What does Acts 8:1b–25 reveal about who God the Father is? God is sovereign. He can use even the persecution of Saul to further his purposes and grow his church (Acts 8:1–4).
God is concerned for all people that he has made. Philip goes to Samaria. Even though this is a people who were disliked by the Jews, they are still people made in God’s image and they must also hear the good news of Jesus Christ.
God is powerful. Through Philip God works miracles to confirm the authenticity of his messenger.
God accommodates himself to people. Realizing that we are slow to understand and hard of hearing, God helps his people by sending the Spirit in a special way in order to confirm that believers from a Samaritan background are also welcome in his church. God does this for the sake of the Jewish believers and the Samaritan believers, to help them both come to a new understanding.
God is God; he cannot be manipulated. The Holy Spirit is a gift sent by the Father and the Son; he cannot be bought or controlled (see John 3:1–8).
God punishes sin. Those who refuse to repent of their pagan thoughts and ways will perish.
God forgives sin. Those who come to him through repentance and faith in Christ can be forgiven.
1 And Saul approved of his execution.And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.