The physician Luke wrote how Philip the apostle of Jesus went to Samaria to share the gospel, and he did so many miracles that there was great joy in the city. However, “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. To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries. 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. Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done”, and in chapter eight and verse fourteen of the book of Acts Luke shared what happened, “when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God” where we read:
Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
The verse begins, “Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, ...” Luke began with the words, “now when the apostles” which means “moreover at the time and moment the delegates, messengers and ones sent forth” “which were at Jerusalem” or “who were located in the city of Jerusalem whose name means set you double peace and is the capital of Palestine” “heard that Samaria” which means “were endowed with the faculty for hearing, perceiving and understanding that Samaria which means guardianship and was a territory in Palestine which had Samaria as its capital” “had received the word of God” or “lay hold of, embraced and accepted the Heavenly Father God's speech, decree, mandate and order” they produced the following action. Luke shared how Jesus' “apostles” who remained in “Jerusalem” “heard” how the people in “Samaria” accepted God's “gospel” concerning Jesus Christ.
The verse goes on to say, “... they sent unto them Peter and John:”. Luke continued with the words, “they sent unto them” which means “the apostles in Jerusalem dispatched and assigned to the people of Samaria” “Peter” or “the man who was Jesus' apostle whose name means a little rock or stone” “and John” which means “and Jesus' apostle John whose name means Jehovah is a gracious giver”. Luke shared how the “apostles” in “Jerusalem” dispatched “Peter and John” to the area of “Samaria” to meet with the new believers there.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how the “apostles in Jerusalem” heard about the people in Samaria becoming believers in Jesus. This caused them to send “Peter and John” to observe what was happening there. “Philip” was used by the Lord in great measure to share the “gospel” of Jesus Christ, and the people in Samaria were believing and being baptized. The “good news” was spreading, and Jesus' apostles were engaging those who believed. God loves people, and His desire is for people to believe and trust in His Son Jesus regardless of where they live. Those who are wise notice the interest and actions of the people in Samaria and follow their lead in believing and trusting in Jesus.
Next time Luke shares how the apostles, “prayed for them”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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