How does Acts 8:17 connect with the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20? Setting the Scene in Samaria Acts 8 describes Philip’s gospel advance into Samaria. Many believe and are baptized (8:12), but word reaches Jerusalem that these new converts have not yet received the Holy Spirit in the same manifest way experienced at Pentecost. So Peter and John travel north. The Hand-Laying Moment (Acts 8:17) “Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.” • Apostolic hands confirm Samaria’s inclusion in Christ’s one body. • The visible gift of the Spirit reassures everyone that Samaritan believers stand on equal footing with Jewish believers (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:13). • This public act follows water baptism (8:12, 16), showing that discipleship involves both outward identification with Christ and inward empowerment by the Spirit. The Great Commission Revisited (Matthew 28:19-20) “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Key Connections Between the Two Passages • All Nations, Including Samaritans – Jesus’ command envisions every ethnic group; Acts 8 shows that vision reaching Samaria, a people long estranged from Jerusalem (cf. John 4:9). • Baptism and the Spirit – Matthew highlights Trinitarian baptism; Acts pairs water baptism with an unmistakable reception of the Holy Spirit, underscoring that conversion is both ceremonial and spiritual. • Apostolic Authority – “Make disciples” carries Christ-given authority (28:18). Peter and John exercise that authority by laying on hands, acting as Christ’s representatives. • Christ’s Ongoing Presence – Jesus promises, “I am with you always.” In Acts 8 His presence is realized through the Holy Spirit now indwelling Samaritans, fulfilling John 14:16-18. • Teaching and Obedience – The apostles do more than confer the Spirit; they stay and “testify and speak the word of the Lord” (8:25), modeling the teaching component of the Commission. Progression of the Commission in Acts 1. Jerusalem (Acts 2) 2. Judea (Acts 4-7) 3. Samaria (Acts 8) — direct fulfillment of “all nations” 4. Gentile world (Acts 10 ff.) Takeaways for Today • Evangelism and disciple-making are inseparable from reliance on the Holy Spirit. • Baptism, sound teaching, and Spirit-empowerment form a unified package, not isolated experiences. • The gospel erases historical and ethnic barriers; no group is beyond the scope of Christ’s command. |
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