I was just reviewing my notes from yesterday and saw that Philips visit to Samaria was actually a fulfillment of Jesus' command and prophesy concerning their ministry after receiving the Holy Spirit in Acts 1:8 NIV: "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
And in Acts 8, we see Philip doing exactly that, going to Samaria. It is interesting that his visit there was the result of the persecution that followed the stoning of Stephen. Here are the verses to which I am referring - Acts 8:1, 4-8, 14-17 NIV:
[1]..."On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.
[4] Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. [5] Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. [6] When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. [7] For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. [8] So there was great joy in that city.
[14] When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria. [15] When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, [16] because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. [17] Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit."
I find it very interesting that this prophetic word and command of Jesus had not really been fulfilled yet before Acts 8. There is some disagreement as to when Stephen was stoned, which was the proceeding event that caused the persecution to begin. Many put this date about 3 years after Jesus' death. So apparently the apostles and all the disciples who received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost had not yet really focused a missionary effort on Samaria, at least not that we are told. Not only that, but it wasn't even a voluntary move, so much as the result of their fleeing the persecution.
That makes me wonder why it took them so long, and why Samaria hadn't been visited yet. I can think of a couple of reasons. To start with the church in Jerusalem was almost instantly very successful after Pentecost. They added 3000 people that day alone. They had plenty of issues to keep on them busy, and they were working through them, and were likely quite distracted. They had to worry about feeding the people (Acts 6), the church was growing because of the miracles and signs and wonders (Acts 5), people were bringing them their wealth and they were distributing that to people as needed. Again we are talking about possibly thousands of people, so these tasks would be significant. The twelve were so busy they finally just had to devote themselves to full time teaching.
This whole situation gives me encouragement for a few reasons. First, even the apostles can get caught up in the success of something and lose sight of the the even bigger picture. Sometimes I am so focused on what is in front of me that I forget some of the other things the Lord has commanded me to do. I find myself easily distracted, but the Lord is faithful to see them completed.
Second, seemingly bad things like the stoning of Stephen and the persecution of the church fit perfectly into God's plans. These events which seem so disastrous, can be turned to God's glory if we will follow Him and continue to believe in His word. I can imagine there was plenty of concern for the livelihood of the church after the persecution began. I imagine there were plenty of doubters, plenty who were distracted at that time, yet the Holy Spirit prevailed and grew the church!
Finally, the strength and power produced by the Holy Spirit, through Philip was not reduced at all. He still was able to work miracles, healings and casting out of unclean spirits. When a place rejects the Lord, and His church, the place that rejects them loses the blessing that could be theirs, but the new location receives every bit as much of the ministry of and through the Holy Spirit.
So let us be encouraged if we find ourselves somewhere we hadn't planned, if we realize that we have forgotten some of the things that the Lord has commanded us or encouraged us to do. His word is faithful and will be fulfilled. All the works of the enemy will only cause the Lord's renown to grow greater still. Let us look for the Lord in the new situation or circumstances and ask Him to pour forth the Holy Spirit in might and power.
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