Acts of the Apostles 8

jahel

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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.

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.​

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 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.

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.​

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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topher694

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Acts of the Apostles 8:1-40

Hebrews 6:1-3
Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And this we will do, if God permits.…
A call to maturity calls for laying aside the laying on of hands so how do we reconcile all the other references from old and new testament accounts of laying on of hands especially in light of Hebrews 6? We will attempt to explore that here...
That is not what Hebrews 6 is saying at all.

He's simply saying that we don't need to cover this material again, you already know this stuff.
 
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jahel

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That is not what Hebrews 6 is saying at all.

He's simply saying that we don't need to cover this material again, you already know this stuff.
This stuff (as you say) is obviously not what I said I know. Please compare what you have to what the op is saying if you want to participate in the thread. Put downs are not welcome. Thanks.
 
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topher694

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This stuff (as you say) is obviously not what I said I know. Please compare what you have to what the op is saying if you want to participate in the thread. Put downs are not welcome. Thanks.
Ummm, that wasn't a put down, not even close. I think you need to read it again... I did do a comparison, I think you took my comparison as directed at you. It was directed at the scripture.
 
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jahel

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Ummm, that wasn't a put down, not even close. I think you need to read it again... I did do a comparison, I think you took my comparison as directed at you. It was directed at the scripture.
Perhaps you could elaborate on the Hebrews part? The thread title is Acts 8 tho so if it could encompass all it would be appreciated.
The seven items of Hebrews 6:1-4 are foundational and once applied need not be applied again. Many think that repentance must be obtained again and again but John the baptist had the ministry of baptism unto repentance and baptism is not continually needed by water. Baptism by the Spirit is renewed daily and we know that picking up the cross is daily following Him, the conscience being cleansed in His blood and obtained at the throne of grace, not at the water font.(OT analogy of washing at the laver to enter the first veil. His blood then moves one thru the second veil)

That's why we are to move on from there because we need to build on the foundation. Too many Christians think that sitting on the foundation or just the cornerstone is enough. Many return to the old foundation of law just to cover the bases not realizing they need to forge ahead! Build on rock not on sand!​
 
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topher694

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Perhaps you could elaborate on the Hebrews part? The thread title is Acts 8 tho so if it could encompass all it would be appreciated.
The seven items of Hebrews 6:1-4 are foundational and once applied need not be applied again. Many think that repentance must be obtained again and again but John the baptist had the ministry of baptism unto repentance and baptism is not continually needed by water. Baptism by the Spirit is renewed daily and we know that picking up the cross is daily following Him, the conscience being cleansed in His blood and obtained at the throne of grace, not at the water font.(OT analogy of washing at the laver to enter the first veil. His blood then moves one thru the second veil)

That's why we are to move on from there because we need to build on the foundation. Too many Christians think that sitting on the foundation or just the cornerstone is enough. Many return to the old foundation of law just to cover the bases not realizing they need to forge ahead! Build on rock not on sand!​
You're assumption about Hebrews 6:1-4 is incorrect which makes the discussion about Acts 8 moot. The writer of Hebrews is not saying we apply these things once and they are no longer used. He is saying you already have an understanding of these foundational things, so I'm not going to review them, we're going to move on to something deeper.

It's like taking a math class on algebra. The teacher is not going to teach the students how to do addition and subtraction. They should already have that foundation by the time they take his course. But that doesn't mean they won't use addition & subtraction while learning algebra, they undoubtedly will.

Take your analogy of baptisms. Yes, we do not need to be baptized every day. But the REASON we are baptized and what it ACCOMPLISHES in our lives is something that we DO always need to remember and carry with us. First for our own growth (to remember what we have been cleansed of) and second so we can help others learn and receive that same truth.

The foundational principles of God do not expire.
 
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jahel

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You're assumption about Hebrews 6:1-4 is incorrect which makes the discussion about Acts 8 moot. The writer of Hebrews is not saying we apply these things once and they are no longer used. He is saying you already have an understanding of these foundational things, so I'm not going to review them, we're going to move on to something deeper.

It's like taking a math class on algebra. The teacher is not going to teach the students how to do addition and subtraction. They should already have that foundation by the time they take his course. But that doesn't mean they won't use addition & subtraction while learning algebra, they undoubtedly will.

Take your analogy of baptisms. Yes, we do not need to be baptized every day. But the REASON we are baptized and what it ACCOMPLISHES in our lives is something that we DO always need to remember and carry with us. First for our own growth (to remember what we have been cleansed of) and second so we can help others learn and receive that same truth.

The foundational principles of God do not expire.
Ok I’m not going to sidetrack onto the most controversial topic there is ... so I’ve removed the reference to Hebrews 6.
Care to comment on the topic?
 
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topher694

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Ok I’m not going to sidetrack onto the most controversial topic there is ... so I’ve removed the reference to Hebrews 6.
Care to comment on the topic?
It's not entirely clear to me what you are concluding.

It does seems to show the need of not just the indwelling Christ for life but the outward reality for the great commission
I think I agree with this.

However, if you are saying we no longer are supposed to lay hands on others, I disagree, and I can address that if you wish.
 
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jahel

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It's not entirely clear to me what you are concluding.


I think I agree with this.

However, if you are saying we no longer are supposed to lay hands on others, I disagree, and I can address that if you wish.
The conclusion that I had in mind was the Presence of the Holy Spirit as being the initiator rather than human effort but I haven’t worked that out just yet. I also see the contrast between Hebrews 6 and 10 so difficult not to get caught up in that. The destruction looks to be the same so perhaps that as well as ....
 
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topher694

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The conclusion that I had in mind was the Presence of the Holy Spirit as being the initiator rather than human effort but I haven’t worked that out just yet. I also see the contrast between Hebrews 6 and 10 so difficult not to get caught up in that. The destruction looks to be the same so perhaps that as well as ....
Ok, I think I'm getting a better understanding now.

When it comes to the Holy Spirit, the reason you are having difficulty working it out is that it is not one or the other, it's both. It is always partnership. We do our part, He does His part. Either side can "initiate" something, but both sides need to be working together to accomplish anything. I'm not saying that God is powerless without us, it is always by His might and power, but this is how He set it up. The cool thing is that even though we may be partnering with the Holy Spirit to help someone else, we grow and learn at the same time. I believe that is why He does it this way.
 
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jahel

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Ok, I think I'm getting a better understanding now.

When it comes to the Holy Spirit, the reason you are having difficulty working it out is that it is not one or the other, it's both. It is always partnership. We do our part, He does His part. Either side can "initiate" something, but both sides need to be working together to accomplish anything. I'm not saying that God is powerless without us, it is always by His might and power, but this is how He set it up. The cool thing is that even though we may be partnering with the Holy Spirit to help someone else, we grow and learn at the same time. I believe that is why He does it this way.
That makes sense, thanks. I’m fairly fog-brained from lack of sleep at the moment so may get back to this later when I can give it more thought.

If anyone has any further insights please comment!
 
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