Acts 8:14-17 – When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria. 15 When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
“When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria.” Peter and John were sent to Samaria. Why? Of course it would be foolish to think that any man fully knows all of God’s reason for what He does, but it is thought that the reason for Peter and John to be sent to Samaria was to be witnesses that the Samaritans, who were long detested by the Jews, were indeed welcome to the Kingdom of God, just as the Jews were. And if they were accepted, then who next? We must remember that the Apostles had thought that Jesus came to save Israel. Certainly they were right that Jesus came to save the Jews, but it was not only them that He came to save (John 3:16), but rather to them first and then the rest of the world (Romans 1:16). Peter would later be sent by God to bring the Gospel to a gentile and his family and afterward he would fully understand that God accepts people from all nations who fear and obey Him (Acts 10:1-48). This, however, was the first time the Apostles were to see God saved someone that they did not consider a Jew. Yes, the Samaritans had broken with The Law, but Jesus had not come to re-bring The Law, but to bring grace that was more powerful than sin. Peter and John needed to see that Samaritans were being saved and they needed to let the others know that the grace of God was not restricted, but was available to all who would accept the Truth.
“When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Why hadn’t these new believers received the Holy Spirit? Some would expound that perhaps Philip did not have that gift of laying on of hands to receive the Holy Spirit. After all, we all don’t have the same gifts. Maybe Philip needed to call out Peter and John who did have that gift. Of course the question that then arises is when does a person receive the Holy Spirit? Does it required the laying on of hands by someone who has that “gift?” We know that when we receive Jesus as our Savior and Lord the Holy Spirit comes into our heart and seals us as ones who belong to Jesus and as a guarantee that we are the recipients of the blessings and promises of God (2 Corinthians 1:22). Romans 10:9-10 states “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” The word used for believe in this verse is the same word used in Acts 8:12 to say that the Samaritans believed. So we can understand that the Samaritans believed with a belief in the way that Apostle Paul later states is required to be saved. Family, these Samaritans were saved by faith in Jesus after hearing Philip preach the Gospel. Since they were saved, we know that they had the Holy Spirit within them. But the Word here clearly states that they had not yet had the Holy Spirit “come on any of them.” Is this a contradiction within the Bible? Family, there are no contradictions within the Bible. Perhaps we need to look more closely at what was meant by “come on any of them.”
“Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.” Before we do, let’s recognize that it was after Peter and John place their hands on the Samaritans and prayed for them that Word of God, the Truth, says they received the Holy Spirit. What does all this mean?
I really don’t want to stop here, but I think I must. I will continue this next time. If I were to continue this right now, this Devotion would be very long, and I have been told that I should “keep it short” and so that I try to do (not always successfully!). So, Family and Friends, I will continue this next time.
As always “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord! “
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.