Act 8:14-17 | KingComments | STEP | The apostles in Jerusalem hear that Samaria received the word of God. This does not make them jealous, but they send Peter and John to contact Samaria. Once there they do not reproach the believers in Samaria for not having contacted them or the church in Jerusalem, but they acknowledge that God is at work here. That is why Peter will use the keys given to him for the second time to open the kingdom of heaven ( ), this time for the Samaritans. The kingdom of heaven is not the realm in heaven, but a realm ruled by a King in heaven Who rules on earth according to heavenly principles. In Acts 2, Peter opened the kingdom to the Jews. Later he will use the keys for the Gentiles as well ( ). By acknowledging this work of God in Samaria, the practical connection between Samaria and Jerusalem is also acknowledged. Local churches are not separate from each other, but belong together, however, without this being officially reported to other churches or being added to a list of ‘acknowledged churches’. Here there is no enmity or competition anymore ( ). Peter and John descend from Jerusalem, which is also more than just a geographical indication. The spiritual application seems permissible that the apostles do not give their approval from an elevated position, but join them. They show their dependence on God by going into prayer to ask Him to give the Holy Spirit to the Samaritans who have come to faith. The Holy Spirit had not yet come to them because it was a company that was in a way connected to Judaism. They first had to be fully accepted by the converted Jews in order to maintain unity. Receiving the Holy Spirit is thus preceded by baptism and the laying on of hands by the apostles. With the converted Jews there is no laying on of hands. However, they too are baptized first and only then receive the Holy Spirit ( ). With the conversion of the Gentiles we see that on the basis of faith first the Holy Spirit is received and then baptism takes place ( ; ). This has been the order since then. In Samaria, by the laying on of hands of the apostles Peter and John, the connection between the believers in Jerusalem and Samaria is sealed and the believing Samaritans receive the Holy Spirit. This avoids the idea of two separate churches, one Jewish and one Samaritan. By the laying on of hands there is unity and acceptance. This was even more necessary because there was no connection between Jews and Samaritans, but mutual hatred. There is no mention of outwardly perceptible accompanying phenomena, as was the case with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost ( ).

‏ Acts 8:14-17

Peter and John in Samaria

The apostles in Jerusalem hear that Samaria received the word of God. This does not make them jealous, but they send Peter and John to contact Samaria. Once there they do not reproach the believers in Samaria for not having contacted them or the church in Jerusalem, but they acknowledge that God is at work here. That is why Peter will use the keys given to him for the second time to open the kingdom of heaven (Mt 16:19), this time for the Samaritans. The kingdom of heaven is not the realm in heaven, but a realm ruled by a King in heaven Who rules on earth according to heavenly principles. In Acts 2, Peter opened the kingdom to the Jews. Later he will use the keys for the Gentiles as well (Acts 10:48).

By acknowledging this work of God in Samaria, the practical connection between Samaria and Jerusalem is also acknowledged. Local churches are not separate from each other, but belong together, however, without this being officially reported to other churches or being added to a list of ‘acknowledged churches’. Here there is no enmity or competition anymore (Jn 4:9). Peter and John descend from Jerusalem, which is also more than just a geographical indication. The spiritual application seems permissible that the apostles do not give their approval from an elevated position, but join them.

They show their dependence on God by going into prayer to ask Him to give the Holy Spirit to the Samaritans who have come to faith. The Holy Spirit had not yet come to them because it was a company that was in a way connected to Judaism. They first had to be fully accepted by the converted Jews in order to maintain unity. Receiving the Holy Spirit is thus preceded by baptism and the laying on of hands by the apostles.

With the converted Jews there is no laying on of hands. However, they too are baptized first and only then receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). With the conversion of the Gentiles we see that on the basis of faith first the Holy Spirit is received and then baptism takes place (Acts 10:44; Eph 1:13). This has been the order since then.

In Samaria, by the laying on of hands of the apostles Peter and John, the connection between the believers in Jerusalem and Samaria is sealed and the believing Samaritans receive the Holy Spirit. This avoids the idea of two separate churches, one Jewish and one Samaritan. By the laying on of hands there is unity and acceptance. This was even more necessary because there was no connection between Jews and Samaritans, but mutual hatred. There is no mention of outwardly perceptible accompanying phenomena, as was the case with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4).