Dearly beloved congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ, the account of the conversion of Samaria in the text before us stands out in the text of Acts, for Samaria is the only region which is said to have received the word of God as a region. "Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God" (Act 8:14). Not Samaritans; not many Samaritans; but Samaria as a whole is now converted, in Luke's narrative. Now, as I understand it there are still Samaritans in Israel, worshipping with animal sacrifices; I've seen pictures in National Geographic. But Luke is emphasizing that the whole region believed because of the theological point he wants to make, which is this: Jesus' reign is spreading not only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, but even to the lost and half-breed and reject tribes that are sort of Jewish but not really — Jew-ish, if you will. Luke wants us to see the promises of Ezekiel 37 are being fulfilled, and that Samaria is being incorporated back into the Kingdom where it rightfully belongs. In the process, we learn about how Christ reigns over spectacle and magic too, and how His power reduces "the great power of God" to helplessness. Jesus reigns, and His kingdom is over Samaria too.
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Caleb Nelson grew up in Ft. Collins, CO. Born into a Christian home, where he eventually became the eldest of 11 children, he has been a lifelong Presbyterian. He professed faith at the age of six, and was homeschooled through high school. He then attended Patrick Henry College...
