Spirit said to Philip "Go up to him and keep company with him in his chariot." So running up Philip heard him reading Isaiah the prophet. He said "Do you know what you are reading?" He said "How indeed am I able to unless someone guides me? " And he asked Philip to get up and sit with him. Now the passage of the Scripture which he was reading was this "As a sheep to slaughter he was led. Continued

Continued As a lamb before the shearer he is dumb and does not open his mouth. In the humiliation of judgment he was taken away. Who can describe his generation because it has taken away his life from the earth." And answering the eunuch Philip said. "I ask you. Who is the prophet talking about when he said this, about himself or about someone else?" And opening his mouth and beginning from this section of Scripture he told him about Jesus. As they were going along the way they came upon

some water. The eunuch said "Look there's some water" What's stopping me from being baptized now?" He ordered the chariot to stop and both of them went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch. And he baptized him. When they came up out of the water the Spirit of the Lord seized Philip and the Eunuch did not see him any more. He went on his way happy. But Philip was found to be in Azotus. Passing through here he evangelized all the cities until he came to Caesarea.