WEEK 7:
The Church in Samaria – Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch Acts 8:26 – 32
Church is a local group of people who follow the same Christian religious beliefs. It also refers to a particular denomination of Christianity. There are various Christian gathering after the Pentecost day, which gave rise to the revival in the early days. One of such churches is the one in Samaria.
In Acts 8:26 – 32, an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” It was a desert road. When he got there, he saw an Ethiopian eunuch, a minister of the Can′dace, queen of the Ethiopians who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning; seated in his chariot. He was reading the scrolls of prophet Isaiah. Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join this chariot.” So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet. He asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” The eunuch responded and he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” He invited Philip to come up and sit with him. There, Philip explained all that was written there and then taught him about Jesus. When they got to a nearby water, the eunuch persuaded Philip to baptize him. Immediately after that, the Spirit of God took him away and the eunuch never saw him again.
The Church in Lydia and Joppa Acts 9:36 – 43
Another of such church is the Church in Lydia and Joppa. There was a disciple at Joppa called Tabitha. Tabitha also means Dorcas. She was a good woman, very kind and generous. One day she fell sick and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. Since Lydda was near Joppa, when the disciples there heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him entreating him, “Please come to us without delay.” Peter rose and went with them. When he got there, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping, and showing tunics and other garments which Dorcas made while she was with them. Peter directed that all of them should go outside and he knelt down and prayed; then turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, rise.” Immediately, she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. Peter stretched his hand and lifted her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. The news spread throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. Peter stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner.
A church is a place where two or more people gather in one accord and with similar purpose, praying to God and sharing the word of God. We can see that from there, the gathering of people began to spread from one place to another and thus various churches across the continent were born.
Unprecedented 