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ACM BIBLE STUDIES • THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES • CHAPTER EIGHT 1

Chapter EightINTRODUCTION

TUDYING THE BOOK OF ACTS acquaints us with the reign of Christ. It isthe record of the early years of His reign. But, the thing that many Christiansfind confusing is that this letter records considerable conflict – a factor

which, according to church doctrine, isn’t supposed to happen in “the kingdom.”Nonetheless, the Book of Acts records both kingdom and conflict in the same era.

The churches’ handle this contradiction by simply pretending the kingdom willnot appear until sometime in the distant future when, they claim, Jesus will “return”and make all the conflict cease. Thus, the references to the kingdom and Christ’sreign in the Book of Acts are generally ignored or reinterpreted by the churches torefer to a future time. Nonetheless, an honest researcher cannot avoid or ignore theclear references to the then-present kingdom … and the conflict waged against it.

It is evident that Jesus and his followers met with contention and conflicteverywhere they went. The Kingdom message made them “enemies of the state” …but they couldn’t keep silent. They were driven by holy spirit.

Acts chapters one through seven dealt with the early stages of this conflict and itseffects in and around Jerusalem. The conflict, and the changes it was bringing in thelives of men, was a confirmation of Jesus’ Reign. In chapter eight we will see thisconflict spreading beyond Jerusalem as the message of the gospel goes forth.

Looking back over the life of Christ, we can see how this conflict developed.From an early age, Jesus learned what it was like to live under the oppression ofman’s government. He also saw the public’s apathy, and man’s affinity to slavery.

As it is for us today, it must have been frustrating for Jesus and the apostles atthat time. They learned the differences between freedom and slavery … only towatch family and friends passively learn to tolerate and accomodate the problem.

Submission to tyranny, if not corrected early, becomes a disease. The second-generation slave will commonly adopt slavery as “normal,” defend his slave master,and stand against anyone attempting to expose slavery.

Coping with forced slavery is one thing. But, passively and willingly accepting it– and learning to like it – is something else. In other words, it’s one thing to acceptpunishment, but it’s quite another thing to cultivate pride in a legacy of punishment,and then rename the punishment and call it "patriotism" or “religion.”

As a man, Jesus watched the oppression that came from man. That oppressionbecame His enemy. It became the focus of His life. Under His Father’s authorityJesus became the Champion of mankind, and for mankind's sake took upon Himselfthe battle of the ages. At this point the conflict was fully defined as He realized Hissingle purpose in life was to fight oppression and expose it … leading Israel into TheWay of freedom.

NOTE: Modern Babylonis made up of severalbranches: politics,religion, finance,propaganda, education,military, etc. However, atthe time of the writing ofthe Book of Acts thesystem in Jerusalemwas a little lesscomplex. It was mostlyjust politics and religion.The Book of Actsexposes both facets.

Neither governmentnor church are willing toadmit their roles in themurder of Jesus and Hisapostles, and thepersecution of theecclesia. The cover-uphas incorporated severalleaps of logic and trickytranslational perversions.

Pay close attentionbecause lesson eighthits hard at bothgovernment andreligion.

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18. "The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because Hehas anointed me to declare the good news to thepoor; He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, topreach deliverance to the captives, and recoveringof sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that arebruised,

19. "To declare the acceptable year of the Lord."

Luke 4:17-19

“The acceptable year of the Lord” refers to thatpart of God’s Law commanding the seventh-yearRELEASE (debt release) – Lev. 25:9-10. In thesabbath year, the people are released from all debts.

In referring to the debt release, Jesus declaredhis mission to be basically the same as Moses’ –namely, to deliver his people from bondage. He, likeMoses, was a deliverer/savior. By the same tokenHe, like Moses, was an enemy of the state.

3. JESUS IS MORE THAN JUSTSWEETNESS AND LIGHT:

We can’t forget that Jesus is a DELIVERER. Ifwe’re not careful, we may too easily slip back intothat churchy thinking that Jesus is some kind ofsugar-coated religious ikon — a symbol of passiveniceness. That fairytale image does not describe theJesus of Scripture. The Jesus of Scripture was alife-risking, life-giving savior. He was a FIGHTER; aman who died an early, torturous death because ofhis convictions and because of his LOVE.

Bottom line: Moses was 1) a deliverer, 2) areformer, and 3) a fighter. Jesus was a man “likeMoses” … and the record bears this out. Jesus was1) a deliverer, 2) a reformer, 3) a fighter. Keep thesethree facets of character in mind when you think ofJesus.

MEN have imagined Jesus in many differentimages – mostly spawned in the minds and writingsof pagans. Churches portray Jesus falsely – oftenas only a remake of Mithra, Zarathustra, Zoroaster,Buddha, Krishna, etc. But Jesus need not be amystery to anyone. His personality can bedescribed in logical and understandable terms ... ifone honestly looks at the record.

Here are three simple points that show whatJesus was (and is) like:

1. WHAT WAS MOSES LIKE:

36. He (Moses) led them (the Children of Israel)out, with portents and signs in Egypt, and in theRed Sea, and in the wilderness forty years.

37. This same Moses, said to the sons of Israel,God will cause a prophet like me to stand up out ofyour brethren.

Acts 7:36,37

What did Moses do? Moses confronted theoppressor – the Egyptian central governmentheaded by Pharaoh. Moses demanded that hispeople be set free. He was a deliverer who led theIsraelites out of Egypt and out of bondage. Mosessaid that a prophet like himself would later appearin Israel. That prophet was Jesus.

2. JESUS WAS (IS) LIKE MOSES:

Acts 7:36, 37 tells us that Jesus is like Moses.In the Book of Luke, we read this about Jesus:

17. And there was delivered to Him the book of theprophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book,He found the place where it was written,

WHAT IS JESUS LIKE?


turned instead into a stunning blow tothe Beast System. People, inincreasing numbers, were losing theirblindness about the Beast.

This process developed for sometime. The seeds of freedom had togrow into strong trees – strongenough to survive the drought thatwas to come. The wonderfulmomentum gained through personalexposure to Jesus and His apostleswas to last only about one generation(Lk. 23:28-31). Soon, the kingdomwould see a change in momentumand the beast system would developnew and clever strategies to reassertitself. Greater deceits and illusionswere being conceived.

The beast system is built uponillusion and deceit. People are trickedinto worshipping the beast. The greatpower amassed by the beast is held inplace by illusion. Remove the illusionand the power evaporates.

Today, almost two millennia later,man’s government (the BeastSystem) seems alive and well …stronger than ever. This leaves us towonder what ever happened to thebattle which at one time seemed to begoing in favor of Jesus’ Reign.

Today, the illusions of MysteryBabylon are strong. The modernversion of one-world government hasrisen to such power that it seemsinvincible. But remember, the RomanEmpire at one time was overpoweringand seemingly invincible … buthistory shows that Rome eventuallydisintegrated from within.

Historical time lines show thatcentral governments come to power,and then eventually weaken. Romelost its place as a world power. TheReign of Jesus witnessed it … andcontinued on. Jesus' reign willwitness the end of this current phaseof the Beast System as well.

Centuries earlier, Yahweh gavethe prophet Daniel a future vision ofthe rise and fall of the worldkingdoms that would make up theBeast System. That vision cameabout through a dream that God gaveto Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylonat the time. The king had dreamedabout a large metallic statue. Its headwas gold; its chest was silver; its

loins were brass; its legs were iron;and its feet were iron and clay mixed.Nebuchadnezzar asked Daniel tointerpret the dream for him. God gaveDaniel the following interpretation:

36. This is the dream; and we will tellthe interpretation thereof before theking.

37. You, O kin˙g, are a king of kings:for the God of heaven has given youa kingdom, power, and strength, andglory.

38. And wheresoever the children ofmen dwell, the beasts of the field andthe fowls of the heaven, He has givenit into your hand, and has made youruler over them all. You are this headof gold.

39. And after you there shall ariseanother kingdom inferior to you, andanother third kingdom of brass, whichshall bear rule over all the earth.

40. And the fourth kingdom shall bestrong as iron, forasmuch as ironcrushes and subdues all these. Andas iron that subdues all these, it willcrush and break.

Daniel 2:36-40

Daniel foresaw five successiveworld-ruling empires represented bythe delineated sections of metals inthe statue. As Daniel identifies themetal sections from the headdownward, each succeeding sectionof metal declines in value comparedwith the section above it. The goldhead is the most valuable. The silverchest and arms were "inferior." Thebrass belly and thighs were lessvaluable. The legs were iron – a metalof even less value. The feet were ofleast value, being made of iron andclay.

Iron, while inferior in value, isstronger and wears longer than themore precious metal sectionspreceding it.

The head of gold represented thekingdom of Babylon. The chest ofsilver was Medo Persia. The belly ofbrass was the kingdom of Greece.The legs of iron were the Roman

The developing conflict wasbeginning to catch the public’s eye. Itwas between Jesus (the reformer),and the civil/religious rulers(government). As the common peoplewatched, they saw the righteousLamb of God in conflict with therulers who hated Him. The rulers’agenda was clearly evil. These piecesof evidence began to build in thecollective conscious of the people.

As the rulers began to realize thatthey were losing this battle of witswith Jesus, they reasoned that theyhad only two options: 1. Give up andwatch Jesus dismantle their system,or 2. Kill Jesus and get rid of thecompetition. They chose the secondoption. However, what they didn’trealize was that this Reformercouldn’t be destroyed by their usualmethods of threat and murder.

The Jerusalem governmentstruggled to stop this righteousreform, but the rulers’ efforts keptbackfiring on them. The oppressionaimed at Christ’s Kingdom actuallyadded fuel to the fires already burningin the hearts of those whose eyeswere being opened.

Through the agency of “His body”(His inspired followers) Jesus wastaking the fight to the enemy. Thecasualties were adding up, and theadvance of Jesus’ army wasbeginning to make the Beastuncomfortable.

In the previous chapters, we readabout the assassination of Stephen.Now, in this chapter we read aboutSaul of Tarsus … the patrioticgovernment man who persecuted andmurdered Christians.

Thus, we are following theconflict as it expanded via theChristians driven out of Jerusalem. Atfirst this exodus appears to be a greatloss for the Christians as they aredispersed into the nations. But, as theconflict renewed itself in eachlocation where Christians resettled,we see how the seed of truth wassown. The kingdom seed was beingsown in ever-widening circles, andthe conflict was growingproportionately. Thus, wasmanifested the plan of God. Whatappeared at first to be a tragedy,


empire. This represented thesuccession of world rulershipfollowing the historical time linestarting with Babylon.

41. And whereas you saw the feetand toes, part of potters’ clay, andpart of iron, the kingdom shall bedivided; but there shall be in it of thestrength of the iron, forasmuch as yousaw the iron mixed with miry clay.

Daniel 2:41

This verse described what wouldhappen after Rome fell. Little piecesof the Roman Empire (iron) would bedispersed in the world (clay). Butnotice that it would no longer be asingle-nation empire as it was before.Rome fell, but its “republic” systemof government (depicted by iron)lived on. It was transplanted tomultiple small kingdoms whichincorporated the Romanish systeminto their own governments. Thesegovernments eventually formed into amulti-national confederacy ofRomanish “republics.”

42. And as the toes of the feet werepart of iron, and part of clay, so thekingdom shall be partly strong, andpartly broken.

43. And whereas you saw iron mixedwith miry clay, they shall mingle

themselves with the seed of men: butthey shall not cleave one to another,even as iron does not mix with clay.

Daniel 2:42-43

Then, in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream,Daniel revealed another kingdom –one that “shall stand for ever,” asstated in verse 44. This is the Reignof Jesus! It was set up during “thetime of these kings” and manifestedin the days recorded in the Book ofActs. Notice that it says, “in the daysof these kings.” That means thatJesus' Kingdom was to exist alongbeside some of those kingdomsrepresented in the metallic statue –namely, the iron kingdom (Rome)and the iron/clay kingdomrepresenting a multi-nationalconfederacy of Romanish stereotyperepublics.

Jesus' Reign is symbolized by "astone."

44. And in the days of these kingsshall the God of heaven set up akingdom which shall never bedestroyed: and the kingdom shall notbe left to other people, but it shallcrush and consume all thesekingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

45. Forasmuch as you saw that thestone was cut out of the mountainwithout hands, and that it crushed theiron, the brass, the clay, the silver,

and the gold; the great God hasmade known to the king what shallcome to pass hereafter: and thedream is certain, and theinterpretation thereof sure.

Daniel 2:44-45

The kingdoms of the world aretransient, but the Stone Kingdom(Jesus’ Reign) is permanent.

Now, the Futurists in the churchestell us that the great kingdom Danieldescribed has not yet appeared. Butas you can see, that just isn’t true!God set up His Son’s Reignenthroned Him in it, and we arereading about it in the Book of Acts.Jesus’ Kingdom Reign is permanent.It cannot be overthrown, and thegates of hell cannot prevail against it.We may argue about what phase HisKingdom is in, but there can be noargument about its existence.

QUESTION: You seem topaint a militant picture ofJesus. But didn’t He talkabout loving your enemies,turning the other cheek?Doesn’t that prove He wasnon-violent and anadvocate for peace?

ACTS 8:1 PERSECUTION OF ECCLESIAS (NOT CHURCHES)

And Saul approved of the execution of him (Stephen). And in that day great persecution was uponthe ecclesia in Jerusalem; and all were dispersed into the regions of Judea and Samaria except theapostles.

N CHAPTER EIGHT we are introduced to Saul.Verse one gives us a small, but important, pieceof information about him. He was in favor of

killing Stephen. Then the writer immediately moves onto the subject of the ecclesia.

The ecclesia of the Bible is an elusive institution topeople of our day. In a world long inundated with central

governments, churches and their Centralism, most peoplecannot fathom the concept of the “ecclesia.” Living in aworld of religious tradition makes it hard to visualize thisold concept. It takes determination, but the effort is wellworth it. Knowing the truth about freedom – even in lieuof actually HAVING freedom – keeps us on a stabilemental/spiritual foundation. It insures our grasp of reality,

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gives us a worthwhile goal, and helpsus make sense of our lives and theworld around us.

For churchgoers especially, theconcept of “ecclesia” is difficult.Churchgoers only know of "church."Unlearning is harder than learning,and when churchgoers read the Bibletheir brain automatically jumps intothe church mode. Therefore, it takesconscious effort and determination totake the important step out of thechurch world and into the real world.

The ecclesia is NOT a building. Itis NOT a religious group that meetsfor sermons, rituals or singing. It isNOT a Bible Study group.

The ecclesia is a co-op of familiescooperating with one another formutual benefit. It is a self-governing,self-sufficient body politic.

That is not to say that all groupsthat meet together for rituals or BibleStudies are bad. But those groups are“churches, “study groups,” “lodges,”“synagogues” etc. They are NOTecclesias!

The Ecclesia is the civilcommunity institution of the NewCovenant – not a religious institution.Jesus’ ecclesia is not affiliated thegovernments of man. Jesus is itsShepherd and Commander in Chief.Its charter is the New Covenant, andits law is the Law of God. Its strengthis in the morality, accountability andunity of free men, not in the forcedunity of Centralism.

In other words, the ChristianEcclesia is a society that is dedicatedto independence and freedom throughGod’s word. Members are landholders, businessmen, and familymen. The Ecclesia has no centralrulers, no police, no taxes, nointerference of any kind. It takes careof its widows and orphans throughbenevelant funds freely given, and ithas no lawyers and politicians. Itdeals with crime within its ranksaccording to God's laws. It does notabdicate that responsibility todemigods and professional thugs(judges and police). In short, itmanages everything within itsindependent society without outsideinterference.

Compare this concept to the

QUESTION: With all yourtalk about independence,don’t you think that there isproven historical value inpeople organizing ingroups, churches, states, ornations and being unifiedtogether for strength andprotection?

QUESTION: Are youadvocating that mereprivate citizens, who haveno knowledge orexperience in matters oflaw, take the law into theirown hands? Wouldn'tanarchy and chaos resultfrom this action?

ACTS 8:2-4 SEEDS OFTHOUGHT

And respectful men carriedStephen out, and made greatlamentation over him.

But Saul was raging down onthe ecclesia, invading thehouses, dragging out men andwomen and delivering them toprison.

The ones, therefore, havingbeen dispersed went throughthe lands declaring the wordas good news.

concept of "church," and you'll seethat there is no similarity betweenthe two. Churches are notcommunities. They are religiouspropaganda machines – dispensingthe opiate, and teaching andsupporting the institution of CentralGovernment. Chruches evenincorporate Centralism for their ownadministration! Each church has itsown central governing body createdand incorporated under the state.

The ecclesia, on the other hand,has no central rulers, and allows allmen to pursue freedom and self-government. Each man's liberty islimited only by that of another's. Inother words, liberty is boundlessexcept where it interferes withanother man's liberty. At that point itis a Christian’s responsability to notstep upon the liberties of another.The law of the land is the TenCommandments – which havealways defined sin (i.e., crime). Peerenforcement is the regulatinginfluence which maintains order andmorality. God’s law, righteousvengeance, and lawful retributionare the forces which prevent thereprobate from violating the libertyof good people. The system works.

But, central government isjealous, and it isn't willing to allowan institution like I've described toenter its domain.

This basically describes the battleof the ages … depicted by theconflict between Moses andPharaoh, as well as the conflictbetween Jesus’ Reign and man’sgovernment as seen in the Book ofActs. Jerusalem government told theChristians that they could notpractice the ecclesia concept onJerusalem turf. As a result, theChristians were forced to take theirChristian Community (ecclesia)elsewhere. Verse one says theresidents were dispersed into theregions of Judea and Samaria. Theapostles, however, remained inJerusalem to continue their work awhile longer.


HEN Saul persecuted theecclesia he wasn’t goingafter churches. Rather, he

was dragging people out of theirhomes. This further confirms thedifference between church andecclesia. Neither Paul, nor theSanhedrin, nor the Romans wereagainst churches (synagogues). Theywere against ecclesian communities.They went after people in homes inthose communities. The churcheswere left alone! Churches aregenerally sanctioned by governments... and are even given tax-exemptstatus. The state does not hatechurches. Rather, the focus ofgovernment hatred has always beenupon those who separate themselves.

The Way of Christ’s Ecclesia isnot a passive, state-sanctionedexperience lived out within the fourwalls of churches on Sundays. TheEcclesia is a separate (holy) way ofliving. The ecclesian way is true“Christianity.” It is, in fact, theONLY true freedom movement ... forthere is no freedom outside ofChrist’s Reign.

Freedom is possible ONLY inChrist! True freedom has only onedefinition. That one definition findsexpression in The Way of Christ.There is no other freedom! Freedompoints to Christ. There are othermovements which may claim to be"free," but they miss the mark. Thefact is that true freedom – just likeany other principle – has only onetrue definition. The Christian Ecclesiaembodies that definition. If liberty(freedom) existed outside the realmof Christ, that would mean thatChrist's Way is just one of the manyacceptable ways ... any one of whichcould define freedom.

But Scripture tells us that "…where the spirit of the Lord is, thereis LIBERTY" (2 Cor. 3:17). “Truth,”“freedom,” and “Christ” areinseparable. Where there is one, thereare all three.

The institution of the Ecclesia is abulwark for freedom. It is not apassive, tax-exempt, government-approved religion. It is not a church.It is the only viable alternative tooppresive government-by-man.

WOn the other hand, churches love

man’s government."Oh," you say, "but the early

church was different back then! And'the true church' is different evennow!"

Really? Then please define, withScripture, “the early church.” Theword “church” is NOT even in theBible.

And tell me what church todayteaches against the Beast System?You say your preacher teachesagainst bad politicians? Big deal!Every organization under the Sun isopposed to “bad government” – buthow do they define “bad”? They allstill want government: “goodgovernment.” But under men thereare NO “good governments." It isimpossible. The term itself is anoxymoron – like “good slavery.”

Name one church that teaches thatChrist's salvation saved us for this life(not just a future life).

Name one that teaches againstcentral government or lawmakers?

Name one church that has, as itsmission, the teaching of freedom fortoday rather than just "getting saved”so you can abandon the Earth for"heaven" or "the next life"?

You see, the business of Church isNOT the same as the business of theEcclesia.

Our first introduction to Saul (laterrenamed Paul) is not a glowing one.Saul represented the very things wehate. Soon, he too would come tohate these things. His dramaticconversion was a powerful display ofthe Reign of Christ. We'll read aboutthat in chapter nine.

Saul had been a government manwhose mission was to stop theChristian dissenters. He attacked theChristian community – not thechurches. He had the authority toround up and imprison followers ofJesus because they were consideredseditionists and therefore enemies ofthe government.

The government in Jerusalem wasfacing a new problem. Theydiscovered that killing Christians didnot kill their ideas. The Jews couldnot kill the spirit of Christ that was inhis disciples.

It was a tough time to be a ruler.Rulers were learning that murdercouldn’t stop Christ. In times past,murder had been very effective atstopping rebellion or competition.But now, in this case, when theykilled one man ten more rose up inhis place. They just couldn’t poisonout the seeds of freedom.

Government persecution scatteredthe Christians away from Jerusalemand into other lands. It was like windblowing a plant's ripe seeds across theland to find new soil in which togerminate. Christians, like seeds bornin the wind, were blown everywhereto bring the good news to moreIsraelites in other lands. Whereverthey landed their message took rootand began to grow and produce moreseeds to carry the message farther.

The scattered Christians carriedwith them the seeds of this truth thatcannot be killed. The seeds took rootin men’s minds and began to growand proliferate. And, as they did,other governments had to face thesame thing that had happened inJerusalem. There was an amazingtransformation occurring in men’sminds, and it caused the slaves to loserespect for the slavemasters. Whenthat happens, a wonderful, andnatural, thing happens. When themind is freed it isn't long before therest of the body follows.

There is only one way toperpetually keep people slaves. Thatis to enslave their minds. A slavewhose mind gets freed will begin toseek ways to free his body as well.His slavery resulted from years oferror. He or his ancestors, somewherealong the line, were conqueredmentally. It was probably a gradualprocess. But, as a result, it came tothe point where he eventually foundhimself in physical bondage as well.But, a man’s mind must first beenslaved for him to accept the idea ofphysical enslavement. And, whenevera people free their minds of themental captivity they soon find waysto free their bodies as well.

Turning minds around – freeingthem – was what the "good news"was all about. This was Jesus' owndescription of His purpose. He began


His ministry by stating publicly that He was sent, “... todeclare the good news to the poor; to heal thebrokenhearted, TO DECLARE DELIVERANCE TO THECAPTIVES, and recovering of sight to the blind, TO SETAT LIBERTY THEM THAT ARE BRUISED” (Luke 4:18).

Those seeds of thought could not be killed. They werespreading abroad through the persecuted and dispersedChristians wherever they went.

The previous chapters in Acts dealt primarily with theconflict between Christians and the local authorities inJerusalem. Chapter eight follows that conflict as itescalates beyond Jerusalem, into Judea and Samaria.

QUESTION: Aren’t you forgetting that, unlikeour government today, the Roman Empiredid not allow freedom of religion? That iswhy there were no church buildings for Saulto raid. Churches were “underground”organizations and had to meet in secret.

ACTS 8:5-8 THE PEOPLE BEGIN TO SEE AND HEAR

Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and was preaching Christ to them.

And the crowds were attentive and in one accord heard those things which Philip spoke, and saw thesigns which he did.

For many having unclean spirits were leaving with a loud protest, but many paralyzed and lame werecured.

And much joy came to that city.

Pof the earth to flee to the mountainsand caves just as they did in Samaria.

QUESTION: If the forces ofevil (the fallen angels underLucifer) don’t exist, thenwhere does that leave theforces of good (God andthe good angels)? What doyou say is causing all theevil in the world? What areGod and His angels fightingagainst?

HILIP brought truth to thecity of Samaria. They hadalready heard of Jesus, but

they hadn’t yet understood the goodnews of Christ’s reign. Philip’spreaching was received well, and thepeople responded positively.

It is important to read verse sevencorrectly. The King James VersionBible wrongly renders it, “Forunclean spirits, crying with loudvoice, came out of many that werepossessed with them…. As you cansee, the KJV is badly slanted toconvey the pagan idea of supernatural“spirit beings” (so-called) livinginside people. This typical churchrendering of the verse portraysinvisible ghost-like entities screamingas they flee out of the inner regions ofpeople’s bodies – a scenario

resembling a Hollywood horrormovie.

But the idiom “unclean spirits”actually refers to the unclean motivesof PEOPLE. There were PEOPLEthere in Samaria who had badmotives (“unclean spirits”) whocomplained and protested loudly, andwere repelled away when faced byStephen’s truth. This presents nomystical, religious scenario. In fact,one can easily imagine a similarscene occurring in Washington DC iftruth could ever break through theirbulwark of lies and deceit. Therewould be a great outcry from thepoliticians, bureaucrats and lawyers... then they would flee away.

In Isaiah 2, it was fortold that thespirit of God, and his judgment,would cause the merchants and kings


ACTS 8:9-13 THE SAMARIAN CHURCH LEADER

But a certain man, named Simon, had been in the city practicingmagic, and astonishing the nation of Samaria, claiming himself tobe some great one.

They all, from the least to the greatest, gave heed saying, Thisman is the power of the God called Great.

They were attentive to him because for some time he hadastonished them with magic arts.

But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about thekingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, both men andwomen were being baptized.

Then Simon himself believed also, and having been baptized, hecontinued with Philip, and was astonished, seeing the signs andgreat powers.

IMON fits the typical churchstereotype – an egocentricman in search of adoration

and power. Successful preachersmesmerize their followers into adrugged-like state of dependencyupon celebrity. To build a church apreacher must collect around himselfa following of dupped people: a “Cultof Personality.” Unfortunately,celebrity worshipers (churchgoers)cannot differentiate between leadersand flim-flam artists. They preferentertainment instead of truth andresearch. They like charisma insteadof facts. They adore preachers whoclaim to know “the mysteries ofGod.” Simon was their man.

He had conned them withdeceptive tricks into believing that hecould work miracles, and that he hadthe power of God.

Whether it is con games, cheapmagic tricks, sleight of hand, the biglie, the power of suggestion, orsimply diversionary entertainment …it is deception any way you look at it.These techniques are common amongchurch leaders!

One such preacher was a so-calledhealer in Phoenix, Arizona during the1980’s. In the floor of his stage he

had installed a small metal platecharged with a slight electric current.He would call forward from theaudience unsuspecting people whowanted to be “healed.” This Simon-type would have his subjects stand onthat unnoticed electrical plate. Then,as he stood on the floor beside them,he would touch them on the forehead,completing the electrical circuit andcausing them to receive a smallshock. They would think the tinglingsensation they felt was the power ofGod. The preacher was using sleightof hand to trick them into thinkingthey had been healed. Thesuperstitious victims went awaybelieving this preacher had greatpower.

Likewise, Simon had beenoperating a flim-flam show inSamaria. But, then Philip came withthe truth about God and His Son,Jesus. The focus of the listenerssuddenly shifted from Simon’s magicto the message of the kingdom ofGod. Even Simon was impressed anddrawn by the kingdom message.

Was Simon really converted? He was baptized. But, apparently

he wasn’t changed. How was thispossible? How could Simon have

heard, believed, and been baptized …and yet not be reborn in Christ?James 2:19 explains that believing isnot quite enough:

19. You believe that there is one God;you do well: the devils also believe,and tremble.

James 2:19

Devils believe and tremble butthey don’t change. They are stilldevils. “Devil” in Biblical Greek is“diabolos”: which means “throughthruster” – i.e., one who thruststhrough as with a sword. Devilstremble when they know they are in afight they can’t win.

Typical preachers (like Simon)usually don’t change either. Have youever tried to convert a preacher? Ifyou haven’t, you ought to attempt itsome day just to see how hard it is toconvert a “man of the cloth.”Preachers are some of the mostcalloused idolaters of all. They knowthey speak nonsense ... but they don’tcare. Also, they are extremelyprotective of their acquired status,and refuse to consider anything,including truth, that might threatenthat status.

This was the case with Simon. Hewatched Philip and thought tohimself, “This fellow has somepowers and tricky techniques that Icould really use. He puts on a greatshow – even better than mine. If Istick around, I could probably learnhis tricks and it would help MYministry.”

Shortly, we’ll see how Simonshows his true colors – like a typicalpreacher.

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QUESTION: Do you think itis wrong for a person to behappy and uplifted by amessage from a preacher?What’s wrong with thesincere man of Godbringing an uplifting,inspiring and entertainingmessage of hope? Do youthink all preachers aretricksters?


ACTS 8:14-17RECEIVING HOLYSPIRIT

Now when the apostles inJerusalem heard that Samariahad accepted the word of God,they sent Peter and John tothem:

Who, when they were comedown, prayed for them, thatthey might receive holy spirit.

(For it had not yet fallen uponany of them: but they had onlybeen baptized into the name ofthe Lord Jesus.)

Then they put their hands onthem, and they beganreceiving holy spirit.

HE Samaritans accepted thegood news of the Kingdom.The word, “accepted,”

conveys the meaning of beingconvinced and not merely hearing aspeech. When the apostles inJerusalem heard of this, they sentPeter and John to assist Philip. Thescripture says they laid their hands onthe people and prayed for them toreceive holy spirit (KJV has “HolyGhost” with capitals added, wronglyimplying that holy spirit is a person).The idiom “lay hands on” impliesmore than just touching. It impliesalso “working with” or “teaching” thepeople.

Verse 16 casts a different light ontraditional thoughts about how peoplereceive holy spirit. It is sometimesassumed that baptism automaticallyputs holy spirit in a person. But,obviously, that was not the case here.Things aren’t always categorized oreasily structured like that.

Ordinarily, people do receive holyspirit BEFORE they ask for baptism.It is normally a part of the conversionprocess. However, it is possible tolearn of the need for baptism, or bepursuaded of it, before receiving holyspirit.

Usually, holy spirit provides themotive for baptism. But, in this case,there were some Samarians who gotbaptized before receiving holy spirit.That is where Peter and John came in.They helped Philip by praying for therecently baptized. They laid theirhands on them (commissioned them),and they received holy spirit (spirit ofseparation from the world).

This shows that the baptism andinspiration processes don’t alwayshappen in exactly the same way. Italso indicates that receiving one’scommission can be the catalyst thatbrings the spirit to life in him.

T

QUESTION: Isn’t the act ofbaptism just a ritual? Can’tpeople have holy spirit andfollow Jesus without goingthrough this religious ritual?

QUESTION: Does this thatyou are discussing haveanything to do with the term“Baptism of the HolySpirit”?

ACTS 8:18-24 “THE RIGHT STUFF” CANNOT BE BOUGHT WITH MONEY

When Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the spirit was given, he offered themmoney,

Saying, Give me also this authority, that on whomever I lay hands, he may receive holy spirit.

But Peter said to him, Let you and your silver perish together, because you presumed to buy the giftof God with money.

You have neither part nor lot in this communication: for your heart is not right with God.

Repent therefore from your wickedness in this, and pray the Lord if the thought of your heart may bepurged.


For I perceive you are in the gall of bitterness, and bound ininiquity.

But Simon answered and said, Pray to the Lord for me, thatnothing should come upon me of which you spoke.

Simon was a showman. He cameoff as a great power of God becauseof his showmanship and ability totrick people. Preachers fit thiscategory. Preachers prophesy inJesus’ name, and they make greatpretense about miracles of “saving”people, “healing” people, etc. Theyappear to do many wonderful works.We’ve seen how the Book of Actsexposes man’s machinations. Itexposes religious con artists too.

In Matthew 22:9 Jesus also relateda parable of a wedding whose invitedguests refused to come.Consequently, invitations werehanded out on the streets to anyonewho would come:

9. Go therefore into the streets, andas many as you find, invite to themarriage.

10. So those servants went out intothe streets, and gathered together allas many as they found, both bad andgood: and the wedding was furnishedwith guests.

11. And when the king came in to seethe guests, he saw there a man whowasn’t wearing a wedding garment:

Matthew 22:9-11

Appropriate wedding apparel wasworn by guests to show respect fortheir hosts. One guest chose to notwear wedding apparel, thus insultingthe bride and groom and theirfamilies. The guest was rude,insincere and dishonest.

12. And he said to him, Friend, howdid you get in here not having awedding garment? But he didn’tanswer.

13. Then said the king to theservants, Bind him hand and foot,and take him away, and cast him into

outer darkness; there shall beweeping and gnashing of teeth.

14. For the called are many, but thecalled-out are few.

Matthew 22:12-14

Likewise, Simon was invited to awedding (the marriage of the Lamb).But he was insincere (he wore thewrong garment). Peter told him thathe had “no part nor lot in it.”

The term “wedding garment” verylikely refers to spirit. The offendingguest in the parable had the wrongspirit – otherwise he would havedressed correctly for the wedding. Hecame for the wrong reason. Hismotives were wrong. The same thingis true of Simon. His reasons werewrong. He had the wrong garment on– the wrong motive. In verse 22, “thethought of your heart” is another wayof saying “your spirit,” or “ yourmotive.”

Simon was “bound in iniquity” –a condition of being completelylocked in to a fault. In this we can seethe typical preacher. He lies tomaintain his image of being someonegreat – like Simon. Since they lieweek after week, preachers learn tolie without feeling remorse. Just likea politician, lying no longer effectstheir conscience. The Bible calls thisalteration of morality “a consciencethat has been seared over.” They alsodevelop what the Bible calls a “heartof stone,” which is incapable ofsincerity or holiness.

Now, because he had developedthis “heart of stone,” Simon didn’thide his face in shame. He wasn’tsorry that he had led the peoplewrong and lied to them and broughtshame upon them. He wasn’tconcerned about anybody buthimself.

Well, Simon didn’t drop dead justthen, but he was exposed as acharlatan and the people could seethrough him.

Following this encounter with thepreacher, Philip, Peter and Johnheaded back toward Jerusalem.

IMON figured thateverything had it’s price, andif a person has enough money

he can get anything he wants …including holy spirit. That’s typicalBabylonian strategy, and it oftenworks. Some people think they canbuy anything with money. But somethings just can’t be bought!

Clearly, Simon had not beenconverted. He had not changed. Hewas still the same old reprobate thathe was before … still looking forways to trick and exploit.

Simon’s case brings to mind twoother cases related by Jesus. Thesetwo cases also show the distinctdifference between one who gives theappearance of conversion, and onewho is sincerely converted. Here isthe first case:

21. Not every one that says to me,Lord, Lord, shall enter into thekingdom of heaven; but he that doesthe will of my Father which is inheaven.

22. Many will say to me in that day,Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied inyour name? and in your name havecast out devils? and in your namedone many wonderful works?

23. And then will I declare to them, Inever knew you: depart from me, youwho work lawlessness.

Matthew 7:21-23

Simon believed and got baptized,but he didn’t enter into the kingdomof heaven. Believing and beingbaptized obviously is not enough.Sincerity is required – for, accordingto James 2:20-22, one’s faith isdefined by his actions. Also,according to John 3:5, one must notonly be baptized in water, he mustalso have holy spirit before he canenter the kingdom of heaven.

S


ACTS 8:25-28 THE EUNUCH: A CHAMBERLAIN

Having witnessed earnestly and spoken the word of the Lord, theywere returning toward Jerusalem and declaring the good news inmany villages of the Samaritans.

And a messenger of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, Arise, andgo southward on the road that goes down from Jerusalem intoGaza, which is desolate.

And he arose and went: and he saw an Ethiopian eunuch, a manof power under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had thecharge of all her treasury, who had gone to worship in Jerusalem,

And he was returning, and sitting in his chariot reading theprophet Isaiah.

HILIP was returning toJerusalem when a messengerof the Lord told him to go to

Gaza (scripture does not indicatewhether the messenger wassupernatural or natural). Gaza issouthwest of Jerusalem … betweenJudea and the coastline.

As Philip traveled southwesttowards Gaza, he met an Ethiopianeunuch.

By traditional definition, a eunuchis a man who has been castrated. But,the Greek word also designates,according to Strong’s Concordance, a

type of servant usually called a“chamberlain.” A chamberlain is anofficer who is held in subordinationunder a ruler or a superior officer. Soa eunuch doesn’t always have to bean emasculated male.

“Chamberlain” fits in this casebecause this particular man was incharge of the treasury of QueenCandace. Also, this particularchamberlain had gone to Jerusalem toworship, so this suggests that the manmay have been an Israelite. WhenPhilip happened along, the eunuchwas returning from Jerusalem, andsitting in his chariot reading Isaiah.

HE EUNUCH asked Philipto sit down and explainIsaiah to him. He needed the

help of some man who understoodScripture to guide him.

This contradicts people whowould say that the Bible is easy tounderstand. For instance, have youever heard somebody say, “The Bibleis written so that any child can readand understand it”?

In fact, no one can just open theBible, give it a cursory reading, andimmediately understand what it says.The truth is, the Bible is not anelementary text book. It is a book thatrequires much study to beunderstood. It is a compilation ofancient writings, taken from ancientdocuments. To understand it youneed to know the historicalbackground behind the people,places, words and events in the Bible.It isn’t easy to understand. It requirestime and effort. The eunuch was aneducated man of high position underQueen Candace, and yet, he couldn’tunderstand the Bible without help!

Philip was obviously sent there bythe Lord to explain to him what hewas reading. And the eunuch had thegood sense to ask for help.

P

ACTS 8:29-31 UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLE

Then the spirit said to Philip, Go near, and stay close to thischariot.

And Philip, ran up to him and heard him reading the prophetIsaiah. And (Philip) said, Do you then understand what you arereading?

And he (the eunuch) said, How can I, except some man shouldguide me? And he asked Philip if he would sit with him.

T

QUESTION: Most peopleare busy trying to earn aliving. They don’t have thetime or the talents tobecome skillful in theunderstanding of the Bible.They depend on someonelike a pastor who has thetalent and can spend mostof his time studying andunderstanding the Bible.How can they know if thepastor, preacher, ministeror whoever is leading themastray or is actually tellingthem the truth?


PONDER THIS: What about those people who think they have all the answers? They have been indoctrinatedso well with the established doctrines of the churches that they no longer have an open mind to learninganything different. Instead of discussing Biblical issues with you, they give you stock answers which usually endthe discussions. Even if we think we understand much about the Bible, we should still keep a spirit of inquirylike the Ethiopian eunuch had … and be open to new insights.

ACTS 8:32-35 THESUFFERING SAVIOR

The passage of scripture hewas reading was this, As asheep he was led to slaughter,and voiceless as a lambbefore his shearer, thus he didnot open his mouth;

In his affliction his judgmentwas lifted away. Who of hisgeneration will accuratelydeclare it? for his life is takenfrom the land.

And the eunuch answeredPhilip, and asked, I pray thee,about whom is the prophetsaying this? about himself, orabout some other man?

Then Philip opened his mouth,and began at the samescripture, and declared thegood news of Jesus to him.

7. He was oppressed, and he wasafflicted, yet he did not open hismouth: he was led as a lamb to theslaughter, and as a sheep before hershearers is mute, so he opens not hismouth.

8. He was taken from prison and fromjustice: and who shall consider hisgeneration? for he was cut off out ofthe land of the living: for thetransgression of my people was hestricken.

Isaiah 53:7,8

Obviously, the reference in Acts 8is not a literal quote from Isaiah, butrather a loose rendition.

The fifty-third chapter of Isaiahforetells the sorrows and frustrationsChrist was to undergo. He was treatedlike an animal – like a sheep beforeits shearers. It is a good exercise toread Isaiah 53 anytime you think youfeel sorry for yourself. Compare yourafflictions with the afflictions ofChrist and yours will seeminsignificant.

In Acts 8:34 the eunuch asksPhilip to tell him who Isaiah wasspeaking about? Was he speaking ofhimself, or was he speaking ofsomeone else? The eunuch wassincerely interested. Verse 35 tells usthat Philip explained Isaiah 53 andtold him about Jesus and theredemption of Israel.

Philip explained the prophecy ofthe suffering, misunderstood Savior.And, it is interesting to note thatJesus is STILL misunderstood bymost people. The churches certainlydo not portray Him correctly.

Some things today are the same asthen. For instance, before the time ofJesus, the Pharisees of the area of

Jerusalem believed in a “comingmessiah.” They also believed thatIsaiah’s prophecy referred to thismessiah. However, when the Messiahactually came they didn’t like Him.When Jesus showed up as theMessiah, the Pharisees rejected,hated, and murdered Him. Pharisaismpreferred the doctrine of A COMINGMESSIAH.

A PRESENT MESSIAH simplydidn’t fit their agenda.

By the same token, churches todaystill can’t accept the present and trueMessiah. They prefer to believe in amessiah who stays away in outerspace ("heaven”). Churches teach ofa “coming Messiah” (i.e., Futurism) –not a “present Messiah.” They can’tdeal with Him up-close, so they putHim off in outer space.

When the unwanted Messiahappeared on the scene in Jerusalem,the Pharisees needed a way to get ridof Him. This entailed, among otherthings, amending their formerinterpretation of Isaiah 53. Theirrevised interpretation, whichcontinues to be taught to this day,claims that Isaiah was only referringto a contemporary deliverer. Also, amodern theory holds that the messiahwill manifest in a composite entitymade up of the Jewish people as agroup. Of course, this is ludicrous.The Jews of today aren’t even thesame race as the Israelites of theBible. And the idea of a large groupof people constituting a SINGLEmessiah is silly. Nonetheless, a bigfaction of Jewish people todaybelieve that they, together, constitutethat “suffering messiah.”

This doctrine is revealed in theBabylonian Talmud – the teachingsof Judaism.

HILIP heard the eunuchreading from the book ofIsaiah. But Acts does not tell

us chapter and verse because at thattime the Scriptures had not yet beendivided into chapter and verse.(Chapters and verses weren’t addeduntil the Geneva Bible … printed inthe 1500’s.) Today, however, wewould recognize the passage asIsaiah 53:7-8.

P


ACTS 8:36-40 THE BAPTISM OF THE ETHIOPIAN EUNUCH

And as they were going down the road, they approached some water: and the eunuch said, See,here is water; what is preventing me to be baptized?

And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down into the water, both Philip and theeunuch; and he baptized him.

And when they came up out of the water, the spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, and the eunuchdid not see him any more: and he went on his way rejoicing.

But Philip was found at Ashdod: and passing through he declared good news to all the cities, till hecame to Caesarea.

PPARENTLY, Philip’sconversation with the eunuchcovered more than just Isaiah

53, because he not only began tounderstand the gospel … he alsobegan to understand the need forbaptism. Therefore, coming alongbeside some water – probably a lakeor a stream – the eunuch said, “Here’swater. Why can’t I be baptized righthere?”

He and Philip walked down intothe water. This, of course, depictsbaptism by immersion – NOTsprinkling. In religious circles thereare still arguments of whetherbaptism should be by immersion orby sprinkling. I don’t see howanybody can possibly read anythingin this passage other than immersion.It clearly states that Philip and thechamberlain walked down into thewater. Obviously, the water had to bedeep enough to immerse the eunuch.

In verse 39, where it says thatPhilip was “caught away,” it doesn’t

mean that Philip was invisiblybeamed away ... as some preachersteach.

Interestingly, in other scripturalcontexts we find the phrase “caughtaway” understood correctly. “Caughtaway,” here, is simply an idiommeaning that Philip was motivated bythe Lord to leave the eunuch and gosomewhere else – much the same ashe was motivated to come to theeunuch in the first place. It’s obviousthat Philip traveled on to Ashdod afew miles away.

Ashdod, by the way, is abouttwenty miles north of Gaza. So thiswas on Philip’s way down towardGaza.

Thus ends chapter eight. Inchapter nine we’ll read about theconversion of Saul, better known tous now as Paul – the man who wasresponsible for most of the NewTestament letters (books, as we callthem).

Today, amidst a new frenzy of

A

QUESTION: If the act ofsprinkling babies is nottrue baptism, then is“dedicating” babies to theLord an acceptablesubstitute until thechildren grow up?

END OF CHAPTER EIGHT

FOR ANSWERS AND NOTES, SEE THE FOLLOWING "ANSWER SECTION."

denunciation and slander about theApostle Paul, and the Bible itself, thestudy of the events in Paul’s life maybe of heightened interest. As Biblestudents, we should have incentive toreally learn what actually transpiredin Paul’s life in the book of Acts.Each time you read the account ofPaul’s conversion you can’t help butbe amazed by it. And each time youstudy the Book of Acts, you are aptto see more in that story than you hadseen before.


ANSWERS & COMMENTSTHE ACTS OF THE APOSTLESCHAPTER EIGHT:

POINTS TO REMEMBER:

1. Over the centuries, churches havetwisted the image of Jesus … re-making Him into a religious myth.Jesus was NOT “religious” – at leastnot in the way the term is used today.

2. The real enemies of Jesus, and Hisdisciples, can be easily determinedby simply asking who persecuted andmurdered them. It was the churchesand the governments.

3. Jerusalem bears the guilt ofmurdering Jesus. However, as thegospel spread to other regions thesame battles erupted there as well.Disciples took the gospel to onenation after another only to find thesame persecution from churches andgovernments.

4. The gospel of the kingdom hadNOTHING to do with religion. It hadto do with truth, freedom, and faith inGod. The ecclesian community isheld together by faith and love: faithin God and love for your neighbor.

5. The only hope for America, or anynation, is to stop honoring andemulating Babylon. That means wemust have faith in God rather than inman’s government. Man’s govern-ment can NEVER be trusted.

6. Neither Jerusalem nor Romepersecuted religion (i.e., churches).Rather, the persecution was alwaysaimed at the Reign of Christ (trueChristianity) as seen in the ecclesiancommunities.

7. Religious hucksters and con menhave created the huge religiousindustry manifested in churchestoday. They play upon superstition,weaknesses, and character flaws ofthe people. They give answers thatare quick but wrong. Unfortunately,

throughout history people havetended to be amused by lies andtrickery, instead of being angry. Thus,religious and political liars andtricksters abound.

8. ”Spirit” is inspiration or motivation.It is NOT a person. “Holy” meansseparate. Thus, “holy spirit” meansMOTIVATION TO BE SEPARATEAND CALLED OUT. (2 Cor. 6:17).

9. The eunuch, in Acts 8, may or maynot have been emasculated. He wasprobably a “chamberlain.”

10. Like the eunuch who asked forhelp in learning the meaning ofscripture, we also should seek helpwhere needed. However, the finalresponsibility of deciding right fromwrong is ours personally. Seekinghelp is OK. But, accepting answerswithout testing them is idolatry.

11. The Pharisees wanted anabsentee messiah that was “to come”in the future. They didn’t like Himwhen He actually showed up. By thesame token, churches today wantJesus to be waiting in outerspace.They don’t want Him to be present.

ANSWERS:

pg.4

“Militant” is probably the wrong word.Jesus WAS a man of action. He livedan active and dangerous life, anddied a violent death. Jesus LOVEDHis people … enough to die for them.“Love” cannot be expressed withoutaction. Passivists will not defend andprotect those they profess to love –therefore, they cannot know “love” –only convenience. The terms“passive” and “non-violent” are oftenjust euphemisms for “cowardice” and“faithlessnes.”

pg. 5

a) Taking God’s law into our ownhands is exactly what Scripturecommands. Lawlessness and chaoshave resulted from abdicating ourpersonal responsibility to do so. Byabdicating our responsibility, andhanding it over to “government,”we’ve committed idolatry and treasonagainst God.

b) There are many advantages toworking together and cooperatingwith fellow Christians. However, itshould be voluntary participation ...like a co-op … not forced.

States” & “nations” are notformed by people volunteering to gettogether and unifying. They areformed by military force arranged bybankers and politicians.

pg. 7

a) The Roman Empire, and nearlyevery “empire” in history were tolerantto religion. In fact, they usuallypromoted and sanctioned religion –the same as governments todaysanction churches of all kinds.Churches did not suffer under Romanrule. In fact, the followers of Christwere often accused of being“athiests” because they would not jointhe Roman pagan churches.

Rome, and Jerusalem,persecuted Christianity … notchurches.

b) God is not in a battle! Nothingchallenges God! Man fights. Goddoesn’t.

For a good explanation of thequestion of “good angels -vs- badangels,” as well as the “Satan”doctrine, the following books arerecommended – available from ACM:

SPIRITS ON TRIAL – by Ben Williams

($8.50)

GIVE THE DEVIL HIS DUE – by Sheldon

Emry ($10)

THE BIBLE DEVIL DEFINED – ($6.50)

WHO THE DEVIL IS SATAN – by Francis

Christin ($6.50)


pg. 8

There is nothing wrong with beinghappy and uplifted by the word ofGod. However, being uplifted oramused by lies is different.Neither Jesus nor his apostles wereentertainers, showmen or promoters.They did not strut around on stages.Their purpose was NOT to entertainand pacify people ... but rather tobring truth and awaken people.

pg. 9

a) Yes, it is possible – in fact, ithappens often. However, like awedding ceremony, the baptismceremony is important in that itmakes a public and personalstatement and marks a major changein one’s life. Jesus’s answer to Johnthe Baptist was, “Let it be, this time,for it is suitable for us to fulfill allrighteousness.”

b) “Baptism in holy spirit” means tobe greatly inspired by God. “Baptism”means “immersion.” Being“immersed” (engulfed – as in water)by inspiration and motivation causes

an urgency to separate yourself fromthe world and to address the work setbefore you.

pg. 11

Teachers or leaders (whether theyare called ‘pastors,” “ministers,”“chiefs,” "elders,” “patriarchs,” orwhatever) can be very good andhelpful as long as they are not “rulers”or “lawmakers.” In fact, they will makemistakes ... but limited in scope andnot catastrophic. It is NOT the honestmistakes that ruin a society. Rather, itis the deliberate deceptions andattacks from government andbanking. Ignorance, alone, is not thegreat villain. Rather, it is the cleverdesigns of devils in politics, bankingand churches that destroy us.

Teachers and leaders must notbe taken for granted. Blind trust isstupid. They should be trusted ONLYafter earning your trust. And theyshould keep your trust ONLY if theycontinue to deserve it. Titles andshowmanship mean NOTHING.Leaders should make goodjudgments and decisions, and offergood advice. Otherwise, they shouldnot be considered leaders!

pg. 13

Sprinkling babies is not baptism. And,the practice of dedicating babies tothe Lord has no significance tobaptism.

The tradition of dedicating babiesis just that – a tradition. In manycases, it amounts to nothing morethan simply praying for the infant’ssafety and success in life.

However, in cases where theparticipants may be superstitious oroverly bound by tradition and ritualthe practice can conceivably becomeconfusing and detrimental.

We should be careful what wesay – especially in prayer. If we meanto actually “dedicate” a child, weshould carefully consider what itmeans. If we only want prayer for thechild’s guidance and happiness, thenthat is what we should pray for.

NOTES:


AMERICAN CHRISTIAN MINISTRIESPO BOX 740 • GRANGEVILLE, IDAHO 83530

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