Justin Houtz

Leviticus 7, Acts 8

DateVersionReading Plan
April 7, 2025ESV (2016)OT/NT Plan 2025 – 2027

Leviticus 7

Observation

The chapter continues in description of laws given to the people through Moses regarding sacrifices. The final verses (Lev. 7:37-38) summarize the laws for the types of offerings: burnt offering, grain offering, sin offering, guilt offering, ordination offering and peace offering. A few prominent details pertaining to the offerings emerged in today’s reading. First, that the fat, kidneys and liver were to be removed and burned on the altar as a food offering to the LORD, as a guilt offering (Lev. 7:3-5). Next, sacrifices that did not have to be eaten the same day of the sacrifice had to be consumed by the third day (Lev. 7:17). As the FSB states, this is “possibly because the meat would spoil.”

Thirdly is that only people ceremonially clean could eat of the clean flesh. Any person who ate of the flesh of the LORD’s peace offering while having uncleanness on them was to be cut off from among the people (Lev. 7:19-21). Finally, the fat of an animal not used for sacrifice could be used for other things but could not be eaten (Lev. 7:24).

Application

The division of clean and unclean emphasizes the stark distinction of the holy and unholy. Specific to the peace offerings, the BBC helpfully points out that, “The fact that different portions of the peace offering were designated for the Lord, the priests, and the offerer indicates that it was a time of fellowship. But since God can have no fellowship with sin or uncleanness, those who partook of this festive meal had to be clean.” God can in now wise by in the presence of or in association with sin. The salience of this should grow with an increased realization of our sin but also foster the most profound gratitude for the LORD’s grace to intercede with perfect sacrificial offering in order that we may be delivered from its consequences.

Acts 8

Observation

Continuing from the previous chapter in which Stephen was stoned, we read that Saul approved of his execution and that there arose on that day a great persecution of the church in Jerusalem (Acts 8:1). Stephen was buried by devout men who were lamenting over him, but Saul was ravaging the church (Acts 8:2-3). Followers of Christ who were scattered went about preaching the word (Acts 8:4). Luke then focuses on Philip’s ministry in Samaria specifically, the preaching and signs that he did and the joy in that city (Acts 8:5-8).

In Samaria, there was a man, Simon, who had previously practiced magic, amazing the people and thinking himself to be someone great (Acts 8:9). The people were amazed and thought him to be the “power of God that is called Great” (Acts 8:10b). But, when they believed Philip as he preached the good news about the kingdom of God, both men and women were baptized (Acts 8:12). Even Simon believed and was baptized, amazed at the signs and miracles performed by Philip (Acts 8:13). When the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John that they might receive the Holy Spirit as He had not yet fallen on any of them (Acts 8:15-16).

The apostles laid their hands on them to receive the Holy Spirit. When Simon saw that the Spirit came by the laying on of hands, he offered money in exchange for receiving the power to lay his hands on anyone and give the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:18-19). Peter then rebuked Simon for trying to obtain the gift of God with money, that his heart was not right before God, that he should repent of his wickedness and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of his heart would be forgiven him (Acts 8:23). Absent true repentance, Simon replied in asking Peter to pray for him to the Lord that none of what Peter said would come upon him (Acts 8:24). After testifying and speaking the word of the Lord, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans (Acts 8:26).

Returning his focus to Philip, Luke describes how Philip was instructed by an angel of the Lord to go to a desert place, southward to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza (Acts 8:26). There was an Ethiopian eunuch who was in charge of all the treasures of Candace, the court official and queen of the Ethiopians (Acts 8:27). The Spirit told Philip to join the chariot of Ethiopian and Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet (Acts 8:30). Philip asked the Ethiopian if he understood what he was reading, to which the Ethiopian responded that he could not without guidance (Acts 8:31). The Ethiopian invited Philip to sit with him and he asked Philip about whom the prophet Isaiah was speaking, whether himself of someone else (Acts 8:34). Beginning with this Scripture, Philip proceeded to tell the Ethiopian about Jesus (Acts 8:35). As they were going along the road, they came to some water and the Ethiopian asked what prevented him from being baptized (Acts 8:37). Philip baptized the Ethiopian and, when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away and the Ethiopian went on his way rejoicing (Acts 8:39). Philip found himself at Azotus, north of Gaza and west of Jerusalem, and as he passed through, he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea (Acts 8:40).

Application

The contextualization with which Philip approached his teaching about Jesus with the Ethiopian eunuch is worth noting. It says that “beginning with this scripture”, Philip “told him the good new about Jesus” (Acts 8:35). Philip knew that Jesus is the fulfillment of all messianic prophecy, so he need not look any further than what the Ethiopian had already been reading in Isaiah to begin a gospel presentation. In the same way, we guide others through God’s Word with the illumination of the Spirit to the realization that everything in Scripture culminates in the Person and work of Jesus Christ. The Word of God “contains very real power to accomplish his will” (FSB) and nowhere was this made more gloriously manifest than in the sending and sacrifice of Christ the Son for the redemption of His children.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, how abundant is Your grace to make clean that which is unclean. Thank you that by the blood of Your Son, we have been washed, sanctified and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. Father, thank You that by the sword of Your Spirit that is the Word of God we have everything we need to know You and make You known.

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