Acts 8 14

Acts 8:14 kjv

Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:

Acts 8:14 nkjv

Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them,

Acts 8:14 niv

When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria.

Acts 8:14 esv

Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John,

Acts 8:14 nlt

When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had accepted God's message, they sent Peter and John there.

Acts 8 verses

Acts 8 14 Meaning

The apostles in Jerusalem, having received reports that the Samaritan people had genuinely accepted the message of God, recognized the divine work occurring outside traditional Jewish boundaries. In response, they deliberately dispatched two of their leading figures, Peter and John, to Samaria. This act signified an apostolic affirmation of the Samaritan conversion, aiming to further establish them in the faith and to witness to God's continued power through His chosen representatives.

Acts 8 14 Context

This verse is situated after the profound persecution in Jerusalem following Stephen's martyrdom, which dispersed believers beyond Judea (Acts 8:1). Philip, one of the seven deacons, went to Samaria and preached Christ, resulting in widespread belief, exorcisms, healings, and baptisms, even convincing Simon the sorcerer (Acts 8:5-13). Acts 8:14 specifically addresses the critical response of the apostles in Jerusalem to this breakthrough among the Samaritans. Historically, Jews and Samaritans harbored deep animosity (John 4:9), making the conversion of Samaritans a remarkable testament to the gospel's power and a significant step in fulfilling Jesus' commission to be witnesses "in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria" (Acts 1:8). The Jerusalem apostles, as the primary spiritual authority of the nascent church, needed to confirm and connect with this new body of believers, providing the full outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 8 14 Word analysis

• Now (Δὲ - De): A conjunction, serving as a transitional marker. It signals a shift from Philip's individual ministry in Samaria to the Jerusalem apostles' corporate response.
• when the apostles (οἱ ἀπόστολοι - hoi apostoloi): Denotes the chosen, sent-out messengers of Christ, serving as foundational leaders and authoritative witnesses to His life, death, and resurrection. Their unique authority stemmed from direct commissioning by Jesus (Acts 1:2, 1 Cor 9:1) and being filled with the Holy Spirit.
• who were at Jerusalem (ἐν Ἱεροσολύμοις - en Hierosolymois): Emphasizes Jerusalem as the administrative and spiritual epicenter of the early church. It highlights the established hierarchy and the centralized decision-making process concerning the church's expansion.
• heard (Ἀκούσαντες - Akousantes): An aorist participle, indicating that the hearing of the news was a distinct, completed action. It implies receiving reliable, confirmed reports of the events in Samaria.
• that Samaria (ἡ Σαμάρεια - hē Samareia): The geographical region and its inhabitants. The Samaritans, ethnically and religiously distinct from Jews, represent a significant step in the gospel's spread beyond exclusive Jewish circles, breaking down longstanding socio-religious barriers (Jn 4:9).
• had received (δέδεκται - dedektai): A perfect passive indicative verb from δέχομαι (dechomai), meaning to welcome, accept, or take into one's company. The perfect tense suggests a completed action with continuing results – Samaria's reception of the word was genuine, settled, and active. It indicates willing and heartfelt acceptance.
• the word of God (τὸν λόγον τοῦ Θεοῦ - ton logon tou Theou): This phrase refers to the message of the gospel – the divine message about Jesus Christ, His kingdom, and salvation. It underscores that what Philip preached, and what the Samaritans accepted, was not merely human opinion but God's authoritative, life-giving truth (1 Thes 2:13).
• they sent (ἀπέστειλαν - apesteilan): An aorist active indicative verb from ἀποστέλλω (apostello), the root word for "apostle." This signifies a deliberate, authoritative commissioning and dispatch. It's an act of leadership, demonstrating the Jerusalem church's corporate responsibility for the expanding mission.
• Peter and John (Πέτρον καὶ Ἰωάννην - Petron kai Iōannēn): These two apostles were key figures in the inner circle of Jesus' disciples and prominent leaders in the early Jerusalem church (Acts 3:1, Gal 2:9). Their joint dispatch underscored the importance and solemnity of the mission. Peter often played a leading, declarative role (Acts 2), and John, often associated with spiritual insight, was part of a trusted apostolic pair.

Words-group Analysis:

• "the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God": This highlights the dynamic communication and centralized oversight within the early church. News of gospel breakthroughs traveled back to the core leadership, prompting a strategic response. The contrast between Jerusalem (the traditional center) and Samaria (the historically despised periphery) emphasizes the transformative power of the gospel.
• "they sent Peter and John to them": This phrase showcases the exercise of apostolic authority and practical leadership. The dispatch of two prominent apostles signifies validation of Philip's ministry, a demonstration of solidarity with the new Samaritan believers, and an intent to provide specific spiritual enablement, particularly regarding the Holy Spirit's reception (as seen in the following verses, Acts 8:15-17).

Acts 8 14 Bonus section

The active "sending" of Peter and John by the apostles underscores the difference between individual evangelism (Philip) and official apostolic ministry and confirmation. While Philip performed signs and wonders, preached the Word, and baptized, the ultimate conferral of the Holy Spirit for the Samaritans in this specific instance required the presence and action of the apostles. This was not a negation of Philip's work, but an addition, a visible connection to the authoritative, foundational apostles of Christ, establishing a bridge between the core Jerusalem community and these new, ethnically distinct believers. It signified a deliberate integration of Samaria into the body of Christ under apostolic approval, affirming that the church was one, even across significant cultural divides.

Acts 8 14 Commentary

Acts 8:14 reveals a crucial moment in the early church's expansion and its operational dynamics. The verse encapsulates the centralized authority of the Jerusalem apostles and their concern for the integrity and spiritual growth of nascent Christian communities. Upon hearing that Samaritans had "received the word of God," the Jerusalem leaders didn't dismiss this unprecedented event; instead, they dispatched two highly respected apostles, Peter and John. This decision signifies several points: first, it validated Philip's evangelistic efforts among the Samaritans, endorsing that God was indeed working through him. Second, it demonstrated the apostles' commitment to doctrinal purity and their responsibility to confirm authentic conversions and church planting. Third, and most importantly, it established a precedent for the formal impartation of the Holy Spirit to new communities of believers by apostolic laying on of hands, signaling both continuity with Pentecost and the broader inclusivity of God's redemptive plan, transcending deep-seated ethnic divisions.