How do the Samaritans and the gift of the Spirit contribute to misunderstanding?
The Samaritans were baptized in water but did not receive the Spirit. Later the apostles Peter and John came down, prayed for them and they received the Spirit. We have assumed that this was to show that only the apostles had the ability to confer miraculous gifts. I suggest that was not the purpose. The purpose was to show that God had placed His stamp of approval upon the conversions of the Samaritans. The Jews and the Samaritans despised one another. Similarly the events surrounding the conversion of Cornelius were to show that the Gentiles were acceptable to God. (Acts 8) Any extraordinary gifts were incidental. Conclusion: God does not skimp; He gives the Spirit without measure. While it is true that we will vary in our Spiritual growth, this is not because God withholds the Spirit in some degree. . Differences in reception of the Spirit are not attributable to the Giver but rather to the receiver and to the extent he empties and denies himself. We can only be filled with the Spir
