Following the outbreak of persecution that we read about yesterday the church was scattered and the story now focuses on one person who was forced to flee, Philip, one of those who had been appointed as deacons. He ended up in Samaria of all places, enemy territory for Jews, and yet many Samaritans came to faith through his witness. They did not, however, receive the Holy Spirit until the apostles turned up. Why is this? Peter had said that we receive the Holy Spirit when we believe and commit ourselves to Jesus in baptism (Acts 2:38). Paul also tells us that we are sealed with the Holy Spirit when we believe (Ephesian 1:13). But this was a transitional moment; the first great leap of the Gospel outside the boundaries of Israel. It seems that God was withholding the full manifestation of his Spirit from the Samaritans so the apostles could witness this. The last time they were among Samaritans the apostles had asked Jesus, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” (Luke 9:54). In a wonderful twist of circumstances, they now had the opportunity to do just this, although to impart life rather than death. It was to be a sign that God was no longer restricting himself to Israel; it was the first step in the plan Jesus had laid out when he said: “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” The Holy Spirit won’t be contained. You will experience his fulness as you allow him to flow through you to others.
Ask God to fill you with an ever-greater measure of his Holy Spirit for the sake of others.
Read Acts 8:4-17
