Thoughts for the Day

Philip Preaches in Samaria

Now those who were scattered went from place to place, proclaiming the word. Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah to them. The crowds with one accord listened eagerly to what was said by Philip, hearing and seeing the signs that he did, for unclean spirits, crying with loud shrieks, came out of many who were possessed; and many others who were paralysed or lame were cured. So there was great joy in that city.

Now a certain man named Simon had previously practised magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he was someone great. All of them, from the least to the greatest, listened to him eagerly, saying, ‘This man is the power of God that is called Great.’ And they listened eagerly to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic. But when they believed Philip, who was proclaiming the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Even Simon himself believed. After being baptized, he stayed constantly with Philip and was amazed when he saw the signs and great miracles that took place.

Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. The two went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit (for as yet the Spirit had not come upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus). Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit..... Now after Peter and John had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, proclaiming the good news to many villages of the Samaritans.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

After the death of Stephen, the Sanhedrin Council and its leaders, which include Saul, whip up anger against all those in Jerusalem who have been followers of Jesus, and we find the believers scattering throughout the area. As a Pharisee Saul is determined that no heretics should exist to undermine the Law of Moses. However, he himself will soon undergo a transformation, and as Paul (his Roman name) will become one of the strongest advocates of Jesus as the Son of God who came to save His people.

Up to this point those who believe in Jesus have not started to take the Gospel news to the wider world. After receiving the power of the Holy Spirit they stayed in Jerusalem, but now with persecution things change. We hear that Philip goes to Samaria. Philip seems to have been one of the men chosen, along with Stephen, to carry out pastoral work as Deacons in the new church (Acts 6.5), yet here we find him preaching to the Samaritans. Our eyebrows should be raised in astonishment at this for they were hated by most people since the time they were conquered by the Assyrians who took away their leaders and then settled pagans in the country. Added to this the Samaritans had had the temerity to set up a temple to rival that in Jerusalem, and wouldn't accept the authority of half of the Hebrew scriptures. We might wonder if Philip went there because of Jesus' experience with the woman at the well (John 4.1-42), or because of the Parable in Luke's other work (Luke 10.25-37).

Whatever the reason for Philip to go to Samaria, it took persecution and courage to make him take the Gospel to these outsiders, and was a powerful testimony to the work of the Holy Spirit. We may not persecuted, but what will it take us to spread the word of God?

Lord Jesus Christ,
Your servant Philip took Your word
to those who were considered outsiders
and told them about You,
and about Your Father's plan for His people.
Give us the courage
to spread the Christian message
to our world even when we are ridiculed,
or our witness is rejected.
Amen.