Crossing Boundaries

Scripture:  Acts 8:4-13

4 But the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went. 5 Philip, for example, went to the city of Samaria and told the people there about the Messiah. 6 Crowds listened intently to Philip because they were eager to hear his message and see the miraculous signs he did. 7 Many evil spirits were cast out, screaming as they left their victims. And many who had been paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was great joy in that city. 9 A man named Simon had been a sorcerer there for many years, amazing the people of Samaria and claiming to be someone great. 10 Everyone, from the least to the greatest, often spoke of him as “the Great One—the Power of God.” 11 They listened closely to him because for a long time he had astounded them with his magic. 12 But now the people believed Philip’s message of Good News concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. As a result, many men and women were baptized. 13 Then Simon himself believed and was baptized. He began following Philip wherever he went, and he was amazed by the signs and great miracles Philip performed. (Acts 8:4-13 NLT)

As persecution of the believers in Jerusalem caused them to scatter, they scattered to the very places Jesus had told them to go when he commissioned them. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8 NLT)

Philip crossed into Samaria. Jews and Samaritans harbored deep ethnic and religious animosity toward each other. Jesus had shown willingness to travel through Samaria with his disciples, and John’s Gospel has a wonderful story of Jesus’ encounter with a Samaritan woman at Jacob’s Well that led to the conversion of an entire Samaritan village. Philip went straight from his “deacon” administrative responsibilities in the Jerusalem church and began telling the good news, healing the sick, lame, and paralyzed, and casting out demons. Philip was truly “full of the Spirit”!

Before we dig into Philip’s adventures in Samaria, let’s consider a “Crossing Boundaries” question: What is the Samaria where, for whatever reason, I’d rather not go? What group of people are my Samaritans, those I feel culturally, religiously, politically, or personally distant from, or uncomfortable with? Who is my Samaritan?

Prayer:

Father, Jesus said the Good News you’ve given us is for sharing with people like us and people unlike us—people we like and people we don’t like. What’s your message for me from Philip’s visit to Samaria? Is there a boundary for me to cross? Help me to be willing to go to Samaria, to my Samaritan(s) and tell my Jesus Story! Amen!