Bible Text: Acts 8:12-19
Central Truth: There is an experience following salvation of being filled with the Holy Spirit. As a young denominational minister, I had been taught that when a person is saved, he has the Holy Spirit — which is true in a sense. However, my denomination taught that when one is saved, he has all of the Holy Spirit it is possible to have. The Scripture passage below helped me see that there is an experience subsequent to salvation called receiving the Holy Spirit, or the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
These verses show that although the Samaritans were saved, the apostles didn’t seem to think they had all of the Holy Spirit it is possible to have.
Philip’s Ministry In Samaria ACTS 8:12,13 12 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. 13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. Philip’s ministry in Samaria was abundantly blessed of God. Mighty miracles constantly were being performed. Many were saved and healed, according to Acts 8:7,8: “For unclean spirits, crying with loud, voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed And there was great joy in that city.” The Samaritans believed Philip’s sermons concerning the kingdom of God and the Name of Jesus, and they were baptized in water: “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" (v. 12). Jesus had said, “. ..Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He that BELIEVETH and is BAPTIZED shall be saved...” (Mark 16:15). These Samaritans both believed and were baptized.
Were they saved? According to Jesus they were! Yet none of them had received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. There is a work of the Holy Spirit involved in the New Birth, but that work is not called receiving the Holy Spirit (or the baptism of the Holy Spirit). It is called being born again (or receiving eternal life). The experience that follows salvation is called receiving the Holy Spirit, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, or being filled with the Holy Spirit. We are born again by the Word of God. Peter says we are born “not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, BY THE WORD OF GOD, which liveth and abideth for ever” (1 Peter 1:23).
Peter And John Sent To Samaria
ACTS 8:14-17 14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: 15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: 16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
Our text in verse fourteen says, "Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria HAD RECEIVED THE WORD OF GOD....” This is conclusive proof that these people were genuinely saved. The apostles recognized they were saved, because after they heard of the wonderful things God had done through Philip’s ministry, they sent Peter and John to lay hands on the new converts that they might receive the Holy Spirit. There is no record that any upon whom Peter and John laid hands failed to receive. The Bible simply states, “Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost” (Acts 8:17). Peter and John were sent to Samaria for a specific purpose. What was this purpose? The answer is found in verse fifteen: “Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost. ” The other apostles in Jerusalem sent them to Samaria for this specific purpose. Why did they have to pray for those Samaritans to receive the Holy Spirit? Why couldn’t Philip have prayed for them just as well? We must remember we all have our place in God’s plan. We must find that place and do what God wants us to do. God has special ministries; He didn’t call all of us to minister the same, and He didn’t give all of us the same ministry. Philip was an evangelist. His ministry was leading many to an experience of salvation in Jesus Christ. Peter and John, on the other hand, had a specific ministry of laying hands on people to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Simon The Sorcerer Acts 8:18,19 18 And When Simon Saw That Through Laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, 19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
Simon the sorcerer offered Peter and John money, saying, .. Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost” (v. 19). Some have thought Simon tried to buy the Holy Spirit. He didn’t. He tried to buy the ability to lay hands on people and have them receive the Holy Spirit. Peter answered him, “... Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money ” (v. 20). There are four different Greek words translated “gift” in the New Testament. This particular Greek word means “an endowment.” Peter said he and John were endowed, or gifted, by the Holy Spirit to lay hands on people to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. How do we know these Samaritans actually spoke in tongues? Some who do not believe in tongues argue that this Scripture says nothing about their speaking in tongues.
Students of Church history know the Early Church fathers agree that they did speak with tongues in Samaria. And we read elsewhere in the New Testament that those who were filled with the Holy Spirit spoke with tongues. Also it is apparent that these Samaritans must have spoken in tongues, because “... Simon SAW that through laying on of the apostles ’ hands the Holy Ghost was given...” (v. 18).
Certainly the Holy Spirit cannot be seen with the physical eye, because He is a Spirit. Yet there had to be some kind of physical sign whereby Simon knew they had received the Holy Spirit. There had to have been something that registered on Simon’s physical senses so he could tell that they had received the Holy Spirit. Simon didn’t receive the Holy Spirit himself, but he could see that the others had. How? “Maybe it was because Simon saw the Samaritans were full of joy,” one minister said to me. This, however, couldn’t explain it, because Simon already had seen their joy. Verse eight reports, “... there was great joy in that city. ” They already had joy before Peter and John arrived from Jerusalem, and before they received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. What kind of sign, then, would cause Simon to know these people had received the Holy Spirit when Peter and John laid hands on them? All evidence indicates that the sign which was manifested was speaking in tongues. That was the sign that convinced Simon they had received the Holy Spirit. Speaking in tongues is not the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit is not speaking in tongues — but they go hand in hand. It’s like the tongue in the shoe. The tongue isn’t the shoe, and the shoe isn’t the tongue, but each is an important part of the other. When somebody buys an automobile in Texas, he is issued a certificate of title as evidence of ownership. The automobile is not the certificate of title, and the title is not the automobile, but you’ll not get very far in that automobile without the certificate (or evidence) of title. If you have the infilling of the Holy Spirit, you should have the evidence (tongues) to go along with it. Notice there is not the least suggestion in Acts 8 that Peter and John taught the Samaritans to tarry (or wait) for the Holy Spirit.
To teach people to tarry for the infilling of the Holy Spirit, which already has been given as a free gift, only produces doubt and indecision. Howard Carter, who was general supervisor of the Assemblies of God in Great Britain for many years, founded the oldest Pentecostal Bible school in the world, and he was a leading teacher in Full Gospel circles around the world. He said that to teach people to wait for the Holy Spirit is nothing but a combination of works and unbelief. A Free Gift Notice something else in Acts 8: Peter and John did not pray that God would give the Samaritans the Holy Spirit. They prayed that the Samaritans would receive the Holy Spirit. Often we pray, “Lord, save souls at this service tonight. Heal the sick.” However, we do not find where they ever prayed that way in the Acts of the Apostles (and we should pray according to the Word).
I pray for people, but not that God would save them, because He already has done something about saving them: He sent His Son to die for us. God already has purchased salvation for each man; however, it is not going to do us any good until we accept it. That is the reason He told us to spread the Good News. Scripturally, we should pray that people will receive the gift of eternal life that is offered to them. I don’t pray for God to heal people, either. I pray that people will receive the healing God offers. I don’t pray that God would fill people with the Holy Spirit. I pray like Peter and John did, that they might receive the gift God offers. Also notice that the seventeenth verse of this passage does not say, “Then laid they their hands on them and God filled them with the Holy Ghost.” It says, “... and they RECEIVED the Holy Ghost.” I believe we are in good company with Peter and John, so I follow the same procedure they followed: I lay hands on people to receive the Holy Spirit. I do it in faith because it is scriptural. I also do it because I have a ministry along that line. The apostles sent Peter and John to Samaria because they had a ministry along this line. (God anoints us to minister according to His calling on our lives.) As a denominational pastor half a century ago, when I read the New Testament and the Spirit of God enlightened me on these verses, I was convinced that if I received the same Holy Spirit they had received, I would have the same initial sign of speaking with tongues. I wasn’t satisfied with anything less.
Memory Text: “For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence” (Acts 1:5).
THE LESSON IN ACTION: “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only ...” (James 1:22).
Source:
Concerning Spiritual Gifts By Kenneth E. Hagin 26 Lessons On The Holy Spirit And His Gifts
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***No one knows what day or hour is the Rapture, but God has His own timeline. And we are almost at the borderline, a transition, a shift between now and the coming 7yr tribulation period. While the world is being set up for the coming of the Antichrist, God is preparing the Bride of Christ to be taken away at the Rapture anytime...Don't be left behind!!!
The Importance of Watching
"Take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”- Luke 21:36WHO IS JESUS?
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