New Believers in Samaria...or Next Door

When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had accepted God's message, they sent Peter and John there. As soon as they arrived, they prayed for these new believers to receive the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them, for they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John laid their hands upon these believers, and they received the Holy Spirit. Acts 8:14-17 NLT

 

The good news of Jesus’ resurrection and Messiahship came first to the Jews and then to the Greeks or non-Jews…and that included the mixed breed Samaritans. There were Samaritans who believed in Jesus as the Messiah—even when there were Jews didn’t rejected Him. It seems like two of the apostles, Peter and John, were were overjoyed to welcome these new believers into the Christian fellowship. And to baptize them with the Holy Spirit—the ultimate experience this side of heaven for any believer. The joy from both the apostles and the believing Samaritans must have bonded them, negating any animosity that may have been felt between the Samaritans and Jews.     

 

Prayer ~ Holy Spirit—fill those new Christians with Your love, grace and gifts as You fill their hearts with Your love.

© 2015 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

All scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm