Not-So-Quiet-Time: Acts 8
At-Home Bible Guide for the Week of 10/26
Day 1: Verses 1-8
Faithfully following Jesus doesn’t guarantee a pain-free life. But it does guarantee a meaningful life that is orchestrated by our loving and perfect King. Stephen had been killed. Saul was persecuting the church. The Christians were sad and their lives were at risk. But God used the situation to spread to his people out all over the Roman Empire. And, as the Christians spread, so did the gospel. Philip went to Samaria and preached the Word there. This led to joy! Even in the midst of painful, scary things, we can trust that God will work out all things for our joy.
Day 2: Verses 9-13
Believing in Jesus changes people. It is not clear what Simon had been doing, but it is clear that people found it to be impressive. However, when those same people encountered the real power of God, they were more amazed by the Lord. Even Simon was amazed! How has following Jesus changed what you care about or find to be most amazing?
Day 3: Verse 14-25
Simon had been baptized and he had been amazed by what Philip had been doing through the power of God. But not everyone who is baptized is necessarily a believer. Simon had a wrong understanding of how to access God’s power and a wrong heart before God. In fact, he was still in “the bond of iniquity” (8:23). He was in church, but it appears that he was not really a follower of Jesus. Do you think some people today are in church, but are not really believers? How can we know that we are truly believers?
Day 4: Verses 26-31
God called Philip to leave a thriving, growing church and head to the desert. Philip didn’t know that God had orchestrated events so that an important Ethiopian would be riding by with questions about the Bible. But that is what happened, and Philip obeyed and took the opportunity God provided. Are you trusting God enough to follow wherever He leads? And what opportunities has God given to you to share the Good News with those in your path?
Day 5: Verses 32-40
The Bible is God’s Word; it is powerful. The Ethiopian was reading a passage from Isaiah and Philip explained it to him. He used it to share the Good News about Jesus (8:35). The Ethiopian believed and, after being baptized, went away rejoicing! God uses his Word to bring new life and joy! Do you believe that God’s Word has this kind of power today?
Catechism Connection: WSC 94-95
Upon being born again, the Ethiopian had a deep desire to be baptized. That is a good thing! Baptism is the sign and seal, by the washing of water, of being joined to the visible church and all its benefits (WSC 94). Those who profess faith in Christ, along with their children, should be baptized (WSC 95). Children of believers are part of the visible church and they receive the good gifts that God gives through the church.
Day 1: Verses 1-8
Faithfully following Jesus doesn’t guarantee a pain-free life. But it does guarantee a meaningful life that is orchestrated by our loving and perfect King. Stephen had been killed. Saul was persecuting the church. The Christians were sad and their lives were at risk. But God used the situation to spread to his people out all over the Roman Empire. And, as the Christians spread, so did the gospel. Philip went to Samaria and preached the Word there. This led to joy! Even in the midst of painful, scary things, we can trust that God will work out all things for our joy.
Day 2: Verses 9-13
Believing in Jesus changes people. It is not clear what Simon had been doing, but it is clear that people found it to be impressive. However, when those same people encountered the real power of God, they were more amazed by the Lord. Even Simon was amazed! How has following Jesus changed what you care about or find to be most amazing?
Day 3: Verse 14-25
Simon had been baptized and he had been amazed by what Philip had been doing through the power of God. But not everyone who is baptized is necessarily a believer. Simon had a wrong understanding of how to access God’s power and a wrong heart before God. In fact, he was still in “the bond of iniquity” (8:23). He was in church, but it appears that he was not really a follower of Jesus. Do you think some people today are in church, but are not really believers? How can we know that we are truly believers?
Day 4: Verses 26-31
God called Philip to leave a thriving, growing church and head to the desert. Philip didn’t know that God had orchestrated events so that an important Ethiopian would be riding by with questions about the Bible. But that is what happened, and Philip obeyed and took the opportunity God provided. Are you trusting God enough to follow wherever He leads? And what opportunities has God given to you to share the Good News with those in your path?
Day 5: Verses 32-40
The Bible is God’s Word; it is powerful. The Ethiopian was reading a passage from Isaiah and Philip explained it to him. He used it to share the Good News about Jesus (8:35). The Ethiopian believed and, after being baptized, went away rejoicing! God uses his Word to bring new life and joy! Do you believe that God’s Word has this kind of power today?
Catechism Connection: WSC 94-95
Upon being born again, the Ethiopian had a deep desire to be baptized. That is a good thing! Baptism is the sign and seal, by the washing of water, of being joined to the visible church and all its benefits (WSC 94). Those who profess faith in Christ, along with their children, should be baptized (WSC 95). Children of believers are part of the visible church and they receive the good gifts that God gives through the church.
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