4 Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. 5 Then Philip went down to [a]the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. 6 And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. 8 And there was great joy in that city.
—Acts 8:4–8 (NKJV)
THEME: The Gospel Advances Wherever Faithful Believers Faithfully Proclaim Christ.
Short Review: Last week we discovered that Acts 8 is not ultimately the story of SAUL, NOT AT ALL — it is the story of Jesus continuing His work through His Church. We first saw Saul's misguided zeal as his heritage, convictions, and hatred made him the Church's fiercest persecutor. Believing he was serving God, Saul sought to destroy the very movement God had established through Jesus Christ.
But Luke quickly shifted our attention from Saul to God, reminding us that what appeared to be the Church's greatest setback became the very means by which God fulfilled Acts 1:8. The persecution directed by Saul became the scattering directed by God, and the scattering became the spread of the Gospel. What Satan intended to destroy, God sovereignly used to advance His mission.
Finally, we lifted our eyes above the circumstances and saw that Christ alone determines the outcome. He protects His Church, pursues His enemies, and prevails through His Gospel. The Church was scattered—but not defeated. The Gospel was opposed—but not stopped. Jesus was still building His Church exactly as He promised.
Today we begin to see what happened next. One ordinary believer, a deacon, named Philip takes the Gospel into Samaria, and the mission of Acts 1:8 begins to unfold before our eyes. Stephen's ministry had ended, but Christ's mission was only beginning.
Large Group Discussion Question
Have you ever experienced a season when God used an unexpected change, disappointment, or difficulty to open a door for greater ministry or greater spiritual growth? Looking back, what helped you recognize God's hand at work in what first appeared to be a setback?
The events of Acts 8 remind us that history often looks very different from heaven's perspective. On earth, Saul appeared to be winning. In heaven, Christ was advancing His Church. Last week, We saw that …
1. Saul Displays His Zeal.
2. God Directs His Mission.
3. Christ Determines the Outcome.
THIS IS THE WORD OF THE LORD
8 Now Saul was consenting to his death. [Referring to Stephen]At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him 3 As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison. Acts 8:1-3
Christ Is Preached in Samaria4 Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. 5 Then Philip went down to [a]the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. 6 And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. 8 And there was great joy in that city.
As we read these verses, one thing immediately becomes clear. Luke is no longer focused on Saul's persecution. His attention shifts to the believers who were scattered because of it. The question is no longer, "What will persecution do to the Church?" The question is, "What will the Church do because of persecution?" Philip gives us the answer. Instead of retreating in fear, he faithfully proclaims Christ wherever God leads him.
I. Philip Proclaimed the Gospel (Acts 8:4–5)
This answers: What did Philip do?
A. He Went Where God Directed
"They that were scattered..." Persecution became God's planting.
Warren Wiersbe writes, "Persecution does to the church what wind does to seed: it scatters it and only produces a greater harvest."
The Greek word translated "scattered" (diaspeirō) literally means "to scatter seed." Luke intentionally chooses an agricultural word. The believers were not merely refugees fleeing danger; they were God's seed being planted in new soil.
Think about a farmer sowing seed. Once the seed leaves his hand, it seems to disappear into the ground. For a time, nothing appears to happen. But beneath the surface, God is at work. In time, the seed takes root, grows, and produces a harvest far greater than the farmer could have imagined.
The same was true of the early Church. Saul thought he was uprooting Christianity. In reality, God was planting it. Every believer forced out of Jerusalem became another witness carrying the Gospel into new communities. What looked like scattering was actually sowing. What looked like loss became the beginning of a greater harvest. [A Lesson for the Week: God often uses the winds of adversity to scatter the seeds of the Gospel into places they would never have gone otherwise.]
B. He Gathered the People
Philip went to Samaria. Not Jerusalem. Not Judea. Samaria.
Exactly where Acts 1:8 was headed.
C. He Gave Them Christ
Verse 5 doesn't say Philip preached himself. Or miracles. Or religion. He preached Christ.
Lesson: Faithful ministry always points people to Jesus.
Philip wasn't trying to build a ministry. He was simply proclaiming Christ. God took care of the results. Philip's faithfulness was essential, but Luke wants us to see that the success of the Gospel never depended on Philip alone. Faithful servants proclaim the message, but only God can confirm its truth and transform hearts. As the story continues, our attention shifts from the messenger to the God who empowers the message.
BACKWARD LOOKING QUESTIONS
Group 1: How did persecution actually help spread the Gospel instead of stopping it?
Group 2:Why do you think Philip chose to preach Christ rather than simply perform miracles?
Group 3: Why was Samaria such a significant place for the Gospel to go?
Group 4: How does Philip demonstrate obedience to Christ's commission in Acts 1:8?
As we've reflected on Philip's faithfulness, it's important to remember that Luke never intends for us to focus on Philip alone. Philip faithfully proclaimed Christ, but he could not change a single heart. That work belonged to God. Luke now shifts our attention from the faithful messenger to the faithful God who confirmed the message with His power and called people to believe.
II. God Proved the Gospel (vv. 6–7)
Now the focus shifts from Philip... to God.
A. God Confirmed His Messenger
The miracles authenticated Philip's message. Not Philip himself.
B. God Confronted Evil
Demons fled. The lame walked. The afflicted were healed. The Kingdom of God was invading Satan's territory.
C. God Called People to Believe
Wiersbe says something important: People weren't saved because of miracles.
They believed because they heard the Word. The miracles simply confirmed the message.
Lesson: Miracles attract attention. The Gospel changes hearts.Where Christ is faithfully proclaimed and His Word is believed, lives are ALWAYS transformed and joy follows. Philip's ministry reminds us that God's work has always been more than impressive events or extraordinary experiences. God's desire is to transform hearts through the truth of His Word. Before we continue, let's take a few moments to consider what that truth means for our own lives and ministries.
INWARD LOOKING QUESTIONS
Group 1: How can we keep Christ—not ourselves—at the center of our witness?
Group 2: Why do you think people are sometimes more attracted to dramatic experiences than to God's Word?
Group 3: Where has God placed you to faithfully share Christ this week?
Group 4: What does Philip's example teach us about serving faithfully wherever God sends us?
As we've reflected on our own lives, one question naturally remains: What happens when people truly believe the Gospel? Luke doesn't leave us wondering. He shows us the outcome. Wherever Christ is faithfully proclaimed, God's power is displayed, and hearts respond in faith, lives are transformed. And transformed lives always produce something the world cannot manufacture—lasting joy.
III. Christ Produced Great Joy (v. 8)I particularly like that phrase, "hearts filled with the joy of Christ," because it keeps Jesus—not happiness — at the center.
A. Christ Delivered the People
From sickness. From demons. From sin.
B. Christ Destroyed Barriers
Jews. Samaritans. Soon... Gentiles. The Gospel builds bridges.
C. Christ Delighted the City Verse 8 - "There was great joy in that city."
Notice. Acts 8 begins with great persecution. It ends with great joy.
Lesson: The Gospel always leaves people better than it found them.
The joy of Samaria reminds us that when Christ changes lives... entire communities are changed. The joy that filled Samaria wasn't intended to remain in Samaria. The same Gospel that crossed barriers in the first century still calls believers to cross barriers today. Christ continues to build bridges between people and God—and He invites us to join Him in that mission. Before we conclude, let's consider what that might look like in our own lives.
FORWARD LOOKING QUESTION
Philip crossed barriers that many people thought should never be crossed.
As we think about our own lives today...
Where might God be calling us to become "bridge builders"—sharing Christ with someone who is different from us, overlooked by us, or outside our normal circle of influence?
As we've reflected on where God may be calling us to become bridge builders, remember that Philip's story is not simply about one faithful evangelist in Samaria. It is about the continuing work of Jesus Christ through ordinary believers who are willing to go wherever He sends them. Luke reminds us that when God's people faithfully proclaim Christ, God faithfully empowers His Word, and Christ faithfully transforms lives. That is exactly what happened in Samaria—and it is exactly what Christ continues to do today.
CONCLUSION
Acts 8 opens with believers running for their lives. It closes with an entire city rejoicing. Only the Gospel can transform persecution into praise.
Stephen's death scattered the Church. Philip's obedience spread the Gospel. Jesus kept His promise. The Gospel continued advancing exactly as He said it would. The mission that began in Jerusalem was never intended to stay in Jerusalem. Through faithful believers like Philip, the Gospel crossed barriers, transformed lives, and continued its unstoppable advance to the ends of the earth.
This one sentence captures Acts 8:4–8 better than any other and it is the lesson for today:
a) Our responsibility is to proclaim.
b) God's responsibility is to empower.
c) Christ's work is to transform… 8 And there was great joy in that city.
Five Practical Takeaways
1. Proclaim Christ Faithfully. Philip's message was remarkably simple—he preached Christ. He did not promote himself, entertain the crowds, or offer religious opinions. He faithfully pointed people to Jesus.
Application: The greatest gift we can give anyone is the good news of Jesus Christ.
2. Trust God to Empower the Message. Philip faithfully proclaimed the Gospel, but only God could confirm it with His power and draw people to faith. Our responsibility is faithfulness; God's responsibility is the results.
Application: Share Christ with confidence, knowing that God is always at work through His Word.
3. Believe the Gospel Changes Lives. The miracles drew attention, but the Gospel transformed hearts. Christ delivered people from sin, broke down barriers, and filled an entire city with joy.
Application: Never underestimate the life-changing power of the Gospel.
4. Become a Bridge Builder. Philip crossed cultural, ethnic, and religious barriers to take the Gospel to Samaria. Christ continues calling His people to reach those who may seem distant, different, or forgotten.
Application: Ask God to help you see people as He sees them and to courageously share His love across every barrier.
5. Measure Success by Faithfulness, Not Results. Philip simply obeyed where God sent him. God produced the fruit. Christ received the glory.
Application: Leave the results to God and commit yourself to faithfully proclaiming Christ wherever He places you.
Statement of Affirmation
Because Jesus is worthy, I will...
Faithfully proclaim His Gospel,
Trust God's power to accomplish His purposes,
Believe Christ can transform every life,
Build bridges with His love,
And faithfully leave the results in His hands.
One final thought: Our responsibility is to proclaim. God's responsibility is to empower. Christ's work is to transform.
This one sentence captures Acts 8:4–8 better than any other. Please repeat this with me:
Our responsibility is to proclaim.
God's responsibility is to empower.
Christ's work is to transform.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
LESSON 33 – Philip - A Faithful Preacher - Acts 8:4-8
August 9, 2026
Large Group Discussion Question
Have you ever experienced a season when God used an unexpected change, disappointment, or difficulty to open a door for greater ministry or greater spiritual growth? Looking back, what helped you recognize God's hand at work in what first appeared to be a setback?
BACKWARD LOOKING QUESTIONS
Group 1: How did persecution actually help spread the Gospel instead of stopping it?
Group 2: Why do you think Philip chose to preach Christ rather than simply perform miracles?
Group 3: Why was Samaria such a significant place for the Gospel to go?
Group 4: How does Philip demonstrate obedience to Christ's commission in Acts 1:8?
INWARD LOOKING QUESTIONS
Group 1: How can we keep Christ — not ourselves — at the center of our witness?
Group 2: Why do you think people are sometimes more attracted to dramatic experiences than to God’s Word?
Group 3: Where has God placed you to faithfully share Christ this week?
Group 4: What does Philip's example teach us about serving faithfully wherever God sends us?
FORWARD LOOKING QUESTION
Philip crossed barriers that many people thought should never be crossed.
As we think about our own lives today...
Where might God be calling us to become "bridge builders"—sharing Christ with someone who is different from us, overlooked by us, or outside our normal circle of influence?
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