8:1 This ring-leader, Saul gave his crowd permission to kill Stephen. With ease, comfort and acceptance, Stephen transitioned from earth to spirit. His death caused quite a commotion and people scrambled -- except for the apostles who were unshaken. When we stand with and for God, nothing can weaken our stability. The apostles continue on to teach and spread God's message around the world, undeterred by the possibility (and even likelihood) of their own condemnation and death.
8:2 Stephen's earthly death was respected with a burial by a few kindhearted souls. They lamented because they would miss him and they would miss teaching beside him and enjoying his faithful, courageous company -- yet they knew that Stephen was more than okay and was with God, very much alive in the spirit.
8:3 This is the second mention of Saul, who we will very soon witness become a prominent apostle. Currently, and in the previous chapter, it's difficult to believe that or conceive of how that might happen. The Saul we are introduced here is a violent man who effectively does everything he can to thwart the apostles.
8:4 It's extraordinary that the apostles kept moving and kept spreading God's philosophy as they did. We read of these events as if they were a story but these brave humans actually lived and persevered against these very real threats and enemies. Their devotion to compassion is made magnificently apparent by their actions. Their lives are our instruction, their spirits remain in these pages urging us to derive this same strength, courage, and comfort from the same God who gave it to them. No matter who we are, we each have in our lives an (or many) opportunity to promote and defend goodness against evil -- on small scales and large ones. The apostles show us that we are able, just as they were when we stand with God, just as they did.
8:5-8 God, through all of the apostles, and in this verse through Philip heals and supports so many. Often we see these words: unclean spirits, but we can understand this term to symbolize various illnesses. So early in time, people barely understood illness and ailment and often attributed them to superstitious ideas. This was the birth of Christianity in the world -- pure Christianity and came into the world with a bold expression of healing of all kinds.
One of the most precious gifts God gives us is the healing of our own minds and thoughts. We are constantly conditioned and influenced or even manipulated by our surroundings that we lose ourselves or never even discover our purposes. When we welcome God into our lives, He heals us from inside out, a balm to every ailing crevice. He doesn't just entire and sweep the floors -- He cleans the ovens, dusts the picture frames, washes the sheets, arranges the silverware... it's a complete job. It's a process He begins, endures and finishes with us: establishing self-worth, awakening to purpose, and while absorbing His compassion we are overwhelmed with His love and gratitude and it flows outward from us onto others. It's amazing and I've said this before, I would not speak of this if it were not a personal experience.
8:9-11 Before Philip had emerged into their region with Jesus' message, people were astonished by this man Simon. Using his wit and cleverness, Simon was able to dupe people into amazement and because people could not figure out how he performed his tricks, he was highly regarded.
8:12-13 Yet when Philip came, people abandoned their amazement of Simon's tricks -- even Simon was intrigued (more to follow on Simon shortly). Philip came with the real deal, with an honest, tangible message. The healing and wisdom Philip brought helped them to discern the difference between tricks and true acts of God. This message the apostles brought was bold and clear, full of wisdom and truth so therefore it deeply resonated with people. Remember that everything Philip did and was capable of was given by God. Those miracles came through Philip and into the world. Similarly we aspire to be instruments of God's goodness.
God wants us to be able to distinguish tricks from truth -- to distinguish things that look good in appearance but are fake and corrupt inside. There are a lot of "tricks" in the world, people, products and organizations which preach or proclaim to be something they are not. By being aware, perceptive and responsible (and attentive) in your own mind, you will never be tricked. Another message here: when met with pure compassion, people absorb it and readily abandon the lame imitations.
There are a lot of people in the world and many of them have a lot of things they would like for you to believe... be able to develop your own beliefs. This Bible is not a book of rules -- it's a friend, it is the breadcrumbs we can choose to follow toward home if we want to. Follow this friend if it aligns with your beliefs and whatever does not, chuck it out! You were given the gift of perception and intuition, you can feel it when something's not right.
Our God is loving, logical and compassionate, always remember that truth. If you find hypocrisy in this book, likely it was added by man and not God.
8:14-17 The apostles were in their own process of fulfilling their purposes. I must reiterate that it is a process because true belief does not come from saying you believe. These apostles had been chosen and recognized by Jesus as faithful and good men. As they worked with God, it became apparent to Him also that these men were devoted to delivering compassion to humanity. Together, the apostles prayed to God: they laid their souls bare to Him and when we looked at them with His evaluating eye, He saw their goodness and blessed them. You also receive His spirit: John 14:26. A baptism is your statement to the world, your public admission of believe but your actions, the way you live your life is the baptism by God... the true baptism.
8:18-19 Completely misinterpreting the situation, Simon offers to pay for these gifts. Simon has been put out of business by Christianity -- people are no longer paying to see his false tricks. Simon wants to purchase God's gifts... in order to sell them to others for profit. Simon does not understand.
Love cannot be bought. Moreover, God's gifts are given to those who will use them well -- freely. humbly, and selflessly for the well-being of others. There is no way to trick or bribe God -- a cruel or greedy soul gets nothing and no matter how desperate or crafty they are -- they never will.
8:20 Peter is insulted by the idea -- and rightfully so. Simon the trickster wishes to exploit people for profit -- he completely disregards God's message. Peter explains something to Simon that humanity has needed to hear for a long time -- your money will perish with you. Money is nothing to God. Money is less than nothing to God. Money has been the detriment of humanity, the root of every evil and deception.
8:21 Simon's heart is not aligned with God's compassionate philosophy and therefore God and God's gifts are not attainable to him.
8:22-23 It's tough love from Peter but it is exactly what Simon needs to hear -- he's not a nice person, he's greedy and he tricks people into given him their money. He's greedy. This Simon is symbolic of many people alive in the world today -- they'll do anything to protect or procure money. God has no use for people who have no use for people. If someone chooses money as their God... they will inevitably find that money has no acknowledgement or care for them. It cannot heal them or guide them or comfort them. Peter warns Simon: Wake up, you're not on a good path -- is tainted by greed and unkindness.
8:24 Simon asks the apostles to pray for him... but our redemption, the love we can receive from God cannot be purchased by money and nor can it be purchased by another person on our behalf. Our compassionate actions earn us His attention, love and guidance. It's lovely and so kind for people to pray for us, and for us to pray for others... but our prayers are meant to guide them to their own path of work and growth (not to put them in the passenger seat as we drive down ours).
8:25 Focused and determined as their beloved Teacher, Jesus, the apostles continue to move throughout and spread God's philosophy. Through them, so much wisdom flowed from God -- certainly they were fellow workers with God, 1 Corinthians 3:9.
8:18-19 Completely misinterpreting the situation, Simon offers to pay for these gifts. Simon has been put out of business by Christianity -- people are no longer paying to see his false tricks. Simon wants to purchase God's gifts... in order to sell them to others for profit. Simon does not understand.
Love cannot be bought. Moreover, God's gifts are given to those who will use them well -- freely. humbly, and selflessly for the well-being of others. There is no way to trick or bribe God -- a cruel or greedy soul gets nothing and no matter how desperate or crafty they are -- they never will.
8:20 Peter is insulted by the idea -- and rightfully so. Simon the trickster wishes to exploit people for profit -- he completely disregards God's message. Peter explains something to Simon that humanity has needed to hear for a long time -- your money will perish with you. Money is nothing to God. Money is less than nothing to God. Money has been the detriment of humanity, the root of every evil and deception.
8:21 Simon's heart is not aligned with God's compassionate philosophy and therefore God and God's gifts are not attainable to him.
8:22-23 It's tough love from Peter but it is exactly what Simon needs to hear -- he's not a nice person, he's greedy and he tricks people into given him their money. He's greedy. This Simon is symbolic of many people alive in the world today -- they'll do anything to protect or procure money. God has no use for people who have no use for people. If someone chooses money as their God... they will inevitably find that money has no acknowledgement or care for them. It cannot heal them or guide them or comfort them. Peter warns Simon: Wake up, you're not on a good path -- is tainted by greed and unkindness.
8:24 Simon asks the apostles to pray for him... but our redemption, the love we can receive from God cannot be purchased by money and nor can it be purchased by another person on our behalf. Our compassionate actions earn us His attention, love and guidance. It's lovely and so kind for people to pray for us, and for us to pray for others... but our prayers are meant to guide them to their own path of work and growth (not to put them in the passenger seat as we drive down ours).
8:25 Focused and determined as their beloved Teacher, Jesus, the apostles continue to move throughout and spread God's philosophy. Through them, so much wisdom flowed from God -- certainly they were fellow workers with God, 1 Corinthians 3:9.
8:26 God guides and sometimes He guides through the angels, His messengers to direct us toward specific places and people. God's guidance is usually very subtlety given (though boldly implied) but for Philip in this verse there was a very specific man God wanted him to reach out to.
8:27-29 "So he arose and went..." Without hesitation. God's children, those who work with Him to accomplish great, compassionate things on the earth are passionate and prompt. Philip finds this specific man and continues to be guided by the spirit sent by God.
8:30 Philip finds the man reading The Book of Isaiah the prophet. Now here is a very important distinction: reading the bible vs. understanding the bible. God ensures that any souls seeking Him with passion will find Him, Jeremiah 29:13 and Matthew 7:7, specifically.
8:31 The man needs help and requests a teacher. Now understand something -- this man wanted to understand. He was working and studying and trying to understand -- God helps such students.
So many in the world use the bible and other religious texts incorrectly or for their own gain. God knows that the was to identify a devoted student is to observe if they look deeply in the text without personal motive or if they use it to control/condemn others.
God's devoted students simply want to understand. He makes that happen. He works in ways unseen and often unknown by us but He is working for us and to reach us. He orchestrates so much in our lives to ensure that we are where we need to be -- but first we must seek Him, we must know Him to truly give Him permission to enter and intervene in our lives.
8:32-33 This man is reading Isaiah 53:7-8, which references (and foretold) of Jesus' unjustified death.
8:34 This man is curious; he digs for meaning and understanding, he happily and hungrily welcomes Philip as a teacher.
8:35 Philip continued to fulfill his purpose; though he often taught to crowds, God wants you to understand that He even and always reaches the isolated, individual student as well. You, specifically are so important to Him; you mean everything to Him and He will expertly arrange and construct the bridge that leads you to Him if you request it, if you hope for it and love Him.
8:36-37 Philip explains that baptism means nothing if a person does not truly believe. We've spoken of this before and we must always remember that baptism is a symbol, a beautiful symbol but just a symbol. To be truly baptized, a person must believe in their heart and actions. Their faith must flow through everything they do and say.
8:38 This man loved God -- and of course this was so made so apparent by his devotion to wanting to understand. In his heart he had already joined and followed and loved God and therefore he was quite eligible to be baptized.
8:39 Having fulfilled this particular quest, reaching this particular student and child of God, Philip was redirected to continue along his path and purpose of reaching so many more. There's no delay or hesitation... God wants to reach so many that His fellow-workers must always be ready and willing to continue working. The man continued on rejoicing -- because that is what God's children do -- we cannot help but rejoice because of His love and guidance -- it is so prominent in our lives.
8:40 Philip kept teaching along the way to everywhere he went! As we discussed earlier in this study, God is precise and complete. He misses and skips nothing, no one. His love, protection, guidance and wisdom is abundantly available (at the ready! at any time) to whoever beckons Him with their whole heart.
