November 13, 2011
Evening Service

We leave Peter in chapter 5 of Acts, and in chapter 6 we see the choosing of the first Deacons of the church.  Peter is not mentioned, but we would have to know that he is right there helping make this decision.

 

We see that Stephen is one of the seven Deacons chosen.  In chapter 7 of Acts we see the longest sermon in the Bible, given by Stephen.  Stephen was stoned in chapter 7 right after his sermon.  This is where we first meet a young man named Saul.

 

In chapter 8 of Acts we see the church suffer great persecution at hands of this Saul.

We see Philip preach a great revival in Samaria.  This is the next time we see Peter.

 

Act 8:1-25  And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.  (2)  And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.  (3)  As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.  (4)  Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. 

• God used this persecution for the spreading of the gospel.

THE RECEIVING OF THE GOSPEL BY THE SAMARITANS:

(5)  Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.  (6)  And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.  (7)  For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.  (8)  And there was great joy in that city.  (9)  But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:  (10)  To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.  (11)  And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.  (12)  But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.  (13)  Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. 

• God blesses Philip’s ministry with many miracles of healing.
• These examples of people receiving the gospel are of such great value.  They show exactly what happened when people received the Word.  They heard the gospel, the power that was in the name of Jesus of Nazareth, and they were all baptized.
• We see even Simon the sorcerer believed in what Peter was doing, and saying, and was baptized.  Simon was so caught up in what was happening that he stayed with Philip, wondering, and beholding the miracles that God was doing through Philip.

NOW PETER AND JOHN COME INTO THE PICTURE AGAIN:

(14)  Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:  (15)  Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:  (16)  (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)  (17)  Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.  (18)  And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,  (19)  Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. 

• There is no doubt that this is one way to receive the Holy Ghost, for the hands of an Apostle to be laid upon you, and they pray for you to receive the Holy Ghost.  This builds my faith in this procedure.
• Philip was a Deacon, and preacher, but not an original Apostle.  The definition of an Apostle is one that has been sent.  So, in this respect Philip was an Apostle, for he had been sent by God through the persecution of the church that was happening.
• So we must conclude that it was by the laying on of the original Apostles that it had to happen.
• And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given,        you see, there was no doubt.  God still strengthening the power of the Apostles.
• Simon saw something that made him know that these people had received something special.  What was it?  We could of course assume many things.  However, this is why there are different denominations.  Some group of people was so convinced that they knew what happened that they started teaching that this was a necessity for salvation.

THE SCRIPTURE DOESN’T TELL US WHAT IT IS, AND WE ARE BETTER OFF NOT ASSUMING ANYTHING……

• I know what happened in my experience, there was just a sweet settled peace come over me, and I was at complete peace in my life, but I knew something had happened, but didn’t know until I began studying the Scriptures and saw my experience laid out in the Word.

NOTICE WHAT PETER TELLS HIM;

(20)  But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. 

• Do you see how it works?  The Holy Ghost is the gift of God.  And you receive Him by faith, not by buying Him with money.
• These Samaritans knew why Peter and John had come down from Jerusalem, and that was that they might receive Holy Ghost, or eternal life.  You see they had just been cleaned up through the waters of Baptism, had their sins washed away, and was now going to fill up their hearts, and lives with the Spirit of God.

PETER SPEAKS OUT AGAINST SIMON’S REQUEST;

(21)  Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.  (22)  Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.  (23)  For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. 

• Do you see how Peter is seeing things that others are not seeing?

(24)  Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me. 

• Simon could have replied, “ what do you mean, I believed Philip’s words, and was baptized.  Isn’t that the requirement?
• But he must have known Peter was right for he ask Peter to pray for him.

(25)  And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.

Chapter 9 is the conversion chapter of Saul of Tarsus, who will eventually become the Apostle Paul.

In chapter 9:32-34,  however, Peter is again mentioned healing Aeneas.

And again;  In verses 36-43, Peter raises Dorcas from the dead to life.  This accomplishes what God wants it to accomplish;

 

Act 9:42  And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.

 

It’s marvelous how God has allowed us to see Him building His church.

 

The next time we see Peter is at the household of Cornelius, the Centurion.  Acts 10