Acts 8 Footnotes

8:1 Since the persecution of the Jerusalem church did not target the apostles, its focus was probably on Hellenistic Jewish Christians—a fact consistent with Jerusalem’s continuing to remain Hebraic Christianity’s focal point.

8:9 Though Simon Magus was well known in post-apostolic Christianity as a heretic and the founder of Gnosticism, little can be drawn from this brief reference. Although he was baptized, his belief seems inadequate, being fixated on signs and miracles (vv. 13,18). Peter later discerned that Simon’s heart was not right before God (v. 21).

8:32-33 Reading aloud was commonly practiced in the ancient world; only centuries later did reading to oneself become more common. The Ethiopian was reading Is 53:7-8 (probably in Gk). Philip pointed to Jesus as the Servant who suffered humanity’s sins.

8:38-39 Baptism—an outward, visible response indicating acceptance of the gospel—was apparently by immersion. Later copyists added the Ethiopian’s explicit response of faith (v. 37).