Daily Thoughts from Acts: The Missionary Church (Acts 8:4-13)

Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip when they heard him and saw the signs that he did. For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was much joy in that city.

   But there was a man named Simon, who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was somebody great. They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the power of God that is called Great.” And they paid attention to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic. But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed.  (Acts 8:4-13 ESV)

Philip, also like Stephen, one of the seven chosen by the people to watch over the widows’ distribution of food, had gifts beyond such administration and began preaching in Samaria.  The magnitude of this act is often lost on us.  It is like an American going to preach to an Afghani after 9/11.  The Jews and Samaritans despised each other. 

The Samaritans were of mixed Jewish and Gentile lineage stemming from the conquering of the northern kingdom of Israel in 722 BC by Assyria, who took many Israelites captive to other lands and imported many conquered peoples from outside Israel to control against uprisings.  Ethnic intermarriage resulted but a form of Judaism remained the religious creed of this people.  They disagreed on where to worship and how.  The Samaritans believed that Mt. Gerizim was the right place of worship, contrary to God’s choice of Jerusalem for His temple.  They came to believe that the Torah or Jewish Bible had been corrupted and that their version was pure.  Though it may be a later development, they had an expectation of Messiah, whom they called Taheb, coming to Mt. Gerizim to lead them back to God and their land.  Jesus had indeed come there, as recorded in John 4, and revealed himself as the Messiah.

Under Philip’s preaching, accompanied by signs and wonders, many Samaritans believed, including Simon the sorcerer who had often held sway with his magic powers.  Simon’s belief indicates that even he saw something qualitatively different in the acts of power he performed and what God was doing through Philip.  Whether his magic was trickery or demonically empowered, he knew that it was not to be compared with the power demonstrated in the name of Jesus.

The converts were baptized like the Jews on the day of Pentecost, indicating that they now followed Jesus as their Messiah.  The missionary movement of the church had begun.

Christianity is a missionary faith, a faith that is to be carried to the ends of the earth, a faith for all peoples, regardless of their current religiosity.  This indicates, as Jesus taught, that he is the only way to the Father.  Even a religion as close to the truth as the Samaritan religion is not sufficient to make one acceptable to God.  Only those who put their trust in God’s representative, His Messiah, Jesus, can have an acceptable relationship with Him.  This is not because He is picky but because He has provided what the world truly needs, a sacrifice that covers our guilt.  We cannot make ourselves acceptable to God. [See https://thimblefulloftheology.com/the-unique-answer-of-christianity-to-the-three-religious-questions/]