Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages. (Acts 8:25)
Eddy Ho, principal at Malaysia Evangelical College, said, “God was the first-ever missionary when in Genesis 3:8 he went out in search of two sinners who had rebelled against him in order to bring them back into fellowship with him.”
God continued to work through the ages to preserve a nation through whom Christ was presented to the world. Christ came as a baby, grew to manhood, and taught the disciples and others until his death, resurrection, and ascension into heaven. The Holy Spirit came on the day of Pentecost, and Peter emerged as the leader of the church. With the persecution of the church, Philip migrated to Samaria and shared Christ with the Samaritans. Several believed Philip’s message and became baptized.
There was age-old hostility between the Jews and the Samaritans. When the Jewish Jerusalem church heard about the new believers in Samaria, Peter and John were sent to check the rumors of Samaritan believers. Finding them, they prayed and laid hands on them to receive the Holy Spirit. This united the Jewish church and the Samaritans. Peter and John were so convinced that Christ was for all people, they preached the gospel in many Samaritan villages on their return to Jerusalem.
Christ broke down prejudicial barriers between the Jews and Samaritans. Is there anyone in our lives with whom we hesitate to share Christ?
Determine whether prejudices are keeping you from sharing Christ.
Gena Duncan is a graduate of Indiana Wesleyan University and active in her local church. She enjoys bicycling and gardening.
© 2022 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
