Acts 8: Group Study Handout

How to use: read Acts 8 aloud together, then take the questions in order. One page is enough for an evening.

Overview

Saul consented to Stephen's death, prompting great persecution against the assembly in Jerusalem. As a result, the believers scattered throughout Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles (vv. 1-3).

Key verse

“Therefore those who were scattered abroad went around preaching the word.”
Acts 8:4 (WEB)

Outline

Acts 8:1–3 Persecution Begins in Jerusalem
Acts 8:4–8 Philip Preaches in Samaria
Acts 8:9–13 Simon the Sorcerer
Acts 8:14–25 Apostles Send Peter and John
Acts 8:26–39 Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch
Acts 8:40 Philip's Continued Mission

Discussion questions

In v7, what happens to those who had unclean spirits?
In v13, what did Simon do after believing and being baptized?
Peter's response to Simon in vv. 20-23: what does it suggest about the nature of God's gifts?
The eunuch's question in v34: what does it imply about his understanding of the Scripture?
When have you felt like Simon, wanting something that cannot be bought?

Go deeper

Passages that echo Acts 8: Acts 2, Isaiah 53, Mark 16.

Before next time: read Acts 9.