Justin Houtz

1 Chronicles 19, Acts 8

DateVersionReading Plan
December 23, 2025ESV (2016)OT/NT Plan 2025 – 2027

1 Chronicles 19

Observation & Interpretation

1 Chron. 19:4 – Hunan, son of Nahash and king of the Ammonites, shaved the servants David had sent, cut off their garments at the hip and sent them away.

  • David’s servants were received poorly by Nahash, with the aim of their treatment being humiliation.
  • The Samuel account states that he shaved half their beards—a way of humiliating one’s enemies (2 Sam. 10:4). (FSB)
  • cut off their garments in the middle Leaving them naked from the hips down. This type of shaming was used for prisoners of war. (FSB)

Acts 8

Observation & Interpretation

Acts 8:1 – Saul approved the execution of Stephen and on that day there arose a great persecution of the church

  • The stoning of Stephen catalyzed a persecution of the church.
  • A new era begins with the words, “At that time.” Stephen’s death seemed to trigger a widespread assault against the church. Believers were scattered throughout…Judea and Samaria. (BBC)

Acts 8:4 – Those who were scattered went about preaching the word.

  • The fact that they were scattered did not hold them back from preaching the word.
  • The dispersal of the Christians did not silence their testimony. Everywhere they went they carried the good news of salvation. (BBC)

Acts 8:14-15 – When the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed that they may receive the Holy Spirit.

  • The church sends Peter and John to confirm the acceptance of the Samaritan believers into the Christian community. (FSB)
  • Holy Spirit The Spirit Himself affirms that the Samaritan believers belong fully to the community of believers. (FSB)

Acts 8:29 – The Spirit told Philip to join the chariot of the Ethiopian eunuch.

  • Philip was told by the Spirit to boldly approach the chariot and engage with the Ethiopian eunuch.
  • With split-second timing, the Spirit, directed Philip to overtake this chariot. (BBC)

Acts 6:10-8:40 – Death…is not a cause for celebration, and efforts to make it so are, frankly, ridiculous, not to mention unbiblical. Death is horrible, unnatural, and affront to God’s intention in creation and a result of human unbelief and disobedience. Moreover, there is no tradition of celebrating death in the Christian church. Such practices exist among macabre, pagan rituals. (ESVEC – Response)

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