EVEN SAMARITANS?

Acts 8:9-25

…when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

Jesus is a descendant of Abraham. All the apostles are Israelites. And up to this point, all of the students of Jesus are Jewish.

Now a great persecution forces them out of the center of Judaism. Out from the city of Jerusalem! Jesus’ intention for everyone in the world to become His students is beginning to unfold.

But Even Samaritans?

This is a real test for those first students of Jesus. Samaritans were outcasts to the Jews because they inter-married with gentiles and set up an alternative worship site competing with the temple in Jerusalem.

Here is the inclusive Spirit of Jesus at work in the hearts of His students. The Teacher said, Go into all the world and make students in every nation. He died for the sins of the entire world. He wants everyone to become His student.

Now the Samaritan people are welcomed into the fellowship exactly as the first 3,000 were on the day of Pentecost. They believe the message and are baptized!

But here is an exception. They do not immediately receive the gift of the Holy Spirit - the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.

Why did Jesus give the gift of the Holy Spirit when the first 3,000 were baptized – and when each new student is baptized – but exceptionally withhold the gift from the Samaritans when they were baptized?

The apostles dispatch Peter and John from Jerusalem.

Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

Perhaps Jesus waited for the apostles to participate in the giving of the Spirit to remove all doubt about the inclusive nature of the Good News. There must be no doubt. Jesus is for everybody. Even Samaritans!