“Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.”
Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there - Philip (one of the Seven, Acts 6:5) becomes a missionary. His going 'down to a city in Samaria' (katēlthen eis polis tēs Samareias) is physically downward (Samaria is geographically lower than Jerusalem) and missiologically bold. The proclamation of 'the Messiah' (tou Christou) in Samaria fulfills Acts 1:8: witness reaches Samaria, the historic enemy of Judea (cf. John 4:9). The boundary is crossed.
Church Fathers on Acts 8:5
Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word. Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spoke, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. And there was great joy in that city. But…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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