The Meaning of Acts 8:12 Explained

Acts 8:12

KJV: But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

YLT: And when they believed Philip, proclaiming good news, the things concerning the reign of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized both men and women;

Darby: But when they believed Philip announcing the glad tidings concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptised, both men and women.

ASV: But when they believed Philip preaching good tidings concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

Discover Acts 8:12

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Acts 8:12?

MEANING: What does Acts 8:12 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Acts 8:12 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Acts 8:12?

What is the context of Acts 8:12?

The Sorcerer’s Profession of Faith (Acts 8:9-13)
The Response of Simon (Acts 8:9-13)
Simon the Magician Believes (Acts 8:9-25)
Simon the Magician (Acts 8:9-25)
Simon the Sorcerer (Acts 8:9-25)
Philip in Samaria (Acts 8:4-24)
Philip Preaches in Samaria (Acts 8:4-25)
Some Samaritans Become Believers (Acts 8:4-25)

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

What does Acts 8:12 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Simon promoted himself, but Philip preached Christ.

"I believe that Simon is the first religious racketeer in the church-but, unfortunately, not the last." ^[1]

Luke described Philip"s message as the good news about God"s kingdom and the name of Jesus Christ (cf. Acts 1:3; Acts 1:6; Acts 8:12; Acts 14:22; Acts 19:8; Acts 20:25; Acts 28:23; Acts 28:31). Those who trust in Christ become partakers in His spiritual rule over them now and eventually will enter into His future earthly millennial rule. The phrase "name of Jesus Christ" points to the fact that Jesus is the Christ, the anointed Messiah (cf. 1 John 5:1). Note that water baptism followed conversion almost immediately (cf. Acts 2:38). Both men and women believed and were undergoing baptism. This was clearly water baptism since they did not experience Spirit baptism until later ( Acts 8:17).

Context Summary

Acts 8:1-13 - Fruits Of The Scattered Seed

Evidently Stephen was beloved outside the precincts of the Church, for it would seem that the devout men who lamented his early death and carried his poor body to its burial were godly Jews who had been attracted by his earnest character. In the furious persecution that ensued under the leadership of Saul, neither sex nor age was spared. According to the subsequent statement of the arch-persecutor, the disciples of Jesus were dragged before the magistrate, thrust into prison, exposed to cruel torture, and compelled to blaspheme His holy Name. During those terrible days scenes were enacted which were destined to fill the heart of the future Apostle with most poignant sorrow.

This persecution was overruled to scatter the Church, which had grown too prosperous and secure, and needed to be reminded of the Lord's injunction to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. The light must be diffused; the salt must be scattered. How often God has to drive us by trouble to do what we ought to have done gladly and spontaneously! It was impossible to keep the deacons to the office of serving tables. Philip must needs go to Samaria, and that city welcomed what Jerusalem had refused. Here we enter upon the second circle of Acts 1:8. [source]

Chapter Summary: Acts 8

¹ By occasion of the persecution in Jerusalem, the church being planted in Samaria,
⁴ by Philip the deacon, who preached, did miracles, and baptized many;
⁹ among the rest Simon the sorcerer, a great seducer of the people;
¹⁴ Peter and John come to confirm and enlarge the church;
¹⁵ where, by prayer and imposition of hands giving the Holy Spirit;
¹⁸ when Simon would have bought the like power of them,
²⁰ Peter sharply reproving his hypocrisy and covetousness,
²² and exhorting him to repentance,
²⁵ together with John preaching the word of the Lord, return to Jerusalem;
²⁶ but the angel sends Philip to teach and baptize the Ethiopian Eunuch

Greek Commentary for Acts 8:12

They were baptized [εβαπτιζοντο]
Imperfect passive (repetition, from time to time), while believed (επιστευσαν episteusan) is constative aorist antecedent to the baptism. Note dative case of Philip with επιστευσαν episteusan Note the gospel of Philip “concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ.” [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 8:12

John 1:30 A man [ἀνὴρ]
Three words are used in the New Testament for man: ἄῤῥην , or ἄρσην , ἀνήρ , and ἄνθρωπος . Ἄρσην marks merely the sexual distinction, male (Romans 1:27; Revelation 12:5, Revelation 12:13). Ἁνήρ denotes the man as distinguished from the woman, as male or as a husband (Acts 8:12; Matthew 1:16), or from a boy (Matthew 14:21). Also man as endowed with courage, intelligence, strength, and other noble attributes (1 Corinthians 13:11; Ephesians 4:13; James 3:2). Ἄνθρωπος is generic, without distinction of sex, a human being (John 16:21), though often used in connections which indicate or imply sex, as Matthew 19:10; Matthew 10:35. Used of mankind (Matthew 4:4), or of the people (Matthew 5:13, Matthew 5:16; Matthew 6:5, Matthew 6:18; John 6:10). Of man as distinguished from animals or plants (Matthew 4:19; 2 Peter 2:16), and from God, Christ as divine and angels (Matthew 10:32; John 10:33; Luke 2:15). With the notion of weakness leading to sin, and with a contemptuous sense (1 Corinthians 2:5; 1 Peter 4:2; John 5:12; Romans 9:20). The more honorable and noble sense thus attaches to ἀνήρ rather than to ἄνθρωπος . Thus Herodotus says that when the Medes charged the Greeks, they fell in vast numbers, so that it was manifest to Xerxes that he had many men combatants ( ἄνθρωποι ) but few warriors ( ἄνθρωποι ) vii., 210. So Homer: “O friends, be men ( ἀνέρες ), and take on a stout heart” (“Iliad,” v., 529). Ἁνήρ is therefore used here of Jesus by the Baptist with a sense of dignity. Compare ἄνθρωπος , in John 1:6, where the word implies no disparagement, but is simply indefinite. In John ἀνήρ has mostly the sense of husband (John 4:16-18). See John 6:10. -DIVIDER-

-DIVIDER-

[source]

What do the individual words in Acts 8:12 mean?

When however they believed - Philip proclaiming the gospel concerning the kingdom - of God and the name of Jesus Christ they were baptized men both women

Ὅτε δὲ ἐπίστευσαν τῷ Φιλίππῳ εὐαγγελιζομένῳ περὶ τῆς βασιλείας τοῦ Θεοῦ καὶ τοῦ ὀνόματος Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐβαπτίζοντο ἄνδρες τε γυναῖκες

δὲ	however
Parse: Conjunction Root: δέ Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
ἐπίστευσαν	they believed
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural Root: πιστεύω Sense: to think to be true, to be persuaded of, to credit, place confidence in.
τῷ	-
Parse: Article, Dative Masculine Singular Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Φιλίππῳ	Philip
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular Root: Φίλιππος Sense: an apostle of Christ.
εὐαγγελιζομένῳ	proclaiming the gospel
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle, Dative Masculine Singular Root: εὐαγγελίζω Sense: to bring good news, to announce glad tidings.
περὶ	concerning
Parse: Preposition Root: περί Sense: about, concerning, on account of, because of, around, near.
βασιλείας	kingdom
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular Root: βασιλεία Sense: royal power, kingship, dominion, rule.
τοῦ	-
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Singular Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Θεοῦ	of God
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular Root: θεός Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities.
ὀνόματος	name
Parse: Noun, Genitive Neuter Singular Root: ὄνομα Sense: name: univ.
Ἰησοῦ	of Jesus
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular Root: Ἰησοῦς Sense: Joshua was the famous captain of the Israelites, Moses’ successor.
Χριστοῦ	Christ
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular Root: Χριστός Sense: Christ was the Messiah, the Son of God.
ἐβαπτίζοντο	they were baptized
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Plural Root: βαπτίζω Sense: to dip repeatedly, to immerse, to submerge (of vessels sunk).
ἄνδρες	men
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural Root: ἀνήρ Sense: with reference to sex.
τε	both
Parse: Conjunction Root: τέ Sense: not only … but also.
γυναῖκες	women
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Plural Root: γυνή Sense: a woman of any age, whether a virgin, or married, or a widow.

What are the major concepts related to Acts 8:12?

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