Bible Strands
Acts 8:5
Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ to them.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Philip travels to a Samaritan city following the initial scattering of believers to preach the message. He addresses the local population before they respond to the signs accompanying his proclamation.
The words — κατελθὼν (katelthōn) literally means "having gone down," marking Philip’s physical movement into the region. Σαμαρείας (Samareias) specifies the geographic scope of his mission as Samaria.
The thread — This mission connects to his earlier selection as one of the Seven to serve (Acts 6:5), his later designation as an evangelist (Acts 21:8), and his subsequent ministry to the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:35).
Why it lands — The text requires readers to recognize that geographic expansion and verbal proclamation function as the mechanism for early church growth. It demands attention to how scattered believers fulfill their mission outside Jerusalem without centralized coordination.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
Cross-references
- Acts 6:5 This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, as well as Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism.
- Acts 21:8 Leaving the next day, we went on to Caesarea and stayed at the home of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the Seven.
- Acts 8:35 Then Philip began with this very Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.
- Acts 8:40 But Philip appeared at Azotus and traveled through that region, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he came to Caesarea.
- Acts 5:42 Every day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.
- 1 Corinthians 1:23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,
- 1 Corinthians 3:11 For no one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
- Matthew 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go onto the road of the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans.
- John 4:25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When He comes, He will explain everything to us.”
- Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”