Acts 8:14
Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
When persecution scattered the believers from Jerusalem, Philip preached in Samaria where many believed and were baptized, and when the apostles at Jerusalem heard Samaria had received the word of God they sent Peter and John to help him. This carried out Christ's commission to witness beyond Jerusalem and Judea to Samaria, gathering a harvest among former bitter enemies and showing the gospel is not for Jews only but for Samaritans and all peoples, with none to be excluded by national prejudice. It reveals the Spirit of God ready and waiting to enlighten souls and convert them to the truth. It calls workers to divide and spread into unworked cities rather than centering in a few places, putting forth much effort even for one person and going where God sends to explain His Word to those reading without understanding. The surrounding account also warns that an unworthy person like Simon Magus could be baptized and counted among the believers while welcoming satanic influence for the supernatural power it gave him.
Samaria Receives the Gospel
The verse belongs to the spread of the gospel to Samaria after persecution scattered the believers from Jerusalem. Samaria received the word of God through Philip's preaching, when many Samaritans believed and were baptized. In response to that fruit Philip sent to Jerusalem for help.
When the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria. They were sent to help Philip in the new field. Their sending carried the message beyond Jerusalem and Judea in witness to Samaria, fulfilling Jesus' commission. The disciples had been slow to understand that their mission included people beyond the Jews.
After His ascension the Samaritans welcomed His messengers. The disciples then gathered a harvest among people who had once been their bitter enemies. Their work in Samaria brought many to Christ. It showed that the gospel was not limited to the Jews but was for Samaritans and other peoples as well, so that none are to be excluded by national prejudice. Peter preached there with the kindness and sympathy Jesus Himself had shown its people.
Missionary Lessons and Warnings
When Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God and sent Peter and John there, it revealed the Spirit of God as ready and waiting to enlighten souls and convert them to the truth. Their mission belonged to that work of bringing the Spirit's enlightenment so that hearers might be converted. The sending itself sets forth the work God calls His people to do.
That work requires putting forth much effort even for one person, going where God sends to guide those who are reading the Scriptures without understanding their import and to explain God's Word to them. The apostles' example of spreading the work by sending help to new believers means workers must divide and subdivide instead of centering in a few places. They are to go into unworked cities, establish small schools to train workers, begin humble missionary work in several places and then move on to the next city, so that the truth spreads as a power as the Holy Spirit cooperates with truly converted workers.
In the surrounding account, Peter later exposed the deceptions of Simon Magus and opposed his efforts to hinder the gospel. Simon sought supernatural power through satanic influence, welcoming that influence for the power it gave him. Unlike those possessed by demons who suffered and struggled, he had no conflict with the demons and did not struggle against them. Though unworthy, he was baptized and counted among the believers, showing that a false or unworthy person could be included in the early church.