This window with the symbols of baptism and the Holy Spirit is from St Dominic’s church in Washington DC. [photo by Fr. Lawrence Lew, O.P.]
Acts 8:14-17
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OBSERVE:
This passage describes the very early days of Christianity when the Gospel was just beginning to transition from a Jewish sect into a world “movement.” In a sense, this is the beginning of the fulfillment of Jesus’ mission plan, as he instructed the disciples just prior to his ascension into heaven:
” . . . you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
Jesus had certainly had an impact in Samaria prior to his death and resurrection, as he passed through that territory.
Later, Philip had been the pioneer in preaching the Gospel in Samaria. The Philip described in Acts 8 is likely Philip the deacon and evangelist, not the Philip that was one of the twelve disciples.
There are two key issues to take into consideration:
First, we must bear in mind the severe prejudice that the Jews typically held toward the Samaritans.
Some Jews even considered the Samaritans to be “unclean” and to be avoided at all costs. But Jesus by his teachings [the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10] and actions [the woman at the well in John 4] began to break down the walls of separation.
In today’s lectionary reading of Acts 8, the Jewish disciples of Jesus continue his work as they proclaim the Gospel in Samaria.
Second, we get the sense that though Philip has introduced the Samaritans to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, he hasn’t completed the work of discipleship.
This is the concern of the apostles at Jerusalem, who are responsible for maintaining the correct teaching of the Gospel. They want to be sure that as the doctrine of Christ is spread that it is accurate.
Therefore:
when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.
Curiously, there seemed at this time to be a two-stage process of initiation into the faith. While the Samaritans seem to have believed and been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, there was still something missing:
Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
This seems to be a confirmation of the prophecy of John the Baptist, who says of Jesus:
“He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Luke 3:16).
In order to experience the fullness of the new life in Christ, it appears to be necessary that the Samaritans experience the Holy Spirit as well.
APPLY:
It is important to remember that this passage describes early doctrinal development in the church that is based primarily on the experience of the early Christians.
It seems conceivable that a person might become a believer in Christ as the risen Lord, and even to be baptized in his name, and yet still have room for a deepening experience when that person subsequently receives the Holy Spirit.
This leaves open the possibility of spiritual growth and maturity — what many Christians describe as sanctification.
Some Christian denominations may become quite technical about this experience, describing it as “the second blessing,” or “the second baptism,” or “baptism with the Holy Spirit.”
But simply put, it suggests that there is room for growth in the normal Christian experience.
RESPOND:
Baptism can be among the most controversial doctrines in the Christian church today. Some churches practice the baptism of infants, as a sign that they are included in God’s love and grace from the beginning. Others insist on “believer’s baptism,” which means that baptism is only legitimate based on the decision of the believer. Others would say that until there are clear outward signs of the presence of the Holy Spirit (for example, the gifts of the Spirit), there is no true baptism.
I know a youth minister in a church which practices infant baptism. About the time members in his youth group get into high school, they are beginning to ask questions about their faith and especially whether their baptism is legitimate. His answer is worth considering — The baptism that really matters is the baptism of the heart.
Our Lord, I do crave all the blessings and the power that you offer. I claim the baptism I received as a child, and pray that you will continuously fill me with your Holy Spirit. Amen.
PHOTOS: "Baptism and the Holy Spirit" by Fr. Lawrence Lew, O.P. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic license.
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