Acts 8:4–8

 ⁴ Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. ⁵ Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. ⁶ And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. ⁷ For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. ⁸ And there was great joy in that city. 

Commentary 

Vs. 4 “Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.” 

Now the effect of the Jews persecuting the church and scattering it everywhere was not its ruin, but rather the believers who were scattered everywhere continued preaching the Word! And so many people who would have never been exposed to the Gospel if the church had remained in Jerusalem in one accord and sharing all things in common were now hearing and believing in the Lord Jesus Christ! And so, what men intended to ruin the church, God turned into growing it, and in this growing it expedientially! 

Vs. 5-8 ⁵ Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. ⁶ And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. ⁷ For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. ⁸ And there was great joy in that city. 

Now Philip was one of the original seven who was chosen to serve the church (see Acts 6:5-6). And so, with Stephens death and the great persecution there, he also left Jerusalem and he went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. This then would have been a radical move on Philip’ s part since Jews generally had no dealings with Samaritans. Nonetheless God was with Philip and the effect of his ministering the Gospel there is self evident, for Philip was greatly enabled by the Holy Spirit and he did many miracles by which the people heeded the things spoken by him (vs. 5-6). Verse seven even goes onto say that through Philips preaching the Gospel to them God was healing people both Spiritually and physically, saying, “For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed.” All these things then bore witness to the Lord Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirits outpouring and His power to heal and transform anyone to the people of Samaria. Therefore, in verse eight we are told that there was great joy in that city! All because one man took courage and by God enabling him brought and demonstrated the Gospel to them! Thus, Jerusalem may have rejected God’s Word for them, but these Samaritans didn’t, and so they were now receiving His Salvation, blessing, and favor from Him. 

Scripture Quotations 

New King James (1982):Thomas Nelson.