1SaulusG4569 aberG1161 hatteG2258 WohlgefallenG4909 an seinemG846 TodeG336. Es erhobG1096 sich aberG1161 zuG1722 derG1565 ZeitG2250 eine großeG3173 VerfolgungG1375 überG1909 die GemeindeG1577 zu G3588 G1722 JerusalemG2414; undG5037 sie zerstreutenG1289 sich alleG3956 inG2596 die LänderG5561 JudäaG2449 undG2532 SamarienG4540, außerG4133 den ApostelnG652. 2Es bestattetenG4792 aberG1161 StephanusG4736 gottesfürchtigeG2126 MännerG435 undG2532 hieltenG4160 eine großeG3173 KlageG2870 überG1909 ihnG846. 3SaulusG4569 aberG1161 verstörteG3075 die GemeindeG1577, gingG1531 hin und herG2596 in die HäuserG3624 und zogG4951 hervorG5037 MännerG435 undG2532 WeiberG1135 und überantworteteG3860 sie insG1519 GefängnisG5438. 4Die nun G3767 G3303 zerstreutG1289 waren, gingenG1330 um und predigtenG2097 das WortG3056. 5PhilippusG5376 aberG1161 kam hinabG2718 inG1519 eine StadtG4172 in SamarienG4540 und predigteG2784 ihnenG846 von ChristoG5547. 6Das VolkG3793 aberG5037 hörte G1722 G191 G846 einmütigG3661 und fleißigG4337 zu, was PhilippusG5376 sagteG5259 G3004, undG2532 sahG991 die ZeichenG4592, dieG3739 er tatG4160. 7DennG1063 die unsauberenG169 GeisterG4151 fuhren ausG1831 vielenG4183 BesessenenG2192 mit großem G3173 G5456 GeschreiG994; auchG1161 vieleG4183 GichtbrüchigeG3886 undG2532 LahmeG5560 wurden gesundG2323 gemacht. 8UndG2532 es wardG1096 eine großeG3173 FreudeG5479 inG1722 derselbenG1565 StadtG4172. 9EsG5100 war aberG1161 einG5100 MannG435, mit NamenG3686 SimonG4613, der zuvorG4391 inG1722 der StadtG4172 ZaubereiG3096 trieb undG2532 bezauberteG1839 das samaritischeG4540 VolkG1484 und gabG3004 vor, erG1438 wäreG1511 etwasG5100 GroßesG3173. 10Und sieG3956 sahenG4337 alleG3956 aufG3739 ihn, beide,G575 kleinG3398 undG2193 großG3173, und sprachenG3004: DerG3778 istG2076 die KraftG1411 GottesG2316, die da großG3173 ist. 11Sie sahenG4337 aberG1161 darumG1223 auf ihnG846, daß er sieG846 langeG2425 ZeitG5550 mit seiner ZaubereiG3095 bezaubertG1839 hatte. 12DaG3753 sieG4100 aberG1161 den PredigtenG2097 des PhilippusG5376 glaubtenG4100 vonG4012 dem ReichG932 GottesG2316 undG2532 von dem NamenG3686 JesuG2424 ChristiG5547, ließenG907 sich taufen G5037 G907 MännerG435 undG2532 WeiberG1135. 13DaG1161 ward auchG2532 Simon G4613 G846 gläubigG4100 undG2532 ließG907 sich taufenG907 und hielt G4342 G2258 sich zu PhilippusG5376. UndG5037 alsG2334 er sahG2334 die Zeichen G4592 G3173 undG2532 TatenG1411, die da geschahenG1096 G1096, verwunderteG1839 er sich. 14Da aberG1161 die ApostelG652 hörtenG191 zu G1722 G3588 JerusalemG2414, daßG3754 SamarienG4540 das WortG3056 GottesG2316 angenommenG1209 hatte, sandtenG649 sie zuG4314 ihnenG846 PetrusG4074 undG2532 JohannesG2491, 15welcheG3748, da sie hinabkamenG2597, betetenG4336 sie überG4012 sieG846, daßG3704 sie den heiligenG40 GeistG4151 empfingenG2983. 16(DennG1063 er warG2258 nochG3768 aufG1909 keinen G3762 G846 gefallenG1968, sondernG1161 sie warenG5225 alleinG3440 getauftG907 aufG1519 den NamenG3686 ChristiG2962 JesuG2424.) 17DaG5119 legtenG2007 sie die HändeG5495 aufG1909 sieG846, undG2532 sie empfingenG2983 den heiligenG40 GeistG4151. 18Da aberG1161 SimonG4613 sahG2300, daßG3754 der heiligeG40 GeistG4151 gegebenG1325 ward, wennG1223 die ApostelG652 die HändeG5495 auflegtenG1936, botG4374 er ihnenG846 GeldG5536 anG4374 19und sprachG3004: GebtG1325 mir auchG2504 dieG5026 MachtG1849, daßG2443, so ich jemand G3739 G1437 die HändeG5495 auflegeG2007, derselbeG2983 den heiligenG40 GeistG4151 empfangeG2983. 20PetrusG4074 aberG1161 sprachG2036 zuG4314 ihmG846: Daß duG4671 verdammt G1519 G1498 G684 werdest mitG4862 deinemG4675 GeldeG694, darumG3754 daß du meinstG3543, GottesG2316 GabeG1431 werdeG2932 durchG1223 GeldG5536 erlangtG2932! 21DuG4671 wirstG2076 wederG3756 TeilG3310 nochG3761 AnfallG2819 haben anG1722 diesemG5129 WortG3056; dennG1063 deinG4675 HerzG2588 istG2076 nichtG3756 rechtschaffenG2117 vorG1799 GottG2316. 22DarumG3767 tue BußeG3340 fürG575 dieseG5026 deineG4675 BosheitG2549 undG2532 bitteG1189 GottG2316, obG1487 dirG4671 vergebenG863 werden möchteG686 die TückeG1963 deinesG4675 HerzensG2588. 23DennG1063 ich seheG3708, duG4571 bistG5607 vollG1519 bittererG4088 GalleG5521 undG2532 verknüpftG4886 mit UngerechtigkeitG93. 24DaG1161 antworteteG611 SimonG4613 und sprachG2036: BittetG1189 ihrG5210 denG4314 HERRNG2962 fürG5228 michG1700, daßG3704 der keinesG3367 überG1909 michG1691 kommeG1904, davonG3739 ihr gesagtG2046 habt. 25Sie aber, da G3303 G3767 sie bezeugtG1263 undG2532 geredetG2980 hatten das WortG3056 des HERRNG2962, wandtenG5290 sich wieder um genG1519 JerusalemG2419 und predigtenG5037 das EvangeliumG2097 vielenG4183 samaritischenG4541 FleckenG2968. 26AberG1161 der EngelG32 des HERRNG2962 redeteG2980 zuG4314 PhilippusG5376 und sprachG3004: SteheG450 auf undG2532 geheG4198 gegenG2596 MittagG3314 aufG1909 die StraßeG3598, die vonG575 JerusalemG2419 geht hinabG2597 genG1519 GazaG1048, dieG3778 da wüstG2048 istG2076. 27UndG2532 er standG450 auf und gingG4198 hin. UndG2532 sieheG2400, ein MannG435 aus MohrenlandG128, ein KämmererG2135 und GewaltigerG1413 der KöniginG938 KandazeG2582 in MohrenlandG128, welcherG3739 warG2258 überG1909 ihreG846 ganzeG3956 SchatzkammerG1047,G3739 der war gekommenG2064 genG1519 JerusalemG2419, anzubetenG4352, 28undG5037 zog wieder heim G5290 G2258 undG2532 saßG2521 aufG1909 seinemG846 WagenG716 undG2532 lasG314 den ProphetenG4396 JesajaG2268. 29Der GeistG4151 aberG1161 sprachG2036 zu PhilippusG5376: Gehe hinzuG4334 undG2532 halteG2853 dich zu diesemG5129 WagenG716! 30DaG1161 liefG4370 PhilippusG5376 hinzu und hörteG191, daß erG846 den ProphetenG4396 JesajaG2268 lasG314, undG2532 sprachG2036: VerstehstG1097 du auchG687 G1065, wasG3739 du liesestG314? 31Er aberG1161 sprachG2036: Wie G4459 G1063 kann ichG302 G1410, soG3362 michG3165 nichtG3362 jemandG5100 anleitetG3594? UndG5037 ermahnteG3870 PhilippusG5376, daß er aufträteG305 und setzteG2523 sich zuG4862 ihmG846. 32Der InhaltG4042 aberG1161 der SchriftG1124, dieG3739 er lasG314, warG2258 dieserG3778: «ErG71 ist wieG5613 ein SchafG4263 zurG1909 SchlachtungG4967 geführtG71; undG2532 stillG880 wieG5613 ein LammG286 vorG1726 seinemG846 SchererG2751, alsoG3779 hat er nichtG3756 aufgetanG455 seinenG846 MundG4750. 33InG1722 seinerG846 NiedrigkeitG5014 istG142 seinG846 GerichtG2920 aufgehobenG142. WerG5101 wirdG1334 aberG1161 seinesG846 Lebens LängeG1074 ausredenG1334? dennG3754 seinG846 LebenG2222 istG142 vonG575 der ErdeG1093 weggenommenG142. 34DaG1161 antworteteG611 der KämmererG2135 dem PhilippusG5376 und sprachG2036: Ich bitteG1189 dichG4675, vonG4012 wemG5101 redetG3004 der ProphetG4396 solchesG5124? vonG4012 sich selberG1438 oderG2228 vonG4012 jemandG5100 andersG2087? 35PhilippusG5376 aberG1161 tatG455 seinenG846 MundG4750 aufG455 undG2532 fingG756 vonG575 dieserG5026 SchriftG1124 anG756 und predigteG2097 ihmG846 das Evangelium von JesuG2424. 36UndG1161 alsG5613 sie zogenG4198 der StraßeG3598 nachG2596, kamenG2064 sie anG1909 einG5100 WasserG5204. UndG2532 der KämmererG2135 sprachG5346: SieheG2400, da ist WasserG5204; wasG5101 hindert’sG2967, daß ich michG3165 taufenG907 lasse? 37PhilippusG5376 aberG1161 sprachG2036: GlaubestG4100 du vonG1537 ganzemG3650 HerzenG2588, soG1487 mag’sG1832 wohl sein. Er antworteteG611 undG1161 sprachG2036: Ich glaubeG4100, daß JesusG2424 ChristusG5547 GottesG2316 SohnG5207 istG1511. 38UndG2532 er hießG2753 den WagenG716 haltenG2476, undG2532 stiegenG2597 hinab inG1519 das WasserG5204 beideG297, PhilippusG5376 undG2532 der KämmererG2135, undG2532 er taufteG907 ihnG846. 39DaG3753 sie aberG1161 heraufstiegenG305 ausG1537 dem WasserG5204, rückteG726 der GeistG4151 des HERRNG2962 PhilippusG5376 hinwegG726, undG2532 der KämmererG2135 sah G3756 G1492 ihnG846 nicht mehrG3765; er zogG4198 aberG1063 seineG846 StraßeG3598 fröhlichG5463. 40PhilippusG5376 aberG1161 ward gefundenG2147 zuG1519 AsdodG108 undG2532 wandelteG1330 umher und predigteG2097 allenG3956 StädtenG4172 das Evangelium, bisG2193 daß erG846 kamG2064 genG1519 CäsareaG2542.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 PERSECUTION CONTINUED, IN WHICH SAUL TAKES A PROMINENT PART--HOW OVERRULED FOR GOOD. (
Acts 8:1-
Acts 8:4)
Saul was consenting unto his death--The word expresses hearty approval.
they were all scattered abroad--all the leading Christians, particularly the preachers, agreeably to their Lord's injunctions (
Matt 10:23), though many doubtless remained, and others (as appears by
Acts 9:26-
Acts 9:30) soon returned.
except the apostles--who remained, not certainly as being less exposed to danger, but, at whatever risk, to watch over the infant cause where it was most needful to cherish it.
2 and devout men--pious Jews, probably, impressed with admiration for Stephen and secretly inclined to Christianity, but not yet openly declared.
3 Saul . . . entering into every house--like as inquisitor [BENGEL].
haling men and women, &c.--See his own affecting confessions afterwards (
Acts 22:4;
Acts 26:9-
Acts 26:10;
1Cor 15:9;
Gal 1:13;
Phil 3:6;
1Tim 1:13).
4 they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching--Though solemnly enjoined to do this (
Luke 24:47;
Acts 1:8), they would probably have lingered at Jerusalem, but for this besom of persecution which swept them out. How often has the rage of Christ's enemies thus "turned out rather unto the furtherance of the Gospel" (see
Phil 1:12-
Phil 1:13).
5 SUCCESS OF PHILIP'S PREACHING IN SAMARIA--CASE OF SIMON MAGUS. (Acts 8:5-25)
Then Philip--not the apostle of that name, as was by some of the Fathers supposed; for besides that the apostles remained at Jerusalem, they would in that case have had no occasion to send a deputation of their own number to lay their hands on the baptized disciples [GROTIUS]. It was the deacon of that name, who comes next after Stephen in the catalogue of the seven, probably as being the next most prominent. The persecution may have been directed especially against Stephen's colleagues [MEYER].
the city of Samaria--or "a city of Samaria"; but the former seems more likely. "It furnished the bridge between Jerusalem and the world" [BAUMGARTEN].
6 the people with one accord gave heed to . . . Philip--the way being prepared perhaps by the fruits of our Lord's sojourn, as He Himself seems to intimate (see on
John 4:31-
John 4:38). But "we may mark the providence of God in sending a Grecian, or a Hellenistic Jew, to a people who from national antipathy would have been unlikely to attend to a native of Judea" [WEBSTER and WILKINSON].
8 great joy in that city--over the change wrought on it by the Gospel, as well as the cures which attested its divine character.
9 used sorcery--magical arts.
some great one . . . the great power of God--a sort of incarnation of divinity.
10 To whom all gave heed . . . because of long time he had bewitched them--This, coupled with the rapidity with which they deserted him and attached themselves to Philip, shows the ripeness of Samaria for some religious change.
12 were baptized, both men and women--the detection of Simon's frauds helping to extend and deepen the effects of Philip's preaching.
13 Then Simon himself believed also--Left without followers, he thinks it best to join the man who had fairly outstripped him, not without a touch of real conviction.
and . . . was baptized--What a light does this throw on what is called Baptismal Regeneration!
he continued with Philip--"was in constant attendance upon" him.
14 the apostles . . . sent Peter and John--showing that they regarded Peter as no more than their own equal.
15 prayed . . . they might receive the Holy Ghost. (For only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus)--As the baptism of adults presupposed "the renewing of the Holy Ghost" (
Titus 3:5-
Titus 3:7;
1Cor 12:13), of which the profession of faith had to be taken for evidence, this communication of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of the apostles' hands was clearly a superadded thing; and as it was only occasional, so it was invariably attended with miraculous manifestations (see
Acts 10:44, where it followed Peter's preaching; and
Acts 19:1-
Acts 19:7, where, as here, it followed the laying on of hands). In the present case an important object was served by it--"the sudden appearance of a body of baptized disciples in Samaria, by the agency of one who was not an apostle, requiring the presence and power of apostles to perform their special part as the divinely appointed founders of the Church" [ALFORD]. Beautiful, too, was the spectacle exhibited of Jew and Samaritan, one in Christ.
18 offered them money--Hence the term simony, to denote trafficking in sacred things, but chiefly the purchase of ecclesiastical offices.
19 that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost--Spiritual ambition here shows itself the key to this wretched man's character.
20 Thy money perish with thee--that is, "Accursed be thou and thy money with thee." It is the language of mingled horror and indignation, not unlike our Lord's rebuke of Peter himself (
Matt 16:23).
21 Thou hast neither part nor lot . . . thy heart is not fight, &c.--This is the fidelity of a minister of Christ to one deceiving himself in a very awful manner.
22 Repent . . . pray . . . if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven--this expression of doubt being designed to impress upon him the greatness of his sin, and the need of alarm on his part.
23 in the gall of bitterness and . . . bond of iniquity--expressing both the awfulness of his condition and the captivity to it in which he was held.
24 Pray ye to the Lord for me--Peter had urged him to pray for himself: he asks those wonder-working men to do it for him; having no confidence in the prayer of faith, but thinking that those men possessed some peculiar interest with heaven.
that none of these things dome upon me--not that the thought of his wicked heart might be forgiven him, but only that the evils threatened might be averted from him. While this throws great light on Peter's view of his melancholy case, it shows that Christianity, as something divine, still retained its hold of him. (Tradition represents him as turning out a great heresiarch, mingling Oriental or Grecian philosophy with some elements of Christianity.)
25 and they--Peter and John.
when they had . . . preached--in the city where Philip's labors had been so richly blessed.
returned . . . and preached . . . in many villages of the Samaritans--embracing the opportunity of their journey back to Jerusalem to fulfil their Lord's commission to the whole region of Samaria (
Acts 1:8).
26 THE ETHIOPIAN EUNUCH. (
Acts 8:26-
Acts 8:40)
the angel of the Lord--rather, "an angel."
go . . . south, the way that goeth down from Jerusalem to Gaza--There was such a road, across Mount Hebron, which Philip might take without going to Jerusalem (as VON RAUMER'S'S Palćstina shows).
which is desert--that is, the way; not Gaza itself, which was the southernmost city of Palestine, in the territory of the ancient Philistines. To go from a city, where his hands had been full of work, so far away on a desert road, could not but be staggering to the faith of Philip, especially as he was kept in ignorance of the object of the journey. But like Paul, he "was not disobedient to the heavenly vision"; and like Abram, "he went out not knowing whither he went" (
Acts 26:19;
Heb 11:8).
27 a man of Ethiopia--Upper Egypt, Meroe.
an eunuch of great authority--Eunuchs were generally employed for confidential offices in the East, and to some extent are still.
Candace--the family name of the queens of Upper Egypt, like Pharaoh, Cćsar, &c. (as appears from classic authors).
had come to Jerusalem to worship--that is, to keep the recent feast of Pentecost, as a Gentile proselyte to the Jewish faith. (See
Isa 56:3-
Isa 56:8, and
John 12:20).
28 Was returning--Having come so far, he not only stayed out the days of the festival, but prolonged his stay till now. It says much for his fidelity and value to his royal mistress that he had such liberty. But the faith in Jehovah and love of His worship and word, with which he was imbued, sufficiently explain this.
and sitting in his chariot, read Esaias--Not contented with the statutory services in which he had joined, he beguiles the tedium of the journey homeward by reading the Scriptures. But this is not all; for as Philip "heard him read the prophet Esaias," he must have been reading aloud and not (as is customary still in the East) so as merely to be audible, but in a louder voice than he would naturally have used if intent on his own benefit only: evidently therefore he was reading to his charioteer.
29 the Spirit said--by an unmistakable voice within, as in
Acts 10:19;
Acts 16:6-
Acts 16:7.
go near and join this chariot--This would reveal to Philip the hitherto unknown object of his journey, and encourage him to expect something.
30 Understandest thou what thou readest?--To one so engaged this would be deemed no rude question, while the eager appearance of the speaker, and the question itself, would indicate a readiness to supply any want of insight that might be felt.
31 How can I, except some man guide me?--Beautiful expression at once of humility and docility; the invitation to Philip which immediately followed, to "come up and sit with him," being but the natural expression of this.
32 The place . . . was this, He was led as a sheep, &c.--One cannot but wonder that this, of all predictions of Messiah's sufferings in the Old Testament the most striking, should have been that which the eunuch was reading before Philip joined him. He could hardly miss to have heard at Jerusalem of the sufferings and death of Jesus, and of the existence of a continually increasing party who acknowledged Him to be the Messiah. But his question to Philip, whether the prophet in this passage meant himself or some other man, clearly shows that he had not the least idea of any connection between this prediction and those facts.
34 And the eunuch answered, I pray thee, &c.--The respect with which he here addresses Philip was prompted by his reverence for one whom he perceived to be his superior in divine things; his own worldly position sinking before this.
35 Then Philip opened his mouth--(See on
Matt 5:2).
began at the same scripture--founding on it as his text.
preached unto him Jesus--showing Him to be the glorious Burden of this wonderful prediction, and interpreting it in the light of the facts of His history.
36 See, here is water--more simply, "Behold water!" as if already his mind filled with light and his soul set free, he was eagerly looking out for the first water in which he might seal his reception of the truth and be enrolled among the visible disciples of the Lord Jesus.
what doth hinder me to be baptized?--Philip had probably told him that this was the ordained sign and seal of discipleship, but the eunuch's question was likely the first proposal of its application in this case. (
Acts 8:37 is wanting in the principal manuscripts and most venerable versions of the New Testament. It seems to have been added from the formularies for baptism which came into current use).
38 they went down both into the water, and he baptized him, &c.--probably laving the water upon him, though the precise mode is neither certain nor of any consequence.
39 the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip--To deny [as MEYER, OLSHAUSEN, BLOOMFIELD] the miraculous nature of Philip's disappearance, is vain. It stands out on the face of the words, as just a repetition of what we read of the ancient prophets, in
1Kgs 18:12;
2Kgs 2:16. And the same word (as BENGEL remarks) is employed to express a similar idea in
2Cor 12:2,
2Cor 12:4;
1Thess 4:17.
the eunuch saw him no more--nor, perhaps, for very joy, cared to see him [BENGEL].
and he went on his way rejoicing--He had found Christ, and the key to the Scriptures; his soul was set free, and his discipleship sealed; he had lost his teacher, but gained what was infinitely better: He felt himself a new man, and "his joy was full." Tradition says he was the first preacher of the Gospel in Ethiopia; and how, indeed, could he choose but "tell what the Lord had done for his soul?" Yet there is no certainty as to any historical connection between his labors and the introduction of Christianity into that country.
40 Philip was found--that is, "found himself," "made his appearance": an expression confirming the miraculous manner of his transportation.
at Azotus--the ancient Ashdod.
preached in all the cities--along the coast, proceeding northward.
till he came to Cćsarea--fifty-five miles northwest of Jerusalem, on the Mediterranean, just south of Mount Carmel; and so named by Herod, who rebuilt it, in honor of Cćsar Augustus. Henceforth we lose sight of zealous and honored Philip, as by and by we shall lose sight even of Peter. As the chariot of the Gospel rolls on, other agents are raised up, each suited to his work. But "he that soweth and he that reapeth shall rejoice together." (See on
John 4:31-
John 4:38).
