Acts 8:4-8 - They preached the word wherever they went

8:4,5

Philip was one of the seven chosen to serve at tables, clearly this did not impinge on him serving in a much wider sense. The church was scattered and persecuted, but this did not stop God’s plan, rather it fulfilled it! For the church preached the word wherever they went. Samaria and Israel were, humanly speaking, implacable enemies. So the gospel going there, and the events we will read of later, are of great significance. One of things that it demonstrates is that the gospel is for everyone, it knows no cultural barriers.

8:6-8

Philip was not an apostle, yet he performed signs. This included casting out demons, miraculous healings. While it is true that the miracles in Acts are often associated with the apostles, they are not exclusively so. Any argument that seeks to support cessationism on the grounds that the gifts were only for the apostles, or were in some way intrinsically linked with the apostles, is on very shaky ground. “So there was great joy in that city”. The gospel should lead to repentance, it will often encounter opposition and persecution, but it should also bring great joy. For while our eternal salvation is the most important fruit of the gospel, it has enormous effects now.