Acts 8:5 - Exposition

And for then, A.V. ; proclaimed unto them the Christ for preached Christ unto them, A.V. Philip ; the deacon and evangelist ( Acts 6:7 ; Acts 21:8 ), not the apostle. As regards Samaria, it is always used in the New Testament of the country, not of the city, which at this time was called Sebaste, from σεβαστός , i.e. Augustus Caesar (see Acts 25:21 , Acts 25:26 , etc.; John 4:5 ; and Josephus, 'Ant. Jud.,' 15. John 7:9 ). Whether, therefore, we read with the T.R. πόλιν , or with the R.T. τὴν πόλιν , we must understand Samaria to mean the country, and probably the city to be the capital, Sebaste. Alford, however, with many others, thinks that Sychem is meant, as in John 4:5 .