Atos 8
William Barclay · Citado em PreceptAustin
Atos 8
Barclay on ravaging - Saul, as the Authorized Version says, ‘made havoc’ of the Church. The word used in the Greek denotes a brutal cruelty. It is used of a wild boar ravaging a vineyard and of a wild animal savaging a body. The contrast between the man who was savaging the Church in this chapter and the man who surrendered to Christ in the next is intensely dramatic. (The Acts of the Apostles) Paul Apple on Saul's rampage against righteous ones - Fanaticism Expresses Itself in Extreme Cruelty. Learn a lot about the evil side of Saul in this passage; no wonder he marveled at the grace of God in saving him, the chiefest of sinners, the one who led in the persecution of the church. Ravaging (3075)(lumainomai from lume = destruction) means to harm, damage, ruin, destroy, injure severely. The word pictures the tearing of a body by an animal! Friberg - "of irrational and relentless persecution - devastate, destroy, do great harm, severely injure." BDAG - "Of gluttons who, by their intemperance, damage their bodies." Lumainomai - 15v in the Septuagint - Ex. 23:8; 2 Chr. 16:10 (Asa oppressed = Hebrew - ratsats = crushed); Ps. 80:13; Pr 18:9; Pr 19:3; Pr 23:8; Pr 25:26; Pr 27:13; Isa. 65:8; Isa. 65:25; Jer. 48:18; Jer. 51:2; Ezek. 16:25; Da 6:22; Amos 1:11 Gilbrant - The word lumainomai suggests a pattern of wanton, wasteful destruction. It is related to the classical word lumē which means “an outrage.” The verb is used in classical Greek for “injury,” whether to a physical body through gluttony or to a nation through the devastation of warfare. It describes both physical and moral damage. The word occurs often in the Septuagint. It depicts merciless slaughter (Amos 1:11), the ravages of warfare (Jer. 48:18; Jer. 51:2), the wasting of a hedge by wild boars (Ps 80:13), the pollution of a spring (Pr 25:26), the corruption of morals through bribery (Ex 23:8), and the marring of beauty through immorality (Ezek 16:25). The result is always harmful destruction. (Complete Biblical Library Greek-English Dictionary) Paul Apple on persecution and ravaging - Examples down through church history – every conceivable type of torture and cruel death you could imagine – detailed in Fox’s Book of Martyrs; Story of John Hus (see youtube video or another video or John MacArthur speak of John Hus) - not a bad representation of his life and death - see scene where the authorities attempt to get Huss to recant his faith but who dies singing of Jesus as he was engulfed by fire). Steven
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Barclay - The fact that Philip preached there and that the message of Jesus was given to these people shows the Church unconsciously taking one of the most important steps in history and discovering that Christ is for all the world. David Thompson has an interesting note - One critical thing to see here is that initially missionary work went into cities, not jungles. If you want to form a Biblical philosophy of missions it is wise to observe, as William Arnot said, missionary efforts were aimed at the “great cities” (Acts, p. 153). The city here is not named, but it was in a city. Went down to the city of Samaria (map) - Jerusalem (panoramic view) sits on a hill (cf Mt Moriah,) about 2,474 feet above sea level. To depart the city one must go down into the surrounding valleys of Judea (see map - Jerusalem is main city in province of Judea) and then head northward to Samaria. This topographical note reminds me of the song "Grace Flows Down" -- here we see the "Gospel flow down" from the mountaintop city of God. Clearly, one can see the parallel with Jesus' last "commission" to the apostles But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem (Acts 1-7), and in all Judea and Samaria (Beginning in Acts 8), and even to the remotest part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8+) Second Kings gives us a good summary description of how the origin of the "Samaritans" The sons of Israel (REFERENCE TO THE NORTHERN 10 TRIBES) walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did; they did not depart from them 23 until the LORD removed Israel from His sight, as He spoke through all His servants the prophets. So Israel was carried away into exile from their own land to Assyria until this day (10 NORTHERN TRIBES INTO ASSYRIAN EXILE IN 722 BC). 24 The king of Assyria brought men from Babylon and from Cuthah and from Avva and from Hamath and Sepharvaim, and settled them in the cities of Samaria in place of the sons of Israel. So they possessed Samaria and lived in its cities.(2 Ki 17:22-24) Comment - Sargon II the king of Assyria followed the common practice of replacing a deported people (in this case the Jews from the 10 Northern tribes) with foreigners who intermarried with the Jews he had not taken into exile. The result was what the full-blooded Jews interpreted as a mongrel race known as Samaritans. They were despised by the Jews because of the mixed heritage (mixture of Jewish and Gentile blood) and their worship which centered at Mount Gerizim (cf Samaritan woman's words to Jesus in John 4:20:24). Click here for more detailed note on the identity of the Samaritans and why there was such animosity between the Jews and the Samaritans. Thomas - Jewish pilgrims crossed over to the east bank of the River Jordan in order to detour around the district of Samaria. There was even one incident, recorded in Josephus’s Antiquities, whereby some Samaritans, in tandem with Greek Galileans, slew a great number of Jews. The entire issue was summed up by the apostle John, as he explains Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman: “Jews have no dealings with Samaritans” (John 4:9). While Philip was not one of the men who heard these words from Jesus, it is certain that the apostles had relayed the Master's instructions to him. And so in obedience to His Lord, Philip goes to the despised land of Samaria! Why would he go to a people group which the Jews utterly detested and who in turn hated with equal hatred the Jews? Remember that although Philip was one of the original 7 deacons, he was also a man "of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom," (Acts 6:3+). The text does not say it, but there is little doubt that Philip was filled with the Spirit of Jesus, and His Spirit was leading him to the next stage of the spread of the Gospel.
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Barclay - It is a false Christianity which brings an atmosphere of gloom; true Christianity radiates joy. William Arnot on great joy - Hear this, ye butterfly flutterers, that flit from flower to flower, satiate with each sweet as soon as you alight upon it, and hastening unhappy to another, trying every flower all day, and at night bringing no honey home! Hear this, all ye who study hard to keep religion at arm's length, lest it should cast a gloom over your heart or home! When an earnest missionary who had risked his life for Christ's name preached in a city, the people, instead of growing gloomy, became glad. This is a phenomenon worthy of study. But do not mistake its meaning. The instinct which prompts the vain and worldly to keep religion away, lest it should destroy their pleasure, is a true instinct. Every creature's instinct is for its own preservation. To embrace Christ is to crucify the old man, who does not die without struggle and pain. But when he is put off a new nature is put on, and the new nature has new joys. What the Samaritans felt is the ultimate result, not the first effect, of preaching Christ offered to a city or a soul, and kept out seems a terror, but received becomes a joy which life cannot give or death destroy. (Arnot) Great joy - John Bowen, afterwards Bishop of Sierra Leone, being, while a young farmer in Canada, converted by a sermon, wrote in his diary, "I experienced such an ecstasy last evening in prayer that I doubted if I were in my right senses. Christ was slain for me. I could give myself up to Him unreservedly. I cannot describe my sensations of joy. I could not praise God sufficiently for the great scheme of salvation. I remained a long time giving thanks and praying that such a heavenly joy might not be taken away from me." Spurgeon on much rejoicing - (1) There was joy in Samaria because the gospel was preached there. If men did but know it, the greatest boon a city can have is to have the gospel preached in it. Remember the old motto of the city of Glasgow, “Let Glasgow flourish by the preaching of the Word.” No city flourishes so well as that which has a clear, powerful, gospel bell ringing in the midst of it. It is a famishing city which has not the bread of life; but it is a flourishing city which has the bread of life freely dispensed from the pulpit every Sabbath day by loving hands. (2) But there was still more joy in Samaria because there were signs of blessing going with the gospel. Unclean spirits were driven out of those who had been possessed by them, and lame and paralyzed persons were made to walk. We work no such miracles now, in the physical world, but we work them in the spiritual realm; out of many men have we seen the evil spirits go as the cup of devils has been abandoned. Filthy blasphemy has been given up, and their speech has been seasoned with salt. Fornication has been forsaken, uncleanness of life has been hated and left, theft and dishonesty of every kind have become detestable. We have seen these miracles wrought again and again; we have some among us at this time to whom we might say, “And such were some of you, but ye are washed.” The gospel has washed, and cleansed, and changed them; and it is going to do the same for others, for Jesus Christ has come to cast unclean spirits out of those who are possessed by them, and to make some receive divine strength who have hitherto been palsied so far as any holy action is concerned, that they may henceforth run gladly in the ways of God, and give up their whole lives to his service and glory. Oh, that it might be so with many here to-night! If it be so, there will be great joy in this city. (3) Once more, there was great joy in Samaria because so many believed, and were saved. He that believeth in Jesus Christ is saved. The moment that he believes, his nature is changed, his sins are forgiven, and his heart is renewed. This great work is done in a moment, but it is never undone. The new life commences with the miraculous, regenerating work of the Holy Ghost, and that miracle is of such a character that it continues to thrill throughout the entire man until, at last, he is brought safely to heaven made perfectly like the Lord Jesus Christ. (4) There was also great joy in Samaria because of the changed lives of those who believed. When a man is converted, he does not doubt the power of the gospel that converted him; and when men see the changed lives of well-known sinners, they are made to believe that the gospel that works such transformations must be true; or, if they doubt it, they do so in the teeth of the plainest evidence. If our preaching does not turn men from drunkenness to sobriety, from thieving to honesty, from unchastity to purity, then our gospel is not worth a button; but if it does all this, then this shall be the evidence that it comes from God, seeing that in the world, so sorely diseased by sin, it works the wondrous miracle of curing men of these deadly ills. O my dear friends, what a happy city Samaria was when it was full of men healed, and saved, and converted, and rejoicing in Christ! (Acts 8:8 Great Joy in the City) Related Resources: Biblical Joy and Hope Delight Yourself in the Lord Joy - Chara (Greek Word Study) How can I find joy in the midst of trials? Is there a difference between joy and happiness? How can I experience joy in my Christian life? What is the joy of the Lord? Acts 8:9 Now there was a man named Simon, who formerly was practicing magic in the city and astonishing the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great; KJV Acts 8:9 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: NIV Acts 8:9 Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, practicing magic Acts 13:6; 16:16-18; 19:18-20; Exodus 7:11,22; 8:18,19; 9:11; Leviticus 20:6; Dt 18:10-12; 2 Ti 3:8,9; Rev 13:13,14; 22:15 claiming to be someone great; Acts 5:36; John 7:18; 2 Th 2:4; 2 Ti 3:2,5; 2 Peter 2:18 Acts 8 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries SIMON THE "GREAT" ASTONISHES SAMARIA Now (NAS, NET, NIV, NJB) - Now means the momentary present here serves as a transition or segue into the following (devilish) supernatural story (Acts 8:9-24) which contrasts with the preceding truly (God ordained) supernatural exploits of Philip the evangelist. Other versions (KJV, ESV) translate the Greek conjunction (de - 1161 -see below) as "but" which would mark a "change of direction" (term of contrast) of the story. Certainly in context, the previous section is a picture of the light of the Gospel, whereas the following has at least some elements of the dark "fingerprints" of the devil.