From the great city revival in Samaria Philip was led to the desert to minister to one seeking soul. It seems strange that God should be able to spare him from his busy and fruitful ministry in Samaria; but probably the comparative retirement was needed for soul and body after the strain of that successful campaign. How certain these Spirit-filled men were of the heavenly impulse! Every appearance suggested that this man of God was needed in the city, but the inner voice was the deciding factor, and his journey was so timed as to bring him in contact with a soul that was groping its way toward Christ.
The Bible is good as a traveling companion. Take it on your journeys. Read it as other men do their newspapers; not exclusively but boldly. There are many stories afloat of bullets being stopped by pocket Testaments; and it is certain that many a desperate thrust of the devil has been warded off by the Word of God being hidden in the heart and worn as a breastplate. Live in touch with God, and He will put you in touch with souls. This conversion of a son of Ham was a worthy fulfillment of Isaiah 56:3-8. [source]
Chapter Summary: Acts 8
1By occasion of the persecution in Jerusalem, the church being planted in Samaria, 4by Philip the deacon, who preached, did miracles, and baptized many; 9among the rest Simon the sorcerer, a great seducer of the people; 14Peter and John come to confirm and enlarge the church; 15where, by prayer and imposition of hands giving the Holy Spirit; 18when Simon would have bought the like power of them, 20Peter sharply reproving his hypocrisy and covetousness, 22and exhorting him to repentance, 25together with John preaching the word of the Lord, return to Jerusalem; 26but the angel sends Philip to teach and baptize the Ethiopian Eunuch
Greek Commentary for Acts 8:29
Join thyself [κολλητητι] See this vivid word (be glued to, first aorist passive imperative) already in Acts 5:13; Luke 10:11; Luke 15:15. Philip probably jumped on the running board on the side of the chariot. [source]
Acts 5:13Join himself [κολλᾶσθαι] See on Luke 15:15; and Luke 10:11. In all but two instances (Romans 12:9; 1 Corinthians 6:17), the word implies a forced, unnatural, or unexpected union. Thus Philip would not, without a special command, have “joined himself” to the chariot of the Ethiopian prince (Acts 8:29). Saul's attempt to join himself to the apostles was regarded by them with suspicion (Acts 9:26); and the fact that certain persons “clave to” Paul in Athens is expressly contrasted with the attitude of the citizens at large. The sense of an unnatural union comes out clearly in 1 Corinthians 6:16. [source]
Acts 17:34Clave unto him and believed [κολλητεντες αυτωι επιστευσαν] First aorist passive of this strong word κολλαω kollaō to glue to, common in Acts (Acts 5:13; Acts 8:29; Acts 9:26; Acts 10:28) No sermon is a failure which leads a group of men (ανδρες andres) to believe (ingressive aorist of πιστευω pisteuō) in Jesus Christ. Many so-called great or grand sermons reap no such harvest. [source]
Greek Commentary for Acts 8:29
See this vivid word (be glued to, first aorist passive imperative) already in Acts 5:13; Luke 10:11; Luke 15:15. Philip probably jumped on the running board on the side of the chariot. [source]
See on Luke 15:15; and Luke 10:11; and Acts 5:12. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 8:29
See on Luke 15:15; and Luke 10:11. In all but two instances (Romans 12:9; 1 Corinthians 6:17), the word implies a forced, unnatural, or unexpected union. Thus Philip would not, without a special command, have “joined himself” to the chariot of the Ethiopian prince (Acts 8:29). Saul's attempt to join himself to the apostles was regarded by them with suspicion (Acts 9:26); and the fact that certain persons “clave to” Paul in Athens is expressly contrasted with the attitude of the citizens at large. The sense of an unnatural union comes out clearly in 1 Corinthians 6:16. [source]
First aorist passive of this strong word κολλαω kollaō to glue to, common in Acts (Acts 5:13; Acts 8:29; Acts 9:26; Acts 10:28) No sermon is a failure which leads a group of men (ανδρες andres) to believe (ingressive aorist of πιστευω pisteuō) in Jesus Christ. Many so-called great or grand sermons reap no such harvest. [source]