![]() Thus, when the Apostles heard of the revival in Samaria, they sent Peter and John without resistance. Jesus had ministered in Samaria during his earthly ministry, many Samaritans had believed, and Jesus had clearly indicated his acceptance of the Samaritans. Philip obtained the attention of the crowds in Samaria through healings and miracles, not tongues, and these works of power adequately authenticated his message to produce faith in those who heard. But considering Simon's background in sorcery, the relative ease with which glossolalia may be faked(3) and Luke's failure to mention tongues, it would be at least as reasonable to believe that what Simon "saw" was the manifestation of miraculous power through these Spirit-filled Samaritans.įurthermore, it should be noted that a mass manifestation of tongues was not necessary in Samaria for any of the reasons for which it was necessary at Pentecost or in Acts 10 or 19. How did Simon "see" that the Spirit was conferred through the Apostles' hands'? Was he able to "see" this because those upon whom hands were laid immediately started to speak in tongues? Maybe. Instead, the writer immediately proceeds to narrate that Simon "saw" that the Holy Spirit was conferred through the laying on of the Apostles' hands and offered them money to sell him the authority to confer the Spirit on others through the laying on of his hands. ![]() Here, Luke could have clarified the matter by adding just six words ("and they began speaking with tongues"), as he did in Acts 19:6, but no words to this effect are found in the entire context. Further, as a result of the laying on of the Apostles' hands, "they were receiving the Holy Spirit." (v. Then, when the Apostles heard about the revival occurring in Samaria, they sent Peter and John to pray for them and lay hands on them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. Note also that, at the time to which this verse refers, the Apostles had not come to town to lay hands on the people, so Philip was presumably the only authentic Spirit-baptized tongues-talker in Samaria (2). Note that what attracted Simon to Philip and his message was "signs and great miracles" acts, from Simon's perspective, like those he himself had done as a sorcerer, only done with more power. Seeing signs and great miracles occurring, he was amazed." Acts 8:13 (WEB). Being baptized, he continued with Philip. The Word says that, at this point, "Simon himself also believed. Then Philip came to town, proclaiming Christ, healing, casting out demons and doing greater miracles than Simon, and the Samaritans believed Philip's message and were baptized. Prior to Philip's arrival in Samaria, Simon had been a quite accomplished sorcerer indeed, he had been so skilled at his art that the people of his city had called him "the Great Power of God." Acts 8:9-10. Moreover, manifestation of tongues at the laying on of the Apostles' hands is not the only possible logical explanation for Simon's offer to buy their power. Simply saying that the assumption is logical does not transform it from an assumption into an observed fact from which inferences and generalizations may properly be drawn. However, regardless of how logical this assumption may be, when one first assumes the manifestation of tongues to be present in Acts 8, then infers from Acts 8 and other scriptures that tongues are always present when Spirit baptism occurs, one uses an invalid circular argument. Yes, it may be logical to assume that what Simon observed was tongues. When this incident is compared with the three experiences where details are given, it is only logical to assume that what Simon saw and heard was people speaking with other tongues. Had the experience been only by faith without any accompanying sign, Simon would not have known whether the Samaritan believers actually received the Holy Spirit. ![]() The Assemblies of God position paper entitled "The initial physical evidence of the baptism in the Holy Spirit"(1) explains that the following "circumstances seem to indicate" the use of tongues as evidence that the Samaritans were baptized in the Holy Spirit in Acts 8: At Samaria, Simon, a former sorcerer, saw something to indicate that the Holy Ghost was given to believers (Acts 8:18, 19). Not mentioned? Did Simon the sorcerer want to buy the power to induce glossolalia or to do miracles? Evidence of the Holy Spirit was unknown tongues in Samaria, why was this ![]()
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