Acts 8: Will You Believe in The Son Of God?
Verse of the Day: (V37) “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.”
1. The Word Of God (V1-17)
V4 “Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.”
In spite of the great persecution, the apostles and their disciples continued to preach the word of God until the entire city of Samaria received the word of God. Without the great persecution, there might not be a great scattering of the disciples in preaching the word of God. Indeed, without great suffering, we will not grow in great faith and trust in our God.
V14 “Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:”
2. The Gift Of God (V18-25)
V18 “And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,”
Simon, a professing believer, offered money to the apostles thinking that he could exchange them for the gift of God. He saw the apostles’ miracles and wanted to be like them, who would lay hands on the believers so that they received the Holy Ghost. Apostle Peter rebuked Simon and told him that money could never purchase God’s gift.
V20 “But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.”
3. The Son Of God (V26-40)
V32 “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:”
God led Philip, a man of God, to approach a prominent Ethiopian eunuch who was reading the book of Isaiah. Philip explained to him that the prophet Isaiah was referring to Jesus when he wrote - He was led as a sheep to the slaughter. Jesus was the sacrificial lamb to be slaughtered so that His blood was shed for the forgiveness of the sins of the world. Immediately upon seeing a pool of water, the eunuch requested Philip to baptize him as he believed that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He knew that baptism was the first step of obedience for a new believer as it symbolised Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection.
V37 “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.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
