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"Samaria had received the word of God..."

Text: Acts 8:14

THE COMMAND OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

The command of the Lord Jesus Christ to His disciples was crisp and clear. This was well-articulated in the following text.

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has
come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem,
and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Acts 1:8

1. Jerusalem and Judea

a) The capital Jerusalem was reached.

b) Judea was also reached.

2. Samaria was next

a) Philip was the one who preached the gospel to the Samaritans.

b) He enjoyed great success in his ministry (Acts 8).

THE GREAT DIVIDE BETWEEN THE JEWS AND THE SAMARITANS

There was a great gulf between the Jews and the Samaritans. They were divided: –

1. In religious beliefs and practices.

2. In social and cultural differences.

3. They were not able to get along racially too.

How would the Samaritans fare if they became Christians? Would they be seen as “second class” Christians? In God’s own wisdom, the problems were solved through the giving of the Spirit of God to the Samaritans.

THE MINISTRY OF THE APOSTLES PETER AND JOHN

These leading Apostles were sent to check out the ministry of Philip in Samaria. The following text is of great significance.

“Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard
that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent
Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down,
prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.
For as yet He had fallen upon none of them.
They had only been baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.”
Acts 8:14-17

1. The Holy Spirit came upon the Samaritans just as He did in Jerusalem.

2. The Apostles Peter and John were there to bear witness of this great event.

3. The middle wall of partition had been broken down. The role of the Spirit must be duly noted and appreciated.