Acts of the Apostles 8:1-40
The first time we see the laying on of hands NT is when John and Peter went to where Philip was teaching. The same instance shows Philip being whisked away to baptize the Ethiopian eunuch.
Nestled between these 2 incidents is Simon the Sorcerer attempting to purchase the power he associated with the laying on of hands when he saw the Holy Spirit being conferred onto the Samaritans. A good read of this passage would be very useful.
Here is my interpretation of the events of Acts 8 ...
Acts of the Apostles 8:1-8 With the death of Stephen, Saul/Paul began to destroy the church imprisoning both men and women resulting in them being scattered, preaching as they went. The first section brings us to where Philip was preaching in Samaria. There were great signs and miracles everywhere with men and women being baptized including one called Simon that was astonished at the power exhibited and, it becomes obvious, envious of the attention now deprived from him for he had been called "the great power of God" by the people. Acts of the Apostles 8:9-13
The people there had been baptized into the name of Jesus by identification with Him, which is like that of Jesus breathing upon the disciples before Pentecost, but they had not received the power from on high outwardly like the Spirit alighting on the 120 disciples at Pentecost.
Peter and John had been sent to so as to open the door to the group at Samaria, that were not of the Jews nor of the gentiles, to including them also in the body of Christ.
The laying on of hands in the OT was for identification. The example of Peter with Cornelius had Peter directly to bring in the gentiles into the church membership.
The laying on of hands was honored by the Holy Spirit by falling upon the samaritans in addition to having received the Spirit essentially when they believed.Acts 8:14-17
For also in one Spirit we were all baptized into one Body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and were all given to drink one Spirit.
The gospel had spread from the racially pure Jews to the racially impure Samaritans thru Philip, Peter and John.
From Acts of the Apostles 8:26-40 the Holy Spirit directed Philip to contact the gentiles. Thereby proving that the spread of the gospel was by the Spirit's leading and directing, not by man's devise and schedule and thereby ending the Old Covenant and inaguarating the Kingdom under God in Spirit and truth (as at Pentecost when the Spirit first arrived)
It may be that Philip only preached water baptism to the eunuch not Spirit baptism or it may be that with the Spirit definitely there that both were applied, we are not told. But the preceding events would seem to indicate that only an identification with His death had been applied earlier and not a reality of life in Christ, which is the Spirit baptism of power from on high and used to further the ministry. We are not told in the bible what the Eunuch from there.
It does seems to show the need of not just the indwelling Christ for life but the outward reality for the great commission.
Those who forsake the New Covenant to return to the Old Covenant are in danger of destruction just as those who seek to purchase the power of laying on of hands, in regarding Christ's blood a common thing and insulting the Spirit. Hebrews 10:27-31
The destruction is of a person's deeds and work, not a destruction of life and limb.
1 Corinthians 3:15
Thoughts?
The first time we see the laying on of hands NT is when John and Peter went to where Philip was teaching. The same instance shows Philip being whisked away to baptize the Ethiopian eunuch.
Nestled between these 2 incidents is Simon the Sorcerer attempting to purchase the power he associated with the laying on of hands when he saw the Holy Spirit being conferred onto the Samaritans. A good read of this passage would be very useful.
Here is my interpretation of the events of Acts 8 ...
Acts of the Apostles 8:1-8 With the death of Stephen, Saul/Paul began to destroy the church imprisoning both men and women resulting in them being scattered, preaching as they went. The first section brings us to where Philip was preaching in Samaria. There were great signs and miracles everywhere with men and women being baptized including one called Simon that was astonished at the power exhibited and, it becomes obvious, envious of the attention now deprived from him for he had been called "the great power of God" by the people. Acts of the Apostles 8:9-13
The people there had been baptized into the name of Jesus by identification with Him, which is like that of Jesus breathing upon the disciples before Pentecost, but they had not received the power from on high outwardly like the Spirit alighting on the 120 disciples at Pentecost.
Peter and John had been sent to so as to open the door to the group at Samaria, that were not of the Jews nor of the gentiles, to including them also in the body of Christ.
The laying on of hands in the OT was for identification. The example of Peter with Cornelius had Peter directly to bring in the gentiles into the church membership.
Leviticus 1:4
And he shall lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it shall be accepted for him, to make expiation for him.
And he shall lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it shall be accepted for him, to make expiation for him.
The laying on of hands was honored by the Holy Spirit by falling upon the samaritans in addition to having received the Spirit essentially when they believed.Acts 8:14-17
1 Corinthians 12:13-14
For even as the body is one and has many members, yet all the members of the body, being many, are one body, so also is the Christ.
For even as the body is one and has many members, yet all the members of the body, being many, are one body, so also is the Christ.
For also in one Spirit we were all baptized into one Body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and were all given to drink one Spirit.
The gospel had spread from the racially pure Jews to the racially impure Samaritans thru Philip, Peter and John.
From Acts of the Apostles 8:26-40 the Holy Spirit directed Philip to contact the gentiles. Thereby proving that the spread of the gospel was by the Spirit's leading and directing, not by man's devise and schedule and thereby ending the Old Covenant and inaguarating the Kingdom under God in Spirit and truth (as at Pentecost when the Spirit first arrived)
It may be that Philip only preached water baptism to the eunuch not Spirit baptism or it may be that with the Spirit definitely there that both were applied, we are not told. But the preceding events would seem to indicate that only an identification with His death had been applied earlier and not a reality of life in Christ, which is the Spirit baptism of power from on high and used to further the ministry. We are not told in the bible what the Eunuch from there.
It does seems to show the need of not just the indwelling Christ for life but the outward reality for the great commission.
Acts of the Apostles 8:20
But Peter said to him, May your silver go with you into destruction, because you thought that you would acquire the gift of God through money.
Hebrews 10:39
But we are not of those who shrink back to ruin but of them who have faith to the gaining of the soul.
But Peter said to him, May your silver go with you into destruction, because you thought that you would acquire the gift of God through money.
Hebrews 10:39
But we are not of those who shrink back to ruin but of them who have faith to the gaining of the soul.
Those who forsake the New Covenant to return to the Old Covenant are in danger of destruction just as those who seek to purchase the power of laying on of hands, in regarding Christ's blood a common thing and insulting the Spirit. Hebrews 10:27-31
Acts of the Apostles 8:18-19
But when Simon saw that through the laying on of the hands of the apostles the Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying,
Give me also this authority that on whomever I lay my hands he may receive the Holy Spirit.
But when Simon saw that through the laying on of the hands of the apostles the Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying,
Give me also this authority that on whomever I lay my hands he may receive the Holy Spirit.
The destruction is of a person's deeds and work, not a destruction of life and limb.
1 Corinthians 3:15
If anyone's work is consumed, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
Thoughts?
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