Changes

[[Acts 8:1]] and [[Acts 8:4]] reveal that following his murder, persecution began and this was the catalyst for the expansion of the early church.

It was probably Diaspora Hellenist Jews who dispersed. The apostles certainly remained in Jerusalem. It is likely that because they were Hebraic Jews who remained devout and continued to carefully observe Mosaic law and so were not persecuted.

Acts 8 continues with Philip who is led by the [[Holy Spirit]] to go to Samaria. Here the Samaritans believe in Jesus ([[Acts 8:14]]) and the apostles [[apostle Peter|Peter]] and [[apostle John|John]] travel to meet the new believers.

After Peter and John arrived in Samaria, they prayed for the new believers and the Holy Spirit came upon them, probably in the same way that occurred in [[Acts 2]] on Pentecost - with wind and fire and tongues. This outward sign would have acted as definitive evidence that God had fully accepted the Samaritans to be integrated into his church. In this way, [[Acts 1:8]] was being fulfilled.

Some theologians see the fact that Peter was present at this event as fulfilling the words of Jesus in [[Matthew 16]] where Jesus gives Peter the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven - in [[Acts 8]], by being present at this event, Peter is now showing that the Kingdom of Heaven is open to the Samaritans.

Acts 8 continues with Philip travelling south and meeting Ethiopian believer in [[God]]. The Ethiopian was probably God-fear (a non-Jew), although possibly he was a proselyte (had converted to Judaism). Philip, explaining the meaning of [[Isaiah 53]], and showing that [[Jesus]] is the suffering servant described, shared the gospel with the Eithopian who accepted it and was baptized.

==Quotes==