Acts 8 · Grade 5
Beginning from This Scripture
Read and Think
Saul was consenting to Stephen's death. Devout men buried Stephen and lamented over him, but a great persecution arose and scattered the church through Judea and Samaria. Saul ravaged the assembly, entering house after house. Yet the scattering became a sending: those who were scattered went around preaching the word (Acts 8:4).
In Samaria, Philip proclaimed the Christ, and the crowds listened with one accord. Simon, long admired as "that great power of God," believed and was baptized. When the apostles sent Peter and John, who prayed and laid hands on the Samaritans so they received the Holy Spirit, Simon tried to buy that authority. Peter answered that his heart was not right before God and told him to repent and pray.
Then an angel of the Lord directed Philip to the desert road to Gaza. There a eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, was returning from worship in Jerusalem, reading Isaiah aloud. The Spirit told Philip to join the chariot. Philip asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?" and the man begged him to sit with him.
The passage described one led as a sheep to the slaughter, silent like a lamb before its shearer. The eunuch asked whether the prophet spoke of himself or someone else. Beginning from this Scripture, Philip preached Jesus to him. At some water the eunuch asked what kept him from being baptized; Philip baptized him, the Spirit caught Philip away, and the eunuch went on his way rejoicing (Acts 8:39).
Show What You Know
How did the scattering become a sending?
What did Peter say about Simon's heart?
Where was the official returning from?
What question did the eunuch ask about the passage?
Word Bank Fill-In
Use the word bank to fill in each blank.
- Devout men buried Stephen and lamented over him, but a persecution arose and scattered the church through Judea and Samaria.
- In Samaria, proclaimed the Christ, and the crowds listened with one accord.
- Peter answered that his heart was not right before and told him to repent and pray.
- There a eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, was returning from worship in , reading Isaiah aloud.
- The told Philip to join the chariot.
Think About It
Samaritans and an Ethiopian official were welcomed by the gospel. Who might feel far from God that you could welcome?
Simon wanted God's power without a changed heart. How do you guard against wanting God's gifts more than God himself?
Memory Verse
“Therefore those who were scattered abroad went around preaching the word.”
Acts 8:4 (WEB)
Copy It
Prayer
Dear God, thank You for the lesson of Philip and the Man from Ethiopia. Help me . Amen.
Take It Home
For families: talk about these together.
- How does Acts 8 show the good news reaching Samaria and an official from Ethiopia?
- How did the Spirit guide Philip in this chapter?
- What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?
Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.