April 30, 2026 | Be Connected
Peter and John Minister in Samaria
Scripture: Acts 8:14-17(NIV)
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.
Devotional
One of the most important lessons of Acts 8:14-17 is that it was one of the first times that Gentiles were baptized and received the Holy Spirit. They were baptized by Philip and later received the Holy Spirit from Peter and John through the laying on of hands. These acts were the beginning of the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy and Jesus’ call to the Disciples to witness to both Jewish and Gentile people. In the Old Testament, Joel prophesied that the Lord would say, “28I will pour out my Spirit on all people…32and everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Joel 2:28, 32). Jesus told his Disciples, “8but 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” (Acts 1:8).
We do not know why the conversions occurred as written in Acts. Why did Peter and John go to Samaria since Philip had already baptized the people? How did Peter and John know the people had not yet received the Holy Spirit? Aren’t people baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit at the same time? Why did Peter and John use the laying on of hands to give the Holy Spirit?
One possible reason for this first conversion of Gentiles taking place in Samaria is that Jesus and His Disciples had traveled through it and prepared the way (e.g., “sowed the seeds”) for Philip, Peter, and John (“to reap the harvest”) (Guzak, Enduring Word; John 4:38). In the story of the Samaritan woman at the well, Jesus talked with groups of Samaritans “41And because of His words many more became believers” (John 4:41). In fact, they said, “43We know that this man really is the Savior of the world” (John 4:43).
Although the Samaritans were baptized and converted by Philip, it is possible that “God had more to give them” (Guzak, Enduring Word) through Peter and John. The laying on of hands is used in the Bible as a blessing, a prayer, a commission, and a way to receive the Holy Spirit.
Does God want to give you more? Are you listening?
A Simple Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
-Thank you for sending your son Jesus to save us.
-Help us to be obedient to your Word.
-Help us to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
-In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.
