Acts 8:1 And Saul approved of their killing him.
We see a wide cross section of the early church in Acts 8. Saul was persecuting Christians, convinced that was the right thing to do. Simon the sorcerer thought he could buy the power of the Holy Spirit. He believed and was baptized (v 13), but he still thought the power of the Holy Spirit was much like a parlor trick. These two are slow on the uptake, but there is still hope for them.
Acts 8:18-19 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
Philip, however, was listening for and obedient to the direction of the Holy Spirit (v 26-27), which allowed him to minister to an Ethiopian who was struggling to understand scripture. Notice he was spending time in the Word, even though he struggled to understand. We can learn a lot from both Philip and the Ethiopian.
Acts 8:34 The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?”
Lord, Thank You for this look at Your nascent church—the bumps and missteps as well as the victories. Help me, like Philip, to listen for and be obedient to Your direction. Help me, like the Ethiopian, to sit with Your word, even when I struggle, and to find others who can help me understand. Draw me closer to You. Amen.
Acts 8:35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.
Have a blessed day.