Geneva Study Bible And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. And {1} Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
(1) Christ uses the rage of his enemies in the spreading forth and enlarging of his kingdom. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. {2} And devout men {a} carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
(2) The godly mourn for Steven after his death, and bury him, showing in this an example of singular faith and charity: but no man prays to him. (a) Amongst all the duties of charity which the godly perform, there is no mention made of enshrining relics. As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. {3} As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
(3) The dispersion or scattering abroad of the faithful is the gathering together of churches. Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.
Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. {4} Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
(4) Philip, who was before a deacon in Jerusalem, is made an evangelist by God in an extraordinary way. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.
And there was great joy in that city. And there was great joy in that city.
But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: {5} But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used {b} sorcery, and {c} bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:
(5) Christ overcomes Satan as often as he desires, and carries him about as it were in triumph, in the sight of those whom Satan deceived and bewitched. (b) The word which is used in this place was at first used of good things, and is borrowed from the language of the Persians, who call their wise men by that name; but afterwards it was used of evil things. (c) He had so allured the Samaritans with his witchcraft that as blind and mad idiots they were wholly addicted to him. To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.
And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries. And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.
But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. {6} Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
(6) The wicked and the highly reprobate are often forced to taste the good gift of God, but they immediately spit it out again. Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: {7} Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
(7) Peter, not chief but as an ambassador sent from the whole company of the apostles, and John his companion, according to the authority which was committed unto them, strengthen, encourage, and build up the churches of Samaria, whose foundation had been laid before by Philip. Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the {d} Holy Ghost:
(d) Those excellent gifts which are necessary, especially for those that were to be appointed rulers and governors of the Church. (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, {8} And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
(8) Covetousness and the seeking of glory at length remove the hypocrites from their dens. Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. (9) But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
(9) They are the successors of Simon Magus, and not Simon Peter, who either buy or sell holy things. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this {e} matter: for thy heart is not {f} right in the sight of God.
(e) In this doctrine which I preach. (f) Is not upright indeed and without the concealing of hypocritical motives. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. {10} Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
(10) We must hope well even for the vilest sinners, as long as and as much as we can. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. For I perceive that thou art in the {g} gall of bitterness, and in the {h} bond of iniquity.
(g) He calls the inward malice of the heart and the venomous and demonic wickedness with which the magician was wholly filled with the gall of bitterness: and he is said to be in the gall, as though he were wholly overwhelmed with gall, and buried in it. (h) Entangled in the bonds of iniquity. Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me. Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the LORD for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.
And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans. And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.
And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. {11} And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.
(11) Christ, who calls freely whom he wishes, now uses Philip, who was not thinking about any such thing, to unexpectedly instruct and baptize the eunuch, and by this means extends the limits of his kingdom even into Ethiopia. And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch {i} of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,
(i) A man of great wealth and authority with Candace. Now this word Candace is a common name of all the Queens of Ethiopia. Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. And he said, How can I, except some man should {k} guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
(k) To show me the way to understand it. The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: {12} The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:
(12) Those things which seem to come most by chance or fortune (as men term it) are governed by the secret providence of God. In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. In his {l} humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his {m} generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
(l) The Hebrew text reads it in this way, out of a narrow strait, and out of judgment was he taken: and by the narrow strait he means the grave and the very bonds of death, and by judgment he means the punishment which was laid upon him, and the miserable state which Christ took upon himself for our sakes, in bearing his Father's wrath. (m) How long he will endure: for Christ, having once risen from the dead, dies no more; Ro 6:9. And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?
Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. {13} And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, {n} I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
(13) Profession of faith is required of those being baptized, and therefore it is evident that we are not first ingrafted into Christ when we are baptized, but are already ingrafted, and then are baptized. (Ed.) (n) The sum of the confession which is necessary for baptism. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.
But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea. But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea. The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599] Bible Hub |
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