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

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 I’ve 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 3:1-2…Nicodemus, 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 Simon…was 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, Samaritan’s 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 8:35…the good news about Jesus.

19. Acts 8:39, the Spirit of the Lord
suddenly took Philip away
• ἥρπασεν verb indicative aorist active 3rd person
singular from ἁρπάζω (harpadzo)
• [GING] ἁρπάζω , (harpadzo)
ἁρπάζω 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 hodós) 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 19:11…they struck the men who were at the
door of the house, young and old, with
blindness…
• Ex 12:29…the 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 9:25…lowered 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 9:30…sent 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
• Paul’s 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 peace…living 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