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JUNE 28
DAY 27: Is the Holy Spirit received subsequent to salvation?
In Acts 8:15,Peter and John were sent to Samaria to pray for those who had responded to the
preaching of Philip (Acts 8:4–13) that they might receive the Holy Spirit.“For as yet He had fallen
upon none of them”(v. 16).This verse does not support the false notion that Christians receive the
Holy Spirit subsequent to salvation. This was a transitional period in which confirmation by the
apostles was necessary to verify the inclusion of a new group of people into the church.Because of
the animosity that existed between Jews and Samaritans, it was essential for the Samaritans to
receive the Spirit in the presence of the leaders of the Jerusalem church, for the purpose of main-
taining a unified church. The delay also revealed the Samaritans’ need to come under apostolic
authority. The same transitional event occurred when the Gentiles were added to the church
(11:44–46; 15:6–12; 19:6).
So “they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit”(v. 17).This signified apostolic
affirmation and solidarity.That this actually occurred likely demonstrated that believers also spoke
in tongues here, just as those who received the Spirit did on the Day of Pentecost, as the Gentiles
did when they received the Spirit (10:46), and as those followers of John did (19:6). As Samaritans,
Gentiles, and believers from the Old Covenant were added to the church, the unity of the church
was established.No longer could one nation (Israel) be God’s witness people, but the church made
up of Jews, Gentiles, half-breed Samaritans, and Old Testament saints who became New Testament
believers (19:1–7). To demonstrate the unity, it was imperative that there be some replication in
each instance of what had occurred at Pentecost with the believing Jews, such as the presence of
the apostles and the coming of the Spirit manifestly indicated through speaking in the languages
of Pentecost (2:5–12).

from Syrian Maacah, and from Zobah. So
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JUNE 28 they hired for themselves thirty-two thousand
chariots, with the king of Maacah and his peo-
ple, who came and encamped before Medeba.
Also the people of Ammon gathered together
1 Chronicles 19:1–20:8
from their cities, and came to battle.
It happened after this that Nahash the 8 Now when David heard of it, he sent Joab
19 king of the people of Ammon died, and and all the army of the mighty men. Then the
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his son reigned in his place. Then David said, “I people of Ammon came out and put them-
will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, selves in battle array before the gate of the
because his father showed kindness to me.” So city, and the kings who had come were by
David sent messengers to comfort him con- themselves in the field.
cerning his father. And David’s servants came 10 When Joab saw that the battle line was
to Hanun in the land of the people of Ammon against him before and behind, he chose some
to comfort him. of Israel’s best, and put them in battle array
3 And the princes of the people of Ammon against the Syrians. And the rest of the peo-
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said to Hanun, “Do you think that David real- ple he put under the command of Abishai his
ly honors your father because he has sent brother, and they set themselves in battle array
comforters to you? Did his servants not come against the people of Ammon. Then he said,
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to you to search and to overthrow and to spy “If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you
out the land?” shall help me; but if the people of Ammon are
4 Therefore Hanun took David’s servants, too strong for you, then I will help you. Be of
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shaved them, and cut off their garments in the good courage, and let us be strong for our
middle, at their buttocks, and sent them away. people and for the cities of our God. And may
5 Then some went and told David about the the LORD do what is good in His sight.”
men; and he sent to meet them, because the 14 So Joab and the people who were with him
men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, drew near for the battle against the Syrians,
“Wait at Jericho until your beards have grown, and they fled before him. When the people of
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and then return.” Ammon saw that the Syrians were fleeing,
6 When the people of Ammon saw that they they also fled before Abishai his brother, and
had made themselves repulsive to David, entered the city. So Joab went to Jerusalem.
Hanun and the people of Ammon sent a thou- 16 Now when the Syrians saw that they had
sand talents of silver to hire for themselves been defeated by Israel, they sent messengers
chariots and horsemen from Mesopotamia, and brought the Syrians who were beyond the

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