The Samaritan Mission: An Exposition Of Acts 8:5-25

The Samaritan Mission: an Exposition of Acts 8:5-25

In Acts 1:8, Jesus tells them that the Apostles would be His witnesses, first in Jerusalem, then in Judaea and Samaria, and then to the ends of the earth. This forms a basic outline to the Book of Acts itself. The church started in Jerusalem on Pentecost and remained there for some time. The LORD added believers to the church, the leaders suffered persecution, the organization of deacons to provide equally for the widows, and other things necessary for the establishment and maintenance of the church.

There was a time the LORD had appointed for the next leg of the outreach, The Gospel needed to be preached next to Judaea and Samaria. The church in Jerusalem had gained a large measure of acceptance and admiration. Even a large number of priests had become obedient to what was called “the way.” For many, it is difficult to leave comfort to an uncertain future. Judaea was a different culture than Jerusalem. People who live in cities tend to look down on country folk. And Samaria was even a greater challenge due to centuries of mutual hatred.

The LORD used the means of persecution to get the followers of Jesus out of town and into the mission field. Stephen was arrested and stoned. Afterward, Saul, who would later become the Apostle Paul, was one of the worst persecutors. Other than the disciples, the believers were scattered all over the countryside like the seeds of a dandelion are scattered by the wind. There they preached Jesus in the villages of Judaea. The Gospel was not just for population centers. It is for everyone far and near.

Phillip, who was one of the seven appointed deacons of the church whose responsibilities were to ensure the equitable distribution of charity was also a man who was filled with and led by the Spirit. Stephen, who was filled with the same Spirit makes a remarkable defense while on trial and paid for it with his life. The Lord had other purposes for Phillip. He went into the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. The Samaritans only held to the five books of Moses which is called the Torah or the Pentateuch. They believed that according to Moses, a prophet like him would be raised up who was to be obeyed. They called this teacher “Taheeb.” The Jews also held to this teaching, to which they also expected a Messiah “Anointed One” from the line of David. It was unclear to them whether they were expecting two separate people or one Messiah who fulfilled both prophecies. Both views circulated. The term “Messiah,” if it had any meaning to the Samaritans at all, would have a negative connotation. They were probably familiar with the term as the woman at the well in John 4 uses “Messiah” in talking to Jesus.

The Lord verified the preaching of Phillip with many signs and wonders. They held to Phillip with one accord. The same Greek word “homothumadon” is used here as in Acts 2 to describe the Pentecostal gathering. They heard the words he was preaching and the signs he was doing. Unclean spirits were being cast out with loud cries and the lame and crippled were healed. These “signs” point to and testify to a greater reality like a road sign points to the greater reality of a city. We should not gaze upon the signs but upon Jesus to whom the signs point.

The result was that there was great joy in the city. Earlier in our study of Acts we were informed by the end of Luke that after the ascension of Jesus that the disciples returned to Jerusalem “with great joy.” When Peter and John returned after being beaten by the Sanhedrin, the rejoiced with the rest of the brethren that they were accounted worthy to suffer for Jesus. The crippled man at the beautiful gate went into the Temple and rejoiced. Great joy accompanies conversion and faith in Jesus. It is a visible sign of an inward change. The lack of joy in one’s life is a serious malady. When one thinks about what Jesus has done for them, they should rejoice. They should rejoice on every remembrance, even if they have to rejoice in the crucible of suffering.

We read at the beginning of Acts that this treatise was a continuation of what Jesus began to do and teach. The church is to continue in this same mission. What happened to Jesus happens also to the believers. Jesus affirmed this on many occasions. There would be those who joyously accept, there would be those who violently reject, and there would be false brethren who would try to disrupt the movement. Jesus had Judas to deal with. The church had to deal with Ananias and Sapphira. They had played the part of Achan and would have disturbed the unity, joy and power of the church if they were not confronted by the Holy Spirit and Peter. Now a new nemesis would try to come into the church who was but a wolf in sheep’s clothing. This was Simon the Sorcerer.