Acts 8:12 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. 14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: 15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: 16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
These potential new believers were not saved yet, because they did not have the Holy Spirit yet and thus not born again of the Spirit at their salvation. Paul confirms this truth elsewhere.
Romans 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
So what had happened that their salvation was delayed?
One could say that Luke had written Acts 8 in that way because those potential believers were not believing in Jesus Christ at the calling of the gospel, but believing in Philip in the "things" he was preaching about & following him to behold the miracles out of fanfare, which apparently is not the same as coming to & believing in Jesus Christ at the calling of the gospel. Their sights had to be lifted away from Philip & higher because of how that public high regard shifted from Simon to Philip naturally.
This happened to another set of potential believers in Acts.
Acts 14:8 And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked: 9 The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, 10 Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked. 11 And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. 12 And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker. 13 Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people. 14 Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, 15 And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:
So in spite of the preaching & the miracle, because of the mindset of the people, they applied their practice of idolatry to Barnabus and Paul rather than respond to Paul's preaching by coming to & believing in Jesus Christ.
Here is the mindset of the people in that area in Acts 8th chapter.
Acts 8:9 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.
So in Acts 8, the mindset of the public's high regards of Simon shifted from Simon to Philip and were not really paying attention to Philip's preaching to be coming to & believing in Jesus Christ at the calling of the gospel.
The fact that Simon had thought he could buy the power of laying on of hands to give the Holy Ghost from Peter & John was why Peter & John had to rebuke him so his mindset and sights are lifted higher to Jesus Christ also, so He can save him.
This is God the Father being patient towards potential new believers that were still sinners in their mindsets and thus unsaved until their sights were lifted higher away from His disciples in drawing them to come to the Son to believe in Him to be saved.
These potential new believers were not saved yet, because they did not have the Holy Spirit yet and thus not born again of the Spirit at their salvation. Paul confirms this truth elsewhere.
Romans 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
So what had happened that their salvation was delayed?
One could say that Luke had written Acts 8 in that way because those potential believers were not believing in Jesus Christ at the calling of the gospel, but believing in Philip in the "things" he was preaching about & following him to behold the miracles out of fanfare, which apparently is not the same as coming to & believing in Jesus Christ at the calling of the gospel. Their sights had to be lifted away from Philip & higher because of how that public high regard shifted from Simon to Philip naturally.
This happened to another set of potential believers in Acts.
Acts 14:8 And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked: 9 The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, 10 Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked. 11 And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. 12 And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker. 13 Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people. 14 Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, 15 And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:
So in spite of the preaching & the miracle, because of the mindset of the people, they applied their practice of idolatry to Barnabus and Paul rather than respond to Paul's preaching by coming to & believing in Jesus Christ.
Here is the mindset of the people in that area in Acts 8th chapter.
Acts 8:9 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.
So in Acts 8, the mindset of the public's high regards of Simon shifted from Simon to Philip and were not really paying attention to Philip's preaching to be coming to & believing in Jesus Christ at the calling of the gospel.
The fact that Simon had thought he could buy the power of laying on of hands to give the Holy Ghost from Peter & John was why Peter & John had to rebuke him so his mindset and sights are lifted higher to Jesus Christ also, so He can save him.
This is God the Father being patient towards potential new believers that were still sinners in their mindsets and thus unsaved until their sights were lifted higher away from His disciples in drawing them to come to the Son to believe in Him to be saved.
