Acts 8:14-17
When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
Reflection
When the leaders of the church in Jerusalem heard about Philip’s success in spreading the gospel in Samaria representatives were sent to observe and assist Philip in his ministry. When Peter and John arrived in Samaria they discovered that the people had turned to Jesus and had been baptized but they had not yet received the Holy Spirit. Peter and John placed their hands on the Samarians who believed and prayed for them and they received the Holy Spirit. This was another step for these people to move out of the culture that had so thoroughly captivated them and surrender more fully to the presence of Jesus in their lives through the Holy Spirit.
When you are involved with a new believer what signs do you see that they are growing in and moving toward the love and grace of Jesus?
