Jeremy Hoover

This is a bible study guide for our discussion in Acts 8:4-40 tonight. Previous study guides are linked beginning here.

You may download the study guide at the link below our use the questions listed in this post.

1. What happened as a result of Stephen's stoning (8:1)?

2. How did the ones that were dispersed respond (8:4)? What is impressive about this? Why do we generally not respond like they did?

3. Who is Philip? What is impressive about him?

4. What is significant about where Philip preached (8:5; 1:8)?

5. Did the crowd respond to the message alone? What's more important--the message, or the actions accompanying the message? What do you learn about evangelism today from Philip's example?

6. Describe Simon (8:9-13). What kind of man was he? Was he sincere in his conversion? Why or why not?

7. Why did the apostles send Peter and John to Samaria (8:14)? What did they do there? Why? Why hadn't the Holy Spirit come upon them? How does this fit with Acts 2:38? What does this teach us about overcoming prejudice?

8. How did Simon respond to the apostles (8:18-19)? Why do you think he offered to buy this power? How does his response regarding money and possession portray the intentions of his heart?

9. How did Peter respond (8:20-23)?

10. Did Simon repent (8:24)?

11. How did Philip encounter the Ethiopian eunuch (8:26; followed the Spirit)? What is significant about this man (8:27; also see Deuteronomy 23:1 and Isaiah 53:6-8; fulfillment of scripture)?

12. What do you learn from the interaction between Philip and the eunuch about evangelism (8:30-35)? What was the result?

13. What function does this story serve in the overall theology of Acts (1:6; 1:8; cf. Isaiah 56:3-8; the regathering of Israel)?

14. What did you learn about evangelism from this study?

15. What will you do or think differently about because of what you learned?