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Acts 8:1–4. Saul approved of his murder. In those days there was a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem; and everyone, except the Apostles, was scattered to different places in Judea and Samaria. Reverent men buried Stephen and made a great mourning for him. And Saul tormented the church, entering houses and dragging off men and women, handing them over to prison. Meanwhile those who were scattered went about preaching the word. The apostles themselves, says Luke, did not scatter, but remained in Jerusalem, because where the attack is stronger, the best fighters should be there and be an example of courage and courage for others. “Stephen was buried by reverent men.” If they were “reverent,” then how did they “make a great cry?” This is because they were not yet perfect. On the other hand, who would not cry, deprived of such teaching, such protection and such miracles and seeing this righteous one lying dead and stoned? "And Saul tormented the church." It’s great madness to be alone and to break into houses. This is because he gave his soul for the law. Acts 8:5–8. So Philip came to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. The people unanimously listened to what Philip said, hearing and seeing the miracles he performed. For the unclean spirits from many who were possessed by them came out with a great cry, and many paralytic and lame were healed. And there was great joy in that city. Not the apostle Philip who is counted among the twelve, but one of the seven chosen to take care of widows, and also the one who baptized the eunuch and announced Simon. Listen to what the Evangelist Luke says: after the murder of Stephen, “a great persecution took place against the church in Jerusalem; and all, except the Apostles, were scattered to different places in Judea and Samaria" (8:1). From this it is clear that the Apostle Philip with the other apostles was in Jerusalem. Luke made this remark to show that Philip baptized those who were taught Christian doctrine in Samaria. The apostles Peter and John, coming to them from Jerusalem, taught them the grace of the Spirit. And if he were one of the twelve apostles, then he would have the authority to teach the gifts of the Spirit. He baptizes only as a disciple, and the final grace is taught by those apostles to whom authority has been given to teach such a gift. Others say that Philip did not bring down the Spirit on the baptized because he was only a deacon nominated by those who were with Stephen, and had neither presbyteral nor episcopal rank, like the chosen disciples of the Lord. And that he was a deacon, Paul testifies to this in the “Rules” - he testifies not only about him, but also about Ananias, who baptized Paul himself. And being a deacon, he baptized due to the lack of elders in Samaria, because in case of need, when there is no elder, deacons are also allowed to baptize, as the Spirit Himself taught this, who inspired the same Philip with the idea of ​​approaching the eunuch. It should be noted that after baptism, the Holy Spirit descends on those baptized through the laying on of hands through the power of prayer in the name of the Lord Jesus. Therefore, this rite is still observed in the same form. Acts 8:9–21. Now there was a certain man in the city named Simon, who had previously practiced magic and astonished the people of Samaria, posing as someone great. Everyone listened to him, from the smallest to the greatest, saying: This is the great power of God. And they listened to him because for a considerable time he amazed them with his magic. But when they believed Philip, preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. Simon himself believed and, having been baptized, did not leave Philip; and, seeing great powers and signs taking place, he was amazed. The Apostles who were in Jerusalem, hearing that the Samaritans had accepted the word of God, sent Peter and John to them, who, having come, prayed for them so that they would receive the Holy Spirit. For He had not yet descended on any of them, but only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. Simon, seeing that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the hands of the Apostles, brought them money, saying: Give me this power too, so that whoever I lay my hands on will receive the Holy Spirit. But Peter said to him: Let your silver perish with you; because you thought to receive the gift of God for money. You have no part or lot in this, for your heart is not right before God. Look at another attempt made by Simon. Luke says that he was revered for his great strength. Thus, at that time there were also those deceived by sorcery, until Philip came and led them out of error, because Simon said to the Jews: “I am the Father,” and to the Samaritans: “I am Christ.” “Simon himself believed.” He did not believe for the sake of faith, but so that miracles could be performed for him. How did he think to perform miracles? He himself deceived and also tamed the demoniac, and therefore thought that the apostles, like him, used some kind of art. That's why he gave money. Again, so as not to lose this gift, he was constantly with Philip. Acts 8:22–25. So repent of this sin of yours, and pray to God: perhaps the thoughts of your heart will be forgiven you. For I see you filled with bitter gall and in the bonds of unrighteousness. Simon answered and said, “Pray to the Lord for me, so that nothing that you have said may befall me.” They, having testified and preached the word of the Lord, went back to Jerusalem and preached the Gospel in many villages of Samaria. According to the fable of the heretics, it was unnecessary to say to Simon: “repent,” because he was created so bad. They say that man, being evil by nature, is unable to change at will. But it was not in vain that he said: “repent therefore,” because he also had free will, “and pray to God: perhaps the thought of your heart will be forgiven you.” Peter said this to Simon, as if it had not been granted he would have mercy if he began to cry and repent. But this way of expression was also common among the prophets. Peter especially foresaw that he would not turn to repentance. That’s why he says: “perhaps he will be forgiven you.” Because Simon said the words “pray to the Lord for me” not because he repented and turned, but for the sake of decency alone. “For I see you filled with bitter gall and in the bonds of unrighteousness.” Words full of anger. But Peter does not punish him, so that later his faith does not seem forced by the force of necessity and fear, and this deed does not seem cruel. “And they, having testified and preached the word of the Lord, went back to Jerusalem.” Perhaps they returned because of Simon, so as not to be deceived and so that later they would be firm. Note that they do not go to Samaria from the very beginning, but when they are persecuted in Judea, as was the case with Christ. Acts 8:26–33. And to Philip the Angel of the Lord said: Get up and go at noon, to the road that goes from Jerusalem to Gaza, to the one that is empty. He got up and went. And so, the husband of the Ethiopian, the eunuch, the nobleman of Candace, the queen of Ethiopia, the keeper of all her treasures, who came to Jerusalem to worship, returned and, sitting on his chariot, read the prophet Isaiah. The Spirit said to Philip: Come and dock with this chariot. Philip came up and, hearing that he was reading the prophet Isaiah, said: Do you understand what you are reading? He said: How can I understand if someone does not instruct me? And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him. And the passage from Scripture that he read was this: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and like a lamb that is silent before its shearers, so He opens not His mouth. In His humiliation, His judgment was completed. But who will explain His generation? for His life will spring up from the earth” (Is. 53:7-8). It seems to me that this Philip was one of the seven, because otherwise from Jerusalem he would not have gone to noon (south), but to the north, and from Samaria, where Philip, who was one of the seven, was located and taught, the path goes to noon. “On the road that goes from Jerusalem to Gaza, on the one that is empty.” The Angel said this so that Philip would not be afraid of the attack of the Jews. "He got up and walked away." Notice obedience. Philip did not ask or say: “Why?”, but along with the command, “He got up and went.” “Eunuch, a nobleman of Candace, queen of Ethiopia, guardian of all her treasures, who came to Jerusalem to worship.” Women ruled in this Ethiopia; one of them by right of inheritance was Candace; her eunuch was the treasury guard. Note that there was no holiday, but he was traveling to Jerusalem, and that he was traveling from a city given over to superstition, and on the way he read, and, moreover, Isaiah, the greatest of the prophets, moreover, he read, not understanding what he read, and was so diligently busy reading. “Do you understand what you are reading?” He asks in a surprising way, because he neither flatters, nor praises, nor reproaches him for ignorance. But he asks in such a way as to arouse greater desire and show that there is great treasure in what is being read. And the eunuch admits with all frankness: “How can I understand if someone does not instruct me?” Then he asks Philip to teach him. “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter.” The meaning of the above words is very clear, because at certain times the sheep are taken away for shearing and the shepherds place shearing tools on them, but the sheep tolerate this and do not attack those who do it. So Christ, while enduring reproach, did not pay reproach for reproach. “In His humiliation His judgment was completed.” Points to the unlawful trial of Him, carried out when the truth was hidden. “But who will explain His generation?” That is, His high dignity revealed after the resurrection, the proof of which is what He did in the work of economy. Who will be able to express in words when the thought comes: “Who is this and what is this, and even the Only Begotten Son of God endured all this?” “His life will fly up from the earth.” Instead of the expression “His life is taken away and ascended above earthly things,” that is, the field of activity and existence of the Only Begotten, when He is contemplated outside the flesh and no longer as being among us. Acts 8:34–40. The eunuch said to Philip: I beg you to tell me: of whom is the prophet saying this? Is it about yourself or about someone else? Philip opened his mouth and, beginning from this Scripture, preached to him the good news about Jesus. Meanwhile, continuing their journey, they came to water; and the eunuch said, Here is the water; What prevents me from being baptized? Philip said to him: if you believe with all your heart, it is possible. He answered and said: I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he ordered the chariot to stop, and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water; and baptized him. When they came out of the water, the Holy Spirit descended on the eunuch, and Philip was taken away by the Angel of the Lord, and the eunuch no longer saw him, and continued on his way, rejoicing. And Philip found himself in Azothus and, as he passed, he preached the gospel to all the cities until he came to Caesarea. “I ask you to tell me: about whom...?” To know that prophets sometimes speak about others, or about themselves in another person, because this shows his question, is the property of a very observant person. “Here is the water; What prevents me from being baptized? Look how wisely he acts. At first he reads and does not understand, then he reads the same prophecy; it contains the doctrine of suffering, the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the bestowal of the grace of the Holy Spirit. Then he asks to be baptized; Philip explains to him in order, starting with this prophecy. And inspired by readiness, he is gradually led to baptism. But he did not say, “baptize me,” but, “What hinders?” With this question he showed a strong desire to be baptized. "Philip was taken away by the angel of the Lord". An Angel takes him, thereby adding more miraculousness to what happened, and at the same time bringing joy to Philip that he is awarded the same thing as the prophets, such as Habakkuk. It is good that he was taken from the eunuch, because the eunuch would have asked Philip to go with him, and Philip would have saddened him if, due to the demands of circumstances, he refused. This is how everything worked out in a Divine way: Philip ended up in Azoth. Here he was then to preach. You might be interested in: