By Timothy W. Burnett
The apostle Philip came to Samaria preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. Up to the time of his preaching, the people were giving their attention to a man named Simon who used the power of the Devil to cause the whole city to regard him as "the great power of God." (Acts 8:10). We start with verses 12-13, "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 continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs that were done." Where it says they were baptized means they were baptized with holy spirit. As noted in Acts 8:35-38, Philip still embraced the tradition of water baptism. But let us not be detracted from the truth that the baptism of John with earthly water was replaced by the true baptism of living waters by the Lord Jesus.This is the baptism of holy spirit.
So they believed and were baptized. Does this sound familiar? According to Romans 10:9-10 to believe with the heart that God raised Jesus from the dead is unto righteousness. Even Simon the sorcerer believed and was baptized with holy spirit. In verses 14-16 we see the appearance of two other apostles, "Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John. Who, when they came down, prayed for them, that they might received the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus)." The reference to "received the word of God" means they received the information with a favorable frame of mind. It came from the biblical Greek word "dechomai." As noted in previous weeks, the word "receive" in the context of holy spirit came from the Greek word "lambano" which meant to lay-hold of, or seize unto something. It would be a reasonable question to ask why they had to "receive" holy spirit, if they had already been "baptized." We learn from verse 16 that the baptism of holy spirit is a distinctly different condition from the Holy Ghost falling upon them.
Verses 17-18, "Then laid they their hands on them, and they received [lambano] the Holy Ghost. And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered money." Simon saw something that caused him to think they laid-hold of holy spirit. What did he see? When we allow God's word to interpret itself, he saw the same thing that was seen by others as recorded in Acts 2:33. The people of Samaria believed the word that was preached by Philip and this resulted in that they were baptized with holy spirit. It is very likely that Philip used the old tradition of water baptism to manifest their true spiritual baptism. Then somebody called the apostles in Jerusalem to come over and clear things up. Peter and John arrived and poened up the truth more perfectly. After they taught the truth and prayed for them, the people laid-hold of holy spirit. What did they do to lay-hold of holy spirit? Whatever it was, replaced the earthly water method of manifesting the baptism of holy spirit. We know this because Simon saw something.
Next week we will look at Acts chapter ten and see how the word "receive" is plainly used in the context of speaking in tongues.
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