“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 the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria - the Jerusalem apostles' awareness of the Samaritan mission is immediate. 'Accepted the word of God' (dexanto tēn logon tou theou) indicates genuine reception. Peter and John are sent as apostolic overseers, suggesting that the church maintains apostolic oversight even in the scattered missions. The dispatch of apostles to Samaria is theologically significant: the apostles are expanding their direct witness beyond Jerusalem.
Church Fathers on Acts 8:14
Giving out, it says, that he was himself some great one. To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries. 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. Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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