The eighth chapter of Acts is a historic narrative. It records a brief, but very important segment of church history, showing us how the early church endured persecution from its beginning. This chapter also records the rapid spread of the gospel of Christ from Jerusalem to Samaria and to Africa. However, this inspired, historical narrative was not designed by the Holy Spirit simply to satisfy our curiosity about the history of the early church. Like all other parts of Holy Scripture, this historical narrative was written to give us spiritual instruction in the gospel of Christ. Five lessons taught in the first twenty-five verses of this chapter demand the attention of all who are concerned for their immortal souls, the souls of perishing sinners, and the glory of God.

First, THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST IS AN OFFENSE TO MEN (vv. 1-4). This is a lesson often repeated in the Book of Acts. We need to be frequently reminded of it. The offense of the cross has not ceased (Gal. 5:11). To those who believe not, the cross (the doctrine of free justification through Christ, the sinner's Substitute) is not only foolishness (I Cor. 1:21-25), it is an aggravating offense that stirs up the wrath of man. Any man, any church, and group of men who faithfully preach RUIN BY THE FALL (The total depravity of the whole human race), REDEMPTION BY THE BLOOD (The effectual atonement of Christ for the sins of his people), and REGENERATION BY THE HOLY SPIRIT (Life and faith in Christ as gifts of God's sovereign, irresistible grace), will meet with relentless opposition from lost, religious men.

Secondly, THE LORD OUR GOD HAS A PEOPLE WHOM HE WILL SAVE (vv. 5-12). The gospel of Christ has never been popularly received by men. It has always been in the minority. Human opinion and religious tradition have always been opposed to the message of God's free and sovereign grace in Christ. Most people who hear the gospel preached in the power of the Holy Spirit go on to hell as though they had never heard the message of redeeming blood and saving grace. But the purpose of God is not frustrated. God has a people whom he will save (Rom. 3:3-4; Acts 18:10). His elect are scattered among all nations and through all generations; but they shall be saved. God will gather his own to himself (Jer. 32:37-40). Not one of God's elect shall perish. Not one of those redeemed by Christ shall be lost in the end (John 6:37-40).

Thirdly, GOD ALWAYS CAUSES THE SINNER HE HAS PURPOSED TO SAVE TO HEAR THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST (v. 4). The preaching of the gospel is, in the purpose of God, as necessary for the salvation of sinners as election, redemption, and regeneration (Rom. 10:13-17; James 1:18; I Pet. 1:23-25). By the wondrous, mysterious workings of providence God always brings his elect to hear the gospel at his appointed time. He rules and overrules all things for the salvation of his chosen (John 17:2). He even allows reprobate men to persecute and scatter his church that they may be forced to carry the word of grace to chosen, redeemed sinners!

Fourthly, ALL SUPERNATURAL, APOSTOLIC GIFTS CEASED WITH THE APOSTLES (vv. 14-17). Though Philip had received and exercised the miraculous gifts of the Spirit (v. 6-7), he was not able to communicate them to anyone. Only the Apostles could communicate the gifts of the Spirit to others. If no one but an apostle could communicate these gifts to men, (No one else ever did!), then the gifts must have ceased once the apostles had all died. When the gifts were no longer needed they ceased to be. They were needed to prove the credibility of the apostles as the messengers of Christ (Heb. 2:3-4). But since we now have the complete, perfect Revelation of God, (the Bible), there is no need for the imperfect, temporary signs the apostles possessed (I Cor. 13:10; II Pet. 1:19-21).

Fifthly, WHEREVER THE GOSPEL IS PREACHED BOTH TRUE BELIEVERS AND CARNAL PROFESSORS OF FAITH WILL BE FOUND (vv. 12, 13, 20, 21). Every church is a mixed multitude of true believers and false professors. Wherever Christ plants wheat, satan plants tares (Matt. 13:24-30). Wherever the Lord gathers his sheep, satan gathers some goats. Along with those who were truly born again by the Spirit of God, Simon Magus professed to believe. But of him Peter said, "Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God." Simon believed the same doctrine the others believed. He was baptized like the rest. He certainly saw and recognized the power of the Holy Spirit. But Simon had one fatal deficiency. His heart was false! His heart was not right in the sight of God. He was a hypocrite at heart. By profession he was a believer, but at heart he was an infidel.

Is your heart right in the sight of God? It is not enough that we believe the truth, worship God in the correct manner, and obey his commands. Our faith, worship, and obedience must arise from a true heart, a heart that is right in the sight of God. The Puritan, Thomas Manton, once said, "Though thou pray with the Pharisee, pay thy vows with the harlot, kiss Christ with Judas, offer sacrifice with Cain, fast with Jezebel, sell thine inheritance to give to the poor with Ananias and Sapphira, all is vain without the heart, for it is the heart that enliveneth all our duties."

First and foremost God requires our hearts (Prov. 23:26; 4:23). Christianity is a religion of the heart. It is a heart union with the Son of God. Man by nature is content with an outward form of religion: doctrinal knowledge, a moral code, works of righteousness, ritualism, ceremonialism, and emotionalism. But God requires heart worship and heart obedience. The state of a person's soul depends upon the condition of his heart (Prov. 23:7). God looks not at our religious works, but at our hearts (I Sam. 16:7; Prov. 21:2). He "weigheth the spirits." He says, "I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins" (Jer. 17:10). We may give God a bowed head, a serious look, a strict adherence to religious duty, faithful attendance at the house of worship, and a firm commitment to doctrinal truth, but until we give him our hearts our religion is an abomination to him (Isa. 1:10-15; 66:2-3; Lk. 16:45).

Salvation is a heart work (Psa. 51:17). It is "Christ in you the hope of glory." All those things spoken of as essential to salvation are matters of the heart: Conviction (Acts 2:37), Repentance (Lk. 13:3), and Faith (Acts 8:37). But all men and women by nature have an evil heart of unbelief, departing from the living God (Eccles. 9:3; Jer. 17:9; Gen. 6:5; Matt. 15:19). The one common way the Holy Spirit identifies the heart of men is by calling it "a stony heart" (Ezek. 11:19). "A stony heart" is a hard, cold, barren, dead heart.

Only God the Holy Spirit can make a man's heart right in the sight of God. Only he can open the heart. Only he can reveal Christ in the heart. Only he can create in you a new heart. David was a man after God's own heart (Acts 13:22), because God had given him - A new heart (Ezek. 36:26; II Cor. 5:17) - A broken and contrite heart (Psa. 51:17) - A heart of faith in Christ (II Sam. 23:5; Rom. 10:10) - A praying heart (II Sam. 7:27) - A heart of gratitude and love for Christ (Psa. 34:1-10). A heart that is right in the sight of God is a heart in which there is a constant warfare with sin (Psa. 73; Gal. 5:17; Rom. 7:14-24); but it is a heart that honors God and seeks his glory above everything else (Psa. 51:1-4; 40:16).