Acts 8:5 kjv
Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
Acts 8:5 nkjv
Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them.
Acts 8:5 niv
Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there.
Acts 8:5 esv
Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ.
Acts 8:5 nlt
Philip, for example, went to the city of Samaria and told the people there about the Messiah.
Acts 8 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 8:5 | Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed Christ to them. | Acts 8:1 |
| Mark 1:15 | And saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel." | Mark 1:15 |
| Luke 24:47 | and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem. | Luke 24:47 |
| John 4:30 | So they went out of the city and were coming to him. | John 4:30 |
| John 4:39 | Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman's testimony, who had said, "He told me all that I ever did." | John 4:39 |
| Acts 1:8 | But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the world.” | Acts 1:8 |
| Acts 10:34-35 | So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. | Acts 10:34-35 |
| Acts 11:19-20 | Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. But some men of Cyprus and Cyrene, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. | Acts 11:19-20 |
| 1 Corinthians 1:23 | but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, | 1 Corinthians 1:23 |
| Galatians 3:28 | There is neither Jew nor Greek; there is neither slave nor free; there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. | Galatians 3:28 |
| Philippians 2:11 | and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. | Philippians 2:11 |
| Romans 10:14 | How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? | Romans 10:14 |
| Acts 2:38 | And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. | Acts 2:38 |
| Matthew 28:19-20 | Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” | Matthew 28:19-20 |
| 1 Peter 3:15 | but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, | 1 Peter 3:15 |
| Acts 6:5 | And what was said was pleasing in the sight of the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. | Acts 6:5 |
| John 7:42 | Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring of David, and from Bethlehem the village where David was?” | John 7:42 |
| Zechariah 9:9 | Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem; behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt the foal of a donkey. | Zechariah 9:9 |
| Psalm 22:12-13 | Many bulls encircle me; strong bulls of Bashan surround me. They open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion. | Psalm 22:12-13 |
Acts 8 verses
Acts 8 5 Meaning
Philip, a Hellenistic Jew, descended to the Samaritan city of Samaria. His preaching of the Messiah caused a stir and many people experienced spiritual renewal.
Acts 8 5 Context
This verse occurs within the narrative of the early church's expansion after the ascension of Jesus. Following the persecution that led to Stephen's martyrdom, believers scattered from Jerusalem. Philip, one of the seven Hellenistic deacons chosen to serve the church (Acts 6:5), took the gospel message to Samaria. This was a significant step, as Jews and Samaritans had a long-standing animosity stemming from historical, religious, and political differences. The Samaritans, though descendants of Israelites who remained in the land after the Assyrian exile, had their own religious practices and scriptures (primarily the Pentateuch) and were often viewed with contempt by the Jews of Jesus' day. Philip's mission here directly fulfills Jesus' command to be witnesses in "Samaria" (Acts 1:8).
Acts 8 5 Word Analysis
- Philip (Φίλιππος - Philippos): A common Greek name, meaning "lover of horses." In the New Testament, it refers to one of the twelve apostles and also to one of the seven Hellenistic deacons appointed in Jerusalem. This Philip is the deacon, known for his faithfulness and powerful ministry, especially among the Gentiles.
- went down (κατέβη - katebē): Aorist indicative active of καταβαίνω (katabainō), meaning to descend or go down. Geographically, Jerusalem was situated in the hills, and Samaria was in a lower elevation, hence "went down." It also carries a sense of moving from a more prominent place (Jerusalem) to a different region.
- to (εἰς - eis): A preposition indicating motion into or direction towards a place.
- the city (πόλιν - polin): Accusative singular of πόλις (polis), meaning city. This refers to a specific Samaritan city, though not explicitly named here. Later, chapter 8 specifies Sychar.
- of Samaria (τῆς Σαμαρείας - tēs Samareias): Genitive feminine singular of Σαμαρεία (Samareia), referring to the region of Samaria.
- and proclaimed (καὶ ἐκήρυξεν - kai ekēruxen):
- and (καὶ - kai): A conjunction joining clauses.
- proclaimed (ἐκήρυξεν - ekēruxen): Aorist indicative active of κηρύσσω (kēryssō), meaning to announce publicly, to preach, to herald. This verb often describes the authoritative declaration of news or a message.
- Christ (Χριστὸν - Christon): Accusative singular of Χριστός (Christos), the Greek transliteration of the Hebrew Mashiach (Messiah), meaning "anointed one." Philip preached about Jesus as the promised Messiah, the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy.
- to them (αὐτοῖς - autois): Dative plural pronoun referring back to the inhabitants of the Samaritan city.
Group Analysis
- Philip went down to the city of Samaria: This phrase highlights Philip's mission to a non-Jewish (or at least religiously distinct) community, underscoring the expansion of the gospel beyond Jerusalem and Judea. It reflects obedience to the Great Commission, which included preaching to "all nations."
- and proclaimed Christ to them: This signifies the core message of Philip's ministry – the announcement of Jesus as the Messiah. "Proclaimed" (κήρυξεν - kēryssō) suggests a public, authoritative declaration of this good news.
Acts 8 5 Bonus Section
The ministry of Philip in Samaria demonstrates a foundational principle of the Christian faith: the gospel is for everyone, regardless of their background or previous allegiances. The Samaritans, often shunned by mainstream Judaism, were recipients of Philip's preaching and the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. This outreach challenged ethnic and social prejudices prevalent at the time and reinforced the universality of God's redemptive plan. Philip's success among the Samaritans paved the way for even greater outreach to the Gentiles, as seen in the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch immediately following this account in Acts. The integration of Samaritans into the early church represented a significant step in fulfilling Jesus' command to be His witnesses to "the end of the earth."
Acts 8 5 Commentary
Philip's ministry in Samaria marked a pivotal moment in the early church's outreach. Despite the historical enmity between Jews and Samaritans, Philip preached Christ effectively. The term "proclaimed" (κηρύσσω) implies a powerful and public declaration of the gospel message. This action demonstrated a crucial understanding of Jesus' mission extending beyond ethnic and religious boundaries, fulfilling the Great Commission's mandate to spread the message to all peoples. Samaria, once a barrier between Judea and Galilee, now became a gateway for the gospel's advance towards the wider Gentile world, echoing Jesus' own ministry there as recorded in John 4. The people's positive response indicated a receptiveness to the truth of Christ, setting the stage for Peter and John's subsequent arrival to impart the Holy Spirit through prayer and laying on of hands.