![]() ![]() Little children do not understand these concepts. Why not? Children were not baptized because they could not believe in the kingdom of God and the power of Jesus Christ. Children were not being baptized in Samaria. It is also important for us to see here that Luke records that men and women were baptized.We are not going to read any other way to receive God ‘s grace as we continue our study in the book of Acts. This is how one received the grace of God and the forgiveness of sins. This is how one became a disciple of Jesus in the first century. In verse 13 we read that even Simon himself, a person able to perform sorceries, was amazed at what Philip was able to do such that he also believed what Philip taught and also was baptized. This matches what we read in Acts 2 when Peter clearly declared that forgiveness of sins comes from God through baptism. The men and women in Samaria believed the good news concerning the kingdom of god and the authority of Jesus Christ and were baptized.So let us carefully read this section of scripture so we can know what we must do. If we can determine how people in the first century received the forgiveness of sins, then we know what we need to do today to receive the forgiveness of sins. What we read about the salvation of the Samaritans is very important.The people believed the words and works of Philip concerning the kingdom of God and the authority of Jesus Christ. The people had been astounded by the sorceries of Simon, but those tricks were nothing to the power that Philip shows to the people of the city. But this is a contrast between the sorceries of Simon and the miracles of God through Philip.Simon claimed to be someone great and the people declared Simon to have the great power of God. Simon had come in and astounded people with his sorceries. But there was a man named Simon who had been practicing sorcery in the same city where Philip is preaching.This is the same that we saw with Stephen in Acts 6:8 who was also performing great signs and wonders while preaching the message of Christ. ![]() Unclean spirits are being cast out and many paralyzed and lame men were being healed. In Samaria, Philip is performing signs and the people are paying attention to what Philip is speaking and working.Philip goes to Samaria and preaches the Messiah to them. He also is one of the men selected in Acts 6 to serve the Jerusalem church by overseeing the daily distribution to the widows. Philip is one of the men fleeing from the persecution. The Christians fleeing Jerusalem went on preaching the good news of Jesus Christ as they went.Saul is wrecking havoc on the church in Jerusalem. These Christians were teaching and preaching in each other ‘s home, eating meals together, and spending time doing the will of God. These Christians were zealous and passionate, meeting daily in the temple courts preaching the risen Jesus. Saul ‘s work would have been easy because these Christians did not gather for only an hour on Sunday. Saul begins to devastate the Christians by entering into their homes, dragging off men and women, and putting them in prison. ![]()
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