KEYS TO UNDERSTANDING

• Samaria:  The province which joined Judea on the North.  Jesus asked that the gospel be preached there (See Acts 1:8).
  
• Sorcery:  The use of magic with a claim to divine or supernatural powers.  Simon's "miracles" were fake.
  
• Eunuch:  A word sometime used to describe any male official on the staff of a Queen.
  

CONTENTS OF THE CHAPTER
The sight of Stephen's blood (Chapter 7) only stirred the enemies of Jesus to greater persecution of His followers.  Their viciousness drove the believers out of Jerusalem, but they preached Jesus wherever they went.
Phillip (another one of the seven men appointed to serve tables in chapter 6) went to a city of Samaria and found the people following Simon, a sorcerer.  The true miracles of Philip were so impressive compared to the magic of Simon, that the people believed Philip's message about Jesus and many were baptized, including Simon.
Peter and John (apostles) came to Samaria to impart the Holy Spirit by laying their hands on of the believers (vs. 18).  Simon offered them money for this power and was severely rebuked.
Soon after this, Philip was sent by an angel to the South where he encountered an Ethiopian eunuch riding in his chariot and reading a prophecy from Isaiah, chapter 53.   Philip explained that Jesus was the one of whom the prophet was speaking.  The eunuch believed this and was baptized at a place where there was water near the road.  When they separated, Philip journeyed on up the coast preaching.

NOW READ ACTS CHAPTER 8 CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS.