Acts 8:6 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs that he did.

NIV: When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said.

NASB: The crowds were paying attention with one mind to what was being said by Philip, as they heard and saw the signs which he was performing.

CSB: The crowds were all paying attention to what Philip said, as they listened and saw the signs he was performing.

NLT: Crowds listened intently to Philip because they were eager to hear his message and see the miraculous signs he did.

KJV: And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

NKJV: And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

Philip, the Jesus-following deacon, has fled persecution in Jerusalem and headed north to Samaria (Acts 6:1–6; 8:1–5). The Holy Spirit empowers him to perform miracles that specifically support his claims to be God's messenger (Acts 8:7). Signs such as healing and expelling demons had become common among the leaders of the new church (Acts 5:12–16). "One accord" is from the Greek root word homothumadon. We might picture this as many notes in harmony or several beings moving forward gracefully. The term emphasizes cooperation and coordination, more so than conformity.

Samaritans were descendants of the northern kingdom of Israel and foreigners that the Assyrians moved into the land (2 Kings 17:24). Traditionally, Jews did not associate with Samaritans. It's possible Philip has less of a problem because he is a Hellenistic Jew: he grew up outside of Judea in a strongly Greek culture.

Philip's arrival brings the fulfillment of Jesus' promise to the woman at the well that they would learn to worship God in spirit and truth (John 4:24). The Samaritan woman and her fellow villagers had been convinced that Jesus was a prophet because He knew things about her that no traveling Jew should have (John 4:28, 39–42). Philip now comes in the name of Jesus who told the Samaritan woman He is the Christ. The Samaritans are ready, and Philip's miracles give them all the proof they need to believe that the promised time has come.

Acts 8:4–8 describes Jesus' second stage of spreading the gospel coming to fruition (Acts 1:8). As Saul's persecution of the church in Jerusalem grows more violent, Jesus-followers flee to Judea and Samaria. Philip, a fellow deacon of the martyred Stephen (Acts 6:1–6), goes north to Samaria. He expels demons, heals, and preaches the gospel to a people that the Jews traditionally revile. When Philip's ministry takes hold, the church will send Peter and John to formally establish the Samaritans as legitimate believers. (Acts 8:14–25).

Jesus told the apostles they would spread the gospel (Acts 1:8) and persecution makes that happen. Upon the death of the first Christian martyr (Acts 7:54–60), a young Pharisee named Saul builds on the momentum to arrest and, if possible, execute Jesus followers (Acts 8:1–3; 26:10). The apostles mostly stay in Jerusalem, but the church members flee, spreading the gospel to Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth. Important encounters in this passage include a magician named Simon and the conversion of an Ethiopian court official.

Acts 1:8 gives the outline of the book of Acts; Acts 1—7 describes the spread of the gospel through Jerusalem; Acts 8:1—11:18 shows the gospel spreading in Judea and Samaria; Acts 11:19—28:31 sees the gospel spread to the ''end of the earth,'' finalizing in Rome. Ironically, although Paul is the central figure in spreading Jesus' good news to the ends of the earth, his early persecution of the church in Jerusalem is instrumental in spreading the gospel through Judea and Samaria.

The summary of the book of Acts is provided in Jesus' words in Acts 1:8: ''But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'' In Acts 2:1–13, the Christ-followers receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:14—7:60 describes the rapid growth of the church in Jerusalem. Chapters 8—12 find Jewish persecution inadvertently spreading the gospel throughout Judea and Samaria. And in chapters 13—28, Paul and his companions spread the good news throughout the Roman Empire.