Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Acts 8:6

"And the multitudes gave heed with one accord unto the things that were spoken by Philip, when they heard, and saw the signs which he did." — Acts 8:6 (ASV)

In the highly fluid and syncretistic atmosphere of first-century Palestine a number of parallels of outlook and ideology existed between various nonconformist groups generally looked upon as being Jewish. Stephen, the covenanters of Qumran, and the Samaritans, for example, all had an antitemple polemic, which, at least superficially, could have drawn them together (though, in actuality, their positions were each based on quite different rationales). In addition, as the antagonism of Jerusalem Jews was focused upon the Hellenistic Christians, these lately dispossessed Jewish believers undoubtedly found something of a welcome among the Samaritans, who had felt themselves the objects of a similar animosity for so long.

In Philip’s preaching of Jesus as the Christ (vv.5, 12), he undoubtedly used Dt 18:15, 18–19 as a major testimonium passage in his preaching, just as Peter and Stephen had done (3:22; 7:37). With the Pentateuch as their Scriptures, and looking for the coming of a Mosaic Messiah, the Samaritans were open to Philip’s message. Furthermore, God backed up his preaching by many “miraculous signs,” with many demoniacs, paralytics, and cripples healed. Thus Luke summarizes the response of these Samaritans to Philip’s ministry by saying, “So there was great joy in that city.”