使徒行传第8章: 《一切都有神的美意》


GK611晨祷生命读经
主讲：郑伟健传道
15.05.2026

一、人不能拦阻神的美意（使8:1–13）
1. 教会受逼迫，福音仍扩展（v1-3）
司提反殉道以后，耶路撒冷教会大遭逼迫，门徒被迫分散到犹太和撒马利亚各处。表面上，教会好像被打散了，但实际上，神却借着逼迫推动福音扩展。门徒不是像难民一样逃散，而是像宣教士一样被差散。人的忿怒无法拦阻神，反而成全神的旨意。。

 2. 旧人虽离去，神仍再兴起（v4-8）
司提反离开了，但神却兴起了腓利。腓利原本只是管理饭食的执事，却被圣灵大大使用，在撒马利亚传福音、行神迹、医病赶鬼，使整座城大有欢喜。神的工作不会因为一个器皿离开就停止，因为真正的主角不是人，而是圣灵。

 3. 恶人也悔改，恩典仍临到（v9-13）
西门原本长期行邪术、高举自己，但当腓利传讲耶稣基督的时候，连他也开始惊奇神的大能。过去是别人惊奇他，现在却轮到他惊奇神。福音不是只给“好人”的，恩典也能够临到最黑暗、最刚硬的人。邪术荣耀人，福音却荣耀基督。

二、单纯并顺服神的美意（使8:14–25）
1. 内心纯正领受圣灵（v14-17）
撒马利亚人信主以后，使徒来到他们那里，为他们祷告，使他们领受圣灵。神借着这个过程，让撒马利亚人与耶路撒冷教会真正连结，显明他们同属一个身体。真正领受圣灵的人，不只是外面有宗教行为，而是里面愿意被神改变、真实渴慕神。

 2. 心存贪念失去恩典（v18-25）
西门看见使徒按手后，人就领受圣灵，于是想用钱买这种能力。彼得直接指出：“你的心不正。” 西门的问题不是没有对神的热心，而是他的动机仍然想高举自己。很多时候，人也可能追求属灵，却不是追求神。真正的恩典，不是让人炫耀自己，而是让人越来越像耶稣。

三、圣灵成就神的美意（使8:26–40）
1. 跟随圣灵带领（v26-35）
当腓利正在撒马利亚经历复兴的时候，圣灵却突然叫他离开，往旷野去。旷野看起来不像适合传福音的地方，但腓利没有质疑，只是顺服。结果，他在那里遇见埃提阿伯太监，而太监刚好正在读以赛亚书。原来，圣灵早已经预备好人、时间与环境。腓利最大的特点，不是他多会讲道，而是他愿意跟随圣灵。



 2. 跨越人的拦阻（v36-40）
太监听见福音以后说：“我受洗有什么妨碍呢？”按照律法，他原本是受限制的人，但如今在基督里，人的身份、背景与限制，都不能再拦阻神的恩典。福音跨越了人的界限，也跨越了人的眼光。腓利也没有停留在一次经历里，而是继续走遍各城传福音，持续回应圣灵的带领。
总结：圣灵仍在运行，我们愿否回应？

总结：圣灵仍在运行，我们愿否回应？




  
 Acts Chapter 8: ‘All Things Are According to God’s Good Pleasure’

 GK611 Morning Devotion、
Speaker: Ps Asher Chang
15 May 2026

I. Man Cannot Hinder God’s Good Pleasure (Acts 8:1–13)

1. The Church Was Persecuted, Yet the Gospel Continued to Spread (v1–3) 
Following Stephen’s martyrdom, the church in Jerusalem faced severe persecution, and the disciples were forced to scatter throughout Judea and Samaria. On the surface, the church appeared to have been scattered, but in reality, God used the persecution to advance the spread of the gospel. The disciples did not flee like refugees, but were sent out like missionaries. Human anger cannot hinder God; rather, it serves to fulfil His will.

 2. Though the old servant departed, God raised up another (v4–8) 
Stephen had departed, yet God raised up Philip. Philip, who had previously been merely a deacon in charge of distributing food, was mightily used by the Holy Spirit to preach the gospel in Samaria, perform miracles, heal the sick and cast out demons, bringing great joy to the whole city. God’s work does not cease simply because one vessel departs, for the true protagonist is not man, but the Holy Spirit.

 3. Even the wicked repent, and grace still comes (v9–13) 
Simon had long practised sorcery and exalted himself, but when Philip preached about Jesus Christ, even he began to marvel at God’s power. Whereas in the past others marvelled at him, now it was his turn to marvel at God. The Gospel is not reserved for ‘good people’ alone; grace can also come upon the darkest and most hardened of souls. Sorcery glorifies man, but the Gospel glorifies Christ.


 II. Simplicity and Obedience to God’s Good Pleasure (Acts 8:14–25) 

 1. Receiving the Holy Spirit with a Pure Heart (v14–17) 
After the Samaritans had come to faith, the apostles went to them, prayed for them, and enabled them to receive the Holy Spirit. Through this process, God truly united the Samaritans with the church in Jerusalem, revealing that they belonged to one body. Those who truly receive the Holy Spirit do not merely engage in outward religious acts, but are inwardly willing to be transformed by God and genuinely long for Him.

 2. Losing Grace through Greed (v18–25) 
When Simon saw that people received the Holy Spirit after the apostles laid their hands on them, he sought to purchase this power with money. Peter rebuked him directly: ‘Your heart is not right.’ Simon’s problem was not a lack of zeal for God, but that his motive remained self-aggrandisement. Often, people may pursue spiritual things without truly seeking God. True grace does not enable people to boast of themselves, but rather to become more and more like Jesus.

 III. The Holy Spirit Fulfils God’s Good Pleasure (Acts 8:26–40)

1. Following the Leading of the Holy Spirit (v26–35) 
Whilst Philip was experiencing revival in Samaria, the Holy Spirit suddenly called him to leave and go into the wilderness. The wilderness did not appear to be a suitable place for preaching the Gospel, yet Philip did not question it; he simply obeyed. As a result, he met the Ethiopian eunuch there, who happened to be reading the Book of Isaiah. It turned out that the Holy Spirit had already prepared the person, the time and the circumstances. Philip’s greatest characteristic was not his skill in preaching, but his willingness to follow the Holy Spirit.

 2. Overcoming Human Barriers (v36–40) 
After hearing the Gospel, the eunuch asked, ‘What prevents me from being baptised?’ Under the Law, he had been a restricted person, but now, in Christ, human identity, background and limitations can no longer hinder God’s grace. The Gospel transcends human boundaries and human perspectives. Nor did Philip remain confined to a single experience; instead, he continued to travel from town to town preaching the Gospel, continually responding to the Holy Spirit’s leading.

 Conclusion:  The Holy Spirit is still at work; are we willing to respond?