in baptizing him quickly. Though he had been a very wicked man, a sorcerer, a pretender to divine honours, yet, upon his solemn profession of repentance for his sin and faith in Jesus Christ, he was baptized. For, as great wickedness before conversion keeps not true penitents from the benefit of God's grace, so neither should it keep professing ones from church-fellowship. Prodigals, when they return, must be joyfully welcomed home, though we cannot be sure but that they will play the prodigal again. Nay, though he was now but a hypocrite, and really in the gall of bitterness and bond of iniquity all this while, and would soon have been found to be so if he had been tried a while, yet Philip baptized him; for it is God's prerogative to know the heart: the church and its ministers must go by a judgment of charity, as far as there is room for it. It is a maxim in the law, Donec contrarium patet, semper praesumitut meliori parti—We must hope the best as long as we can. And it is a maxim of the discipline of the church, De secretis non judicat ecclesia—The secrets of the heart God only judges. [2.] The present conviction lasted so long, that he continued with Philip; though afterward he apostatized from Christianity, yet not quickly. He courted Philip's acquaintance; and now he that had given out himself to be some great one, is content to sit at the feet of a preacher of the gospel. Even bad men, very bad, may sometimes be in a good frame, very good; and they whose hearts still go after their covetousness, may possibly not only come before God as his people come, but continue with them. [3.] The present conviction was wrought and kept up by the miracles; he wondered to see himself so far outdone in signs and miracles. Many wonder at the proofs of divine truths, who never experience the power of them.
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. 18. And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, 19. Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. 20. But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. 21. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. 22. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. 23. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. 24. Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me. 25. And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.
God had wonderfully owned Philip in his work as an evangelist at Samaria, but he could do no more than an evangelist; there were some peculiar powers reserved to the apostles, for the keeping up of the dignity of their office, and here we have an account of what was done by two of them there—Peter and John. The twelve kept together at Jerusalem, (v. 1.) and thither these good tidings were brought them, that Samaria had received the word of God, (v. 14.) that a great harvest of souls was gathered, and was likely to be gathered in to Christ there. The word of God was not only preached to them, but received by them; they bid it welcome, admitted the light of it, and submitted to the power of it. When they heard it, they sent unto them Peter and John. If Peter had been, as some say he was, the prince of the apostles, he would have sent some of them, or, if he had seen cause, would have gone himself of his own accord; but he was so far from that, that he submitted to an order of the house, and, as a servant to the body, went whither they sent him. Two apostles were sent, the two most eminent, to Samaria, 1. To encourage Philip, to assist him, and strengthen his hands. Ministers in a higher station, and that excel in gifts and graces, should contrive how they may be helpful to those in a lower sphere, and contribute to their comfort and usefulness. 2. To carry on the good work that was begun among the people, and, with those heavenly graces that had enriched them, to confer upon them spiritual gifts. Now observe,
I. How they advanced and improved those of them that were sincere; it is said, (v. 16.) The Holy Ghost was as yet fallen upon none of them, in those extraordinary powers which were conveyed by the descent of the Spirit upon the day of pentecost; they were none of them endued with the gift of tongues, which seems then to have been the most usual, immediate effect of the pouring out of the Spirit. See ch. 10. 45, 46. This was both an eminent sign to them which believed not, and of excellent service to them that did. This, and other such gifts, they had not, only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, and so engaged to him and interested in him, which was necessary to salvation, and in that they had joy and satisfaction, (v. 8.) though they could not speak with tongues. They that are indeed given up to Christ, and have experienced the sanctifying influences and operations of the Spirit of grace, have great reason to be thankful, and no reason to complain, though they have not those gifts that are for ornament, and would make them bright.
But it is intended that they should go on to the perfection of the present dispensation, for the greater honour of the gospel. We have reason to think that Philip had received these gifts of the Holy Ghost himself, but had not a power to confer them, the apostles must come to do that; and they did it not upon all that were baptized, but upon some of them, and it should seem, such as were designed for some office in the church, or at least to be eminent active members of it; and upon some of them, one gift of the Holy Ghost, and upon others, another. See 1 Cor. 12. 4, 8.—14. 26.
Now, in order to this,
1. The apostles prayed for them, v. 15. The Spirit is given, not to ourselves only; (Luke 11. 13.) but to others also, in answer to prayer; I will put my Spirit within you, (Ezek. 36. 27.) but I will for this be inquired of, v. 37. We may take encouragement from this example, in praying to God to give the renewing graces of the Holy Ghost to them whose
Vol. vi—L
