Pentecost Repetition

Following the OT law of having everything established by two or three witnesses, we find the outpouring of the Holy Spirit not only on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2, but in other places in Acts as well. The day of Pentecost Holy Spirit baptism or outpouring was primary as it fulfilled what Jesus had just told His disciples about being baptized with the "Holy Spirit not many days from now." Also, the Pentecost outpouring was the first very special presence and fullness of the Holy Spirit given to God's people since Christ inaugurated His New Covenant.

Pastor Iverson, in his message from Acts 8 last Lord's Day, mentioned the Samaritan Pentecost. This is found in Acts 8:14-17. As Pastor Rich pointed out, the Samaritans were considered an "undesirable people" and were greatly discriminated against, even though a number of them were God fearing people. Jesus taught pretty clearly that this kind of discrimination was very wrong, i.e. He told the parable of the good Samaritan, He spent time in Samaria talking with the Samaritans, etc.

Now in Acts 8, we see that the gospel has been preached in Samaria, just as Jesus said, and that many Samaritans believed in Jesus. God provides witness that this is according to His good pleasure by a second miraculous outpouring of the Holy Spirit. This comes about when Peter and John come to Samaria from Jerusalem to pray with the new believers.

Acts 8:17; "Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit."

That this receiving the Holy Spirit was accompanied by some miraculous sign and power is evident in the response of Simon the recently converted ex-sorcerer;

"Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money, saying, 'Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.'" Acts 8:18,19.

Then there are other miniature Pentecost-like outpourings of the Holy Spirit on new believers in Damascus, Caesarea, Ephesus, recorded in Acts 9, 10, 19.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

DR