Acts 8-9

Because of persecution, the early church begins to move out of its “home zone” of Jerusalem and Judea. Simon a sorcerer and an Ethiopian eunuch hear the gospel. Both are hungry, spiritual people but they lack a full understanding of the gospel. Simon still believes that spiritual power is something that can be bought. The Ethiopian is baffled by the biblical text. It takes Peter and Phillip to make clear what it means to believe the good news.

We shouldn’t be surprised about the spiritual hunger around, nor by the fact that people don’t “get it” right away. Gospel proclamation is more than just sharing information. It takes patient and prophetic explanation for good discipleship to happen.