Acts 8:14-25 (CLICK HERE FOR BIBLE VERSES)
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is Acts 8:14-25. As usual, I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help, then read the GAME sharing below. Let’s go!
Acts 8:14-17 (NIV)
14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.
15 When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit,
16 because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.
17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
On verses 14-17: At THRIVE and the great majority of Christian churches, it is routinely taught that the Holy Spirit begins to dwell in us from the moment that we believe and trust Jesus as our Saviour. So why is it that in Acts 8:14-17, the Samaritan Christians already believed in Jesus and had already been baptized, but that “the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them” (v16)?
One possible explanation is that verse 16 is not referring to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, but the filling of the Holy Spirit. What is the difference? The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is the idea that when a person receives Jesus into their life, the Holy Spirit begins to live inside that person’s heart, whether that person feels anything or not (1 Corinthians 3:16 and 6:19). In contrast, the filling of the Holy Spirit is an experience where the Spirit of God fills you with His power in a way that can be felt (Acts 1:8). As Christians we were made to have the Holy Spirit not just dwell in us, but to continually fill us (Ephesians 5:18). So one possible explanation of Acts 8:14-17 is that these Samaritan Christians already had the Holy Spirit dwelling within them, but Acts 8:17 is when they first experience the filling of the Holy Spirit.
Another possible explanation has to do with church history. Keep in mind that what is happening in Acts 8:14 is a watershed moment in the history of the church. Acts 2 was when, on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came upon the church, which at that time consisted entirely of Jewish Christians who already believed in Jesus and who already were baptized. Here in Acts 8:15-17 is when the Holy Spirit comes upon Samaritan Christians, who were part Jewish and part Gentile (non-Jewish). That is why some scholars call this moment in Acts 8:15-17 the “Samaritan Pentecost”. It’s because Acts 8:15-17 marks a historically significant moment when for the first time Samaritans are filled with the Holy Spirit and the apostles are there to witness it for themselves.
Later in Acts 10, we will see a third similarly significant moment when Peter witnesses the Holy Spirit coming upon Gentile (completely non-Jewish) Christians, which in a way you could say was the “Gentile Pentecost”. So for the young church whose members were going to be Jesus’ witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea and the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8), it was appropriate and important that on three separate occasions – first for Jewish Christians, then for Samaritan Christians, and finally for Gentile Christians – the Holy Spirit comes upon each group and Peter, the leader of the church, is there to witness it. It goes to show that God was intentional in how He wanted to introduce the Holy Spirit to Jewish, Samaritan and Gentile people. It also goes to show that the Holy Spirit does not discriminate based on race or ethnicity. The Holy Spirit is willing to fill every person who trusts in Jesus Christ, regardless of their background or the skin they’re in.
Acts 8:18-23 (NIV)
18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money
19 and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
20 Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!
21 You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God.
22 Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart.
23 For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”
On verses 14-23: These verses are a reminder that the Holy Spirit is not a power that you receive by paying money, but a gift you receive by faith.
Also, I’m struck by Peter’s words in verse 22: “Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart.” Why “perhaps”? Was Peter not sure if God would forgive Simon the sorcerer? Maybe Peter doubted whether Simon’s previous declaration of faith and baptism were genuine. Through his saying “perhaps” Peter was possibly trying to lead Simon to a genuine faith in Jesus.
Here’s another reason why Peter was harsh with Simon: Remember that Peter’s legal name was Simon. So when Peter saw this Simon and rebuked him, it could be that Peter felt in a way like he was speaking to a younger version of himself, a guy who was prone to exalting himself and speaking too soon, and yet one who also had great potential to be used by God. Perhaps Peter was harsh with Simon because he saw the potential that Simon had and didn’t want him to waste it or take it for granted.
Also, if Simon was a new genuine believer who had just been baptized (Acts 8:13), this gives us one more truth to glean from this passage, which is that being forgiven of your sins and being spiritually mature in Christ are two different things. When you first trust Jesus Christ as your Saviour, you are forgiven of all your sins immediately, but you are not spiritually mature immediately. In fact, Jesus likens every new believer to someone who has just been born again, i.e. a spiritual baby. Being forgiven is thus the beginning of a lifelong journey of growing in your relationship with God and becoming more like Jesus.
As with any child’s physical maturity, spiritual maturity does not happen overnight. Rather, spiritual maturity happens over time as we continue to follow Jesus, drinking in the milk of God’s Word, that is, getting to know and trying to apply God’s Word to our lives with the help of His Holy Spirit and His church. That’s why 1 Peter 2:2 says, “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation”
Acts 8:24 (NIV)
24 Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”
On verse 24: The fact that Simon responds to Peter’s rebuke by asking for prayer shows that Peter’s rebuke had its intended effect on Simon. Simon responds with humility and teachability. Like Simon, may we be humble and teachable in those times when people give us feedback that is not easy to hear.
Acts 8:25 (NIV)
25 When they had testified and proclaimed the word of the Lord, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages.
On verse 25: Peter and John are so impacted by what they saw God do among the Samaritans that they go back to Jerusalem and preach to the Samaritan villages there. That’s one of the great benefits of seeing God work powerfully in other places around the world; it can change your faith about what God can do in your own backyard.
Holy Spirit, thank You that You are willing to fill all who are thirsty for You, regardless of our background. Holy Spirit, I need You so much today. I can’t do anything good without You. Please come and fill me today with Your power, that I would love courageously and effectively for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
Copyright © 2022 Justin Lim. All rights reserved.
