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. 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.
The verse belongs to the account of the gospel reaching Samaria after persecution scattered believers from Jerusalem into Judea and Samaria. In Samaria Philip preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, proclaiming Jesus as the risen Christ and risen Redeemer. Samaria received the word of God, for both men and women who believed were baptized with Christian baptism and joined the Christian community. The Spirit of God was waiting to enlighten and convert those souls to the truth, and when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God they sent Peter and John to them.
The Samaritans who had once opposed Jesus received the gospel when His messengers came after His ascension, for His words of commendation and acts of mercy had prepared them and the disciples gathered a harvest among them. Their conversion shows the gospel was not confined to the Jews but was being received by Samaritans and people of different classes beyond Israel's community, in keeping with Christ's commission to His disciples and inclusion in His message.
Simon Magus, mentioned in the surrounding account, belonged to a different class, for he practiced divination and welcomed satanic influence to gain supernatural power, so he had no struggle or conflict with demons. Simon Magus was baptized and counted among believers and joined the disciples although he was a false brother and unworthy member, showing that false or unworthy members may be found within the church without disproving Christianity and should be borne with patiently.
The verse is to be carefully studied as the pattern for working the cities, meaning missionary work is to spread by beginning in several places, merging effort in one city and then dividing to enter the next city so several cities are worked at once, with division and subdivision among long-experienced men instead of centering in companies in a few places and neglecting the cities. It means workers, including men and women physicians, are to give themselves to God and the Holy Spirit will cooperate with them, and heaven waits for truly converted people to be baptized with the Holy Ghost.