Expert: Rev Philip Dacre - 7/21/2006

Question
Why does Jesus instruct the apostles NOT to go among the Gentiles or Samaritans, yet Jesus himself goes to Samaria with the apostles(John 4) and met the Samaritan woman at the well. Also, in ACTS OF THE APOSTLES, Philip went to Samaria as did John and Peter.  This is just a small matter, but I welcome your thoughts, please.

Answer
Hello Jeff


Wel to answer this question and its a good one, you have to consider decorum and protocols. The official and the non official acts of God, so to speak. Mary Magdelene is the first to see Jesus risen from the dead as He responds to her cries but then tells her to go and tell Peter. Then the two on the road to Emmaus also had unofficial meeting with Jesus.

But upon going and telling the rest of the disciples Jesus appears. His official meeting with the apostles had to have Peter there. "Go and tell Peter and the apostles"... etc

The wise men from the east coming to his birth.God can be entreated by anyone who really seeks Him. Whether officially or unofficially. He does not let protocols stop helping people who really ask Him.

So the woman at the well in Samaria is an unofficial one, the gentile Legionare's son or servant, the Syrophenician woman's demon possessed daughter etc all gentiles to whom Jesus of Nazareth said " I have not been sent".

Jesus the Christ is sent to the whole world. Jesus the Messiah and prophet, Jesus of Nazareth grew up in Israel and died in Israel. His official mandate for ministry was Israel and not the rest of the world. This is because the written word was given to Israel (Salvation is of the Jews) and He was the completion of this written word. He was the living Word. The Word that became flesh. But He said " I have many more children not from here"... ie gentiles.

As the risen Christ he reaches the world. As Jesus of Nazareth his ministry mandate was Israel. Never again. Now its the whole world. "I ahve been given all auhtority on earth, in heaven and under the earth".

SO then Jesus of Nazareth was limited by His earthly body and had earthly ministry of 3 years. Jesus the Christ is not limited this way. He gained, through His perfect sacrifice, authority over whole world.

Now Jesus was compassionate man and anywhere he found sick or dying people  who asked for help, he never refused them. Even the gentiles.

However He had the above limits. But He told His disciples to go tot he whole world. Starting at "Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the uttermost ends of the earth" Mt 28

Now this happened 7-10 later in ACts 10 when Peter was officially sent to the gentile Roman Cornelius.He had been to Samaria already after Philip went there and had revival. This ratified and verified this act of the Holy Spirit through Philip. By sending the church authority in the guise of Peter and John. Philip was not an apostle or elder of the church.


So there is the official and the unofficial. Like a couple who are engaged to marry but until the ceremony they are not officially married.

God is not against the non Jews He died for them. But the protocols were fulfilled first through Israel and then to the rest of the world.

Hope this helps you Jeff?


God bless