while today

There is an unexpected, thought-provoking passage in Acts chapter eight that has caused much debate and confusion for Bible students of all generations.  In a monumental moment in history, Philip brought the gospel of Christ to Samaria.  Speaking of the Samaritan response, the text says, “But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike.” (Acts 8:12 NASB95)

The Samaritans heard and believed the good news about Christ and were baptized in His name.  What then can we say about these people?  According to the promise of God, we know that at the moment of their baptism they were forgiven of their sins, they received the gift of the Holy Spirit, and they were added to the church (Acts 2:38-41).  These blessings that are attached to being baptized into Jesus are for all people, for all time.  As Peter said, “The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” (Acts 2:39 NASB95) We could look at other passages that also tell us that baptism, the reception of the Holy Spirit, and becoming a child of God occur together (Romans 8:9; Galatians 3:26-27; Galatians 4:6).

And yet, in the case of the Samaritans who believed and were baptized, we read this: “Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 8:14-17 NASB95) Isn’t that interesting?  It appears that these people believed and were baptized, but did not receive the Spirit at that time!  What is happening here?  Was God not faithful to His promise in the case of the Samaritans?  If the Samaritans did not receive the Spirit when they believed and were baptized, then they did not become children of God at that moment, for Paul wrote, “However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.”  (Romans 8:9 NASB95)

So, what is going on here?  First of all, we know that God would never be unfaithful to a promise.  Baptism, as a response of faith in His name, is the moment at which God gives His Spirit.  Then what happened in the case of the Samaritans?  I believe they received the indwelling of the Spirit at the moment of their baptism, just like all believers do according to the promise of God, but that the two apostles came down to additionally bestow on these believers the miraculous gifts of the Spirit.  This was done through the laying on of the apostle’s hands.  Why did they do this?  We can reason that they did so to empower the spread of the gospel in Samaria, and to show in a very visible way to everyone that God accepted the Samaritan believers, a fact that would have been quite shocking to many Jews.

You and I can rest in His promise that when we were baptized into Jesus, we received the gift of His Spirit.  Thank God for His wonderful gift!

—Scott Colvin