Acts 8:5

Acts 8:5 Meaning and Explanation

Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.

King James Version (KJV)

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Philip goes down to a city of Samaria and preaches Christ to its people.

What Does Acts 8:5 Mean?

Philip is one of the seven chosen to serve in Acts 6, a colleague of Stephen. Driven from Jerusalem, he crosses a boundary centuries deep: Jews and Samaritans despised one another, yet Philip walks into Samaria carrying good news. Jesus had already sown there, at a well in Sychar (John 4).

Notice what Philip preached: not a program or an argument, but Christ. The message of the church is a Person. Old hostility, religious rivalry, generations of contempt — the gospel walks straight through them, because Christ is for Samaria too. Whatever divide looks uncrossable from where you stand, this verse has already been across it.

Acts 8:5 in the Original Language

kerysso (κηρύσσω), 'preach' -- to proclaim aloud as a herald.

Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 8:5

What does Acts 8:5 mean?

Philip goes down to a city of Samaria and preaches Christ to its people.

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