Onward & Inward the Gospel Goes (Acts 8:4-40)

At the beginning of Acts (1:8), Jesus tells the disciples that the kingdom is going to expand out from Jerusalem, to Judea, to Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 8 is the breaking of the border between Jew and Gentile, the Samaritan in-breaking. In this scene, we will see faithful and Spirit-filled Philip bring the gospel to the Samaritans. Many lives are changed, but we see a stark example of how NOT to respond to the gospel in Simon the Sorcerer. He is meant to shock us into real belief - the power of Jesus is to save and to bring into covenant. It is not a tool for our glory. But then we will see the glorious gospel breaking into yet another unexpected place, a eunuch from Ethiopia, who truly believes and is baptized. The gospel is breaking into new and unexpected places. It does the same today!