Peter and John visits Samaria

“Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John.” (1) Philip sought help from the apostles in Jerusalem. Philip felt it would not be easy to convince the believers in Jerusalem, so he invited the apostles and requested an investigation. (2) The Jerusalem church sent Peter and John. According to the principle in Deuteronomy 19:15, the testimony of two or three witnesses is required to establish a matter. (3) It is ironic that John was sent. He had previously spoken harshly against the Samaritans (Luke 9:54). Now, John was ready to accept the Samaritans as brothers. Incidentally, this is the last time John’s name appears in the Acts of the Apostles. The two “came down and prayed for them that they would receive the Holy Spirit.” (1) An outpouring of the Holy Spirit, like that on the day of Pentecost, had not yet occurred upon the Samaritans. (2) “For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.” “In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit” (Matt. 28:19) and “in the name of the Lord Jesus” mean the same. Luke is not introducing the baptismal statement but expressing its essence. ASV renders as “baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.” Baptism is the outward expression of unification with the Triune God and with the Lord Jesus. (3) “For He had not yet fallen upon any of them.” (a) Various works of the Holy Spirit, such as the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and the sealing of the Holy Spirit, occur simultaneously with believing. (b) Here, there is a time gap between believing and the works of the Holy Spirit. This is a highly irregular case. (c) The reason for the time gap is that this event pertains to the salvation of the Samaritans. “Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit.” (1) Through the laying on of hands by Peter and John, the Samaritans received the Holy Spirit. (a) Although Luke does not specify what phenomena occurred, it is inferred that something similar to what happened on the day of Pentecost (such as speaking in tongues) occurred. The reaction of Simon the sorcerer suggests this. (b) Thus, God confirmed the salvation of the Samaritans, thereby validating Philip’s work. We must not universalize historical events. In the present age, the various works of the Holy Spirit occur at the moment of belief.