The Samaritans

• Read the Bible Passage
• A Summary of the Events
• What the Samaritans Did to Accept Christ

Acts 8:4-13

4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. 5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. 6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed [with them]: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. 8 And there was great joy in that city.

9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: 10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. 11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries. 12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

A Brief Summary of the Passage.

Again we see the power of the gospel to change peoples lives. Here we have the Samaritans who believed that Simon the sorcerer was a great man. Yet the truth that Jesus was the Christ changed their lives, even Simons. The passage affirms that after the people believed they were baptized. Baptism alone is not enough to attain salvation from God. The inpired Philip preached that both were necessary or both would not have been done.

What did the Samaritans do to become Christians?

Go on to the next example, Saul of Tarsus.
Return to Examples of Early Church Conversions.