- Feb 24, 2015
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When were these Samaritans saved?
May the Lord help you to examine the words in why Luke had written in the way that he had done so, because he did not say that they believed in Jesus Christ, but that they took heed to the "things" Philip was talking about because of miracles that they say "him" doing.
Acts 8:5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. 6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. 8 And there was great joy in that city.
Now note the mentality of the people before Philip had come in how they had regarded Simon.
9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: 10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. 11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.
Note how the following of Simon the scoreror now shifts to Philip where even Simon believed in the things Philip was talking about because of the miracles.
12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
Not once did Luke recorded that the people nor Simon believed in Jesus Christ but in the things Philip preached aboout concerning the kingdom.
14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: 15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: 16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
So imagine having a following where they got baptized in the name of Jesus but all eyes were on Philip and especially the miracles which is why others had to be sent to lift the people's eyes higher away from Philip to the Lord Jesus Christ and proof of that was by Simon thinking he could purchase the power of imparting the Holy Ghost from those that were sent..
17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. 18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, 19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. 20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. 21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. 22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. 23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.24 Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.
Simon's heart was not right with the people and so even he acknowledged that he was not saved yet to ask the disciples to pray for him so that he might receive the promise by believing in Jesus Christ. Simon used the disciples as a means to coming to Jesus in believing in Him so as to repent and receive the promise as given for believing in Jesus Christ.
Alot of believers and churches will say that people sit in the pew and heard the things about christianity and yet never come to believe in Him. I believe this was the case as the fans of Simon shifted to Philip but help needed to be sent to lift their sights higher and not just Simon's to believing in Him.
People chase after signs and lying wonders but whereas these were from the Lord Jesus Christ, they were not really putting Him in the spotlight yet, and so they were not saved until they had received the promise of the Spirit by believing in Jesus Christ.
See more at this thread at this link:
http://www.christianityboard.com/topic/21200-one-drink-of-the-holy-spirit/
Another point to discern is that in Acts 8:5-24, none of these Samaritans spoke in tongues after having received the promise of the Holy Spirit. Why would they when the Samaritans all speak the same lnaguage?
So as much as tongue speakers wish to use that as validation for believers not having received the Holy Spirit right away at salvation to spur insecure believers into seeking the baptism with the Holy Spirit with evidence of tongues, that was not what was happening here.
May the Lord help you to examine the words in why Luke had written in the way that he had done so, because he did not say that they believed in Jesus Christ, but that they took heed to the "things" Philip was talking about because of miracles that they say "him" doing.
Acts 8:5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. 6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. 8 And there was great joy in that city.
Now note the mentality of the people before Philip had come in how they had regarded Simon.
9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: 10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. 11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.
Note how the following of Simon the scoreror now shifts to Philip where even Simon believed in the things Philip was talking about because of the miracles.
12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
Not once did Luke recorded that the people nor Simon believed in Jesus Christ but in the things Philip preached aboout concerning the kingdom.
14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: 15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: 16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
So imagine having a following where they got baptized in the name of Jesus but all eyes were on Philip and especially the miracles which is why others had to be sent to lift the people's eyes higher away from Philip to the Lord Jesus Christ and proof of that was by Simon thinking he could purchase the power of imparting the Holy Ghost from those that were sent..
17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. 18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, 19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. 20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. 21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. 22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. 23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.24 Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.
Simon's heart was not right with the people and so even he acknowledged that he was not saved yet to ask the disciples to pray for him so that he might receive the promise by believing in Jesus Christ. Simon used the disciples as a means to coming to Jesus in believing in Him so as to repent and receive the promise as given for believing in Jesus Christ.
Alot of believers and churches will say that people sit in the pew and heard the things about christianity and yet never come to believe in Him. I believe this was the case as the fans of Simon shifted to Philip but help needed to be sent to lift their sights higher and not just Simon's to believing in Him.
People chase after signs and lying wonders but whereas these were from the Lord Jesus Christ, they were not really putting Him in the spotlight yet, and so they were not saved until they had received the promise of the Spirit by believing in Jesus Christ.
See more at this thread at this link:
http://www.christianityboard.com/topic/21200-one-drink-of-the-holy-spirit/
Another point to discern is that in Acts 8:5-24, none of these Samaritans spoke in tongues after having received the promise of the Holy Spirit. Why would they when the Samaritans all speak the same lnaguage?
So as much as tongue speakers wish to use that as validation for believers not having received the Holy Spirit right away at salvation to spur insecure believers into seeking the baptism with the Holy Spirit with evidence of tongues, that was not what was happening here.
