The Gospel to the Fringe of Judaism

Persecution against the Jerusalem church caused Philip to go to Samaria where he proclaimed the gospel, but then was led by the Lord to Gaza to lead an Ethiopian official to faith in Christ.

As the church in Jerusalem grew rapidly, a wave of persecution erupted. Saul, the lead persecutor, was maniacal in his efforts, devastating the church. He burst into home after home, dragging believers off to jail. Forced to leave the church’s birthplace, Jesus’ followers (except for the apostles) scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. But wherever they ran, they proclaimed the message about Jesus.

Philip also proclaimed the Messiah’s message in a Samaritan city. But before Philip arrived, a man named Simon posed as a famous magician, dazzling the Samaritans with wizardry. For quite some time young and old had been in awe of him, thinking he had supernatural powers, and called him “God’s Power.”

But Philip came to town and announced the news of God’s kingdom, proclaiming the name of Jesus. When the people heard Philip’s message and saw the miraculous signs of God’s validation (cripples healed, evil spirits cast out), they listened eagerly. Many believed in Jesus and were baptized. The city exploded with newfound joy! They forgot about Simon, who himself believed and was baptized. Simon clung to Philip, fascinated by the signs God performed through him.

The apostles, still in Jerusalem, received the report that Samaria had accepted God’s message, so they sent Peter and John to pray for them to receive the Holy Spirit. They laid their hands on them, and they did receive the Holy Spirit. When Simon saw what he thought was a new and amazing trick, he tried to buy it. “I want to be able to do that, too. I’ll pay you whatever it takes!”

Peter said, “Death to you and your money! You can’t buy God’s gift or participate in God’s ministry by making deals or offering bribes. Your heart, full of bitter envy and captive to sin, is not right before God. Repent now and ask the Master to forgive you for trying to manipulate God to get rich.”

Peter and John left, continuing to spread God’s salvation message in every Samaritan town they passed through on their way back to Jerusalem. But an angel of God told Philip to head south to the desert road that goes from Jerusalem to Gaza, so he did. The Finance Minister for Queen Kandake of Ethiopia was coming down the road. The government official had been on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and was returning home, reading the prophet Isaiah.

The Spirit led Philip to the official, so he ran up beside the chariot and heard him reading this passage from Isaiah: “As a sheep led to slaughter, and quiet as a lamb being sheared, He was silent, saying nothing. He was humiliated and deprived of justice. And what of His descendants, since His life was taken away?”

Philip broke the ice. “Do you understand what you’re reading?”

“How can I without some help? Please sit with me; enlighten me. Here’s my first question: ‘Is the prophet talking about himself or someone else?’” Philip took the opportunity to proclaim Jesus to the Ethiopian using the Isaiah passage as his principal text.

As they continued down the road, they came upon water. The official said, “Here’s water. Is there any reason why I can’t be baptized?” So they stopped, went down into the water, and Philip baptized him then and there. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of God suddenly snatched Philip away! The official never saw him again, but he continued down the road content, rejoicing.

Philip showed up in Azotus and continued north, preaching the message in villages along that route until he arrived at Caesarea. Through him the church got its start in getting the good news of Jesus to Samaria and to an African who had been a proselyte to Judaism.