1.ACTS 8-9 ACTS Chapters 8-9, Saul destroying the church, scattered disciples preach the word, Simon the sorcerer, Jesus Only movement, Despised Samaritans, raptured harpadzo, Saul's conversion, The Way, miraculous signs not a blessing, Tarsus, Lydda, Joppa

2. ACTS 8 Last time they stoned Stephen 3. Acts 8:1 Acts 8:1 And Saul was there, giving approval to his death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. God used the persecution to scatter the Gospel! Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you [Acts 2] ; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem [Acts 2-7] , and in all Judea and Samaria [Acts 8..] , and to the ends of the earth [Acts 9] . Acts 8:4 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. 4. Acts 8:3, Saul Destroyed The Church Acts 8:3 But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison. 1 Tim 1:15-16 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am the worst. 16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. 1 Cor 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. Eph 3:8 Although I am less than the least of all God's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ God blessed him, to write 2/3 of NT books 5. 8:4 6. Acts 8:6, Heard What He Said Acts 8:6 When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said. What do you think was most important, what he said or what he did? The miraculous signs were attention getters. 7. Acts 8:9-10, Bible Knowledge Commentary Many traditions revolve around Simon the sorcerer. It is alleged: (a) that he was the founder of the Gnostic heresies, (b) that he went to Rome and perverted Christian doctrine there, and (c) that he became involved in a miracle contest with Peter and lost. At any rate, this Simon of Samaria did practice sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. Because of his "sorcery," the ability to exercise control over nature and/or people by means of demonic power, people called him the Great Power. They may or may not have thought of him as possessing deity. At any rate Simon boasted that he was someone great, and the people of Samaria believed him. Furthermore, he accepted their adulation. 8. Acts 8:11-12, Bible Knowledge Commentary As an evidence of their faith the Samaritans were baptized, both men and women (cf. "men and women" in v. 3). The contrasts and comparisons between Simon and Philip are striking. Both performed miracles, Simon by demonic power and Philip by divine power. Simon boasted and welcomed acclaim to himself but Philip proclaimed Christ. People were amazed at Simon's magic, but people were converted to Christ by Philip's ministry. 9. Acts 8:13 Was Simon Saved? Acts 8:13 Simon himself believed and was baptized I believe in parachutes, but Ive never trust in one Matt 7:21-23 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23 Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' John 3:1-2Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him." 10. Acts 8:13 Was Simon Saved? Believing is not receiving; John 1:12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God 11. Acts 8:13, Bible Knowledge Commentary Was Simon saved? Luke did not specify this clearly, so it is difficult to be dogmatic. But seven facts suggest that Simon probably was not born again: (1) The verb "believe" (pisteuo) does not always refer to saving faith. Simon's faith could have been like that of the demons in James 2:19, merely intellectual assent. (2) Furthermore, faith based on signs is not a trustworthy faith (cf. John 2:23-25; 4:48). (3) In addition, Luke never stated that Simon received the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:17-18). (4) Simon continued to have a self-centered interest in the display of miraculous power (vv. 18-19). (5) The verb "repent" (metanoeo) used in verse 22 is normally addressed to lost people. (6) The word "perish" (eis apoleian) employed in verse 20 is strong. It is related to the word "perish" in John 3:16. (7) The description of Simon in Acts 8:23 is a better description of a lost man than of one who is saved (cf. Deut 29:18). Still one cannot be dogmatic on this point. The Lord knows those who are His (2 Tim 2:19). 12. Acts 8:13 Was Simon Saved? Acts 8:13 Simonwas baptized If he was baptized with the Holy Spirit he was. Acts 10:47 "Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have." Water baptism follows salvation Acts 11:15-16 "As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. 16 Then I remembered what the Lord had said: 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' 13. Why Did They Send Peter And John? Acts 8:14-17 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15 When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. Jesus Only movement? 14. Acts 8:14-17, Samaritans Were Despised Luke 9:52-56 And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; 53 but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. 54 When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, "Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?" 55 But Jesus turned and rebuked them, 56 and they went to another village. 15. Acts 8:14-16, Why had these "believers" not received the Holy Spirit? Compass.org When you find one verse that seemingly goes against many verses, don't throw out the many and take a stand on the one. Take the time to research and determine the reasons for the apparent contradiction of doctrine. In this case there are two possibilities. One, those in Samaria had only been baptized with water, and just because you are baptized in water, that doesn't make you a Christian. God could have been making that fact very clear. ... if the Holy Spirit had immediately fallen on the Samaritans, there could have been continued animosity and division. But by God allowing a miracle (having to wait for John and Peter to come from Jerusalem) it proved that there was only one church and avoided having two competing churches in Israel...." 16. ACTS 8:26-40, Go Near And Join Thyself To This Chariot 17. The Lord Spoke/Mysterious Voice NAU Acts 8:26 But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying, "Get up and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza." (This is a desert road.) Mary Williamson tells that, I neglected to tell my new patient, a little boy, how his hospital room intercom worked. Soon his light flashed. I called his name and asked what he wanted. There was complete silence. I repeated myself. After a long pause he said, "Jesus, I hear you but I don't see you. Where are you?" I couldn't wait to get to his room and give him a hug. 18. Acts 8:32, What Passage Of Scripture Isa 53:7,8 Acts 8:35the good news about Jesus. 19. Acts 8:39, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away verb indicative aorist active 3rd person singular from (harpadzo) [GING] , (harpadzo) steal, carry off, drag away, take or snatch away Mt 12:29; J 10:12, 28f; Jd 23; tear out Mt 13:19. Of the Holy Spirit or other divine agency catch up, carry away Ac 8:39; 2 Cor 12: 2, 4; Rv 12:5. Perh. seize or claim for oneself Mt 11:12. [pg 26] 20. ACTS 9 21. Acts 9:1-9 Conversion of Saul 22. Acts 9:2 The Way John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me Heb 10:19-20 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body 23. Acts 9:2, The Way, ISBE Another unique NT usage occurs in Acts, where an absolute use of "way" (hay hods) is applied to the Church (9:2; 19:9,23; 22:4; 24:14,22). This term was evidently used by the early Christians to denote their movement, since in both its teaching and its manner of life the Christian community expressed the "way of salvation" (16:17; cf. 2:28) and the "way of God" (18:25). 24. Acts 9:8, Saul Blinded Acts 9:8, Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing Not all Miraculous Signs are a blessing; 25. Miraculous Signs Matt 12:39 He answered, "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! Acts 5 Acts 13:11 Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind, and for a time you will be unable to see the light of the sun." Acts 12:23 Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died. 26. Miraculous Signs Gen 19:11they struck the men who were at the door of the house, young and old, with blindness Ex 12:29the Lord struck down all the firstborn in Egypt Ex 32:35 And the Lord struck the people with a plague because of what they did with the calf Aaron had made 27. Acts 9:16, Scariest Verse In NT? Acts 9:16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name." 28. Acts 9:22, How Did He Prove It? Acts 9:22 Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ. How did he prove that Jesus is the Christ? Mic 5:2, Isa 7:14, 9:6, Ps. 2, 22, 110, Isa.52-53 Acts 2:22-36 Acts 13:16-41 29. Paul Sojourned Into Arabia Between Acts 9:22 and 23 Paul went into Arabia; Gal 1:15-18 But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus. 18 Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter and stayed with him fifteen days. 30. Acts 9:23, Opposition To Paul The Jewish leaders' begin their conspiracies against Paul, and opposition to him, and the gospel. 31. Acts 9:25, Lowered And Humbled Acts 9:25lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall. Saul had had plans for persecuting Christians in Damascus with orders from the Sanhedrin. Yet after encountering Jesus he entered the city blind and being led by the hand. Now this once proud man is leaving in a basket! Ironically the persecutor became the object of persecution. 32. Acts 9:29, When Reason Fails Acts 9:29 He talked and debated with the Grecian Jews, but they tried to kill him. 33. Acts 9:30, Off To Tarsus Acts 9:30 When the brothers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus. Acts 9:11.a man from Tarsus named Saul 9:30 is the last mention of Saul/Paul until; Acts 11:25 Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul The focus will be on Peter again. 34. Acts 9:30, Off To Tarsus Acts 9:30sent him off to Tarsus. His hometown; Acts 21:39 Paul answered, "I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city" Acts 22:2-3 Then Paul said: 3 "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. Under Gamaliel I was thoroughly trained in the law of our fathers and was just as zealous for God as any of you are today. 35. Tarsus 36. The word Taurus is Latin for 'bull' which is very interesting because Turkey is shaped like... 37. ...a bull! 38. Taurus Is Latin For 'Bull Besides the obvious shape, we can look to Turkey's largest city of Istanbul for another clue: that's Istan-bull. And within this city is a major waterway called the Golden Horn: www.godsgeography.com 39. Tarsus Little of Tarsus during the time of Paul has been excavated 40. Tarsus During this time of Pompey (67 B.C.), Tarsus was made capital over the Roman province of Cilicia, and Jews began to receive Roman citizenship. 41. Cleopatra's Gate The Tarsus gate of Cleopatra, also called the Sea Gate, still stands today, though it has been significantly restored. It was believed that Cleopatra sailed up the Cydnus disguised as Aphrodite and came through this gate in 41 B.C. on her way to meet Mark Antony. 42. Well of St. Paul Pauls trade, tentmaking, fits well with Tarsus, a city well-known for making a certain type of felt cloth from the wool of shaggy black goats. Legend says that St. Paul often drank from this well, said to have special curative properties. 43. Acts 9:31, The Church At Peace Acts 9:31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace After they sent off Paul? enjoyed a time of peaceliving in the fear of the Lord. 44. Acts 9:32, Lydda A town about eleven miles SE of Joppa, called Lod in the OT (1 Chron 8:12), and modern Israelis have reverted to the OT name. It is located in the midst of a rich and fertile plain. 45. Acts 9:32, Peter Visits Lydda Acts 9:32 As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the saints in Lydda. Then Joppa 46. Moody Bible Handbook 47. Tabitha Arise 48. ACTS 9:40, Tabitha arise Acts 9:42 This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. 49. ACTS 9:40, Tabitha arise The purpose; many people believed in the Lord A good miracle! Like all of them! 50. So, In Closing, This Is Why Seniors Still Need Newspapers I was visiting my granddaughter last night when I asked if I could borrow a newspaper. "This is the 21st century," she said. We don't waste money on newspapers. Here, use my iPad. I can tell you this. That spider never knew what hit him. 51. Q: Which chapter is in the centre of the Bible? A: Psalm 118 52. Q: What is the longest chapter in the Bible? A: Psalm 119 THE END