Unstoppable! 'Truly, Samaritans Are Included' — Acts 8:25

Thursday, April 30, 2026

After testifying and preaching the word of the Lord in Samaria, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem. And they stopped in many Samaritan villages along the way to preach the Good News.

— Acts 8:25 NLT

Key Thought

God's acceptance of the Samaritans as full disciples of Jesus was indicated by the coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:14-17). The apostles showed their approval of the Samaritans through their fellowship with them, along with their continued work sharing the story of Jesus with other Samaritans who had not heard the Good News of Jesus (Acts 8:25). The action of the Holy Spirit opens the door to fellowship; for it to be real, Jesus' disciples must genuinely and openly include in their fellowship those who are different from them (John 4:9; Galatians 3:28).

Today's Prayer

Help us, O God, especially in our time of fractured relationships, to include in our fellowship others, especially those who are different from us. Lead us to the hearts of all peoples who are open to the message of Jesus, in whose name we pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

2 Related Resources by Heartlight

Baptism Must Open the Door to Genuine Fellowship
Devo: A Year with Jesus
"Dear Beloved, The early Christians were greatly encouraged by Luke's account of two disciples on the road to Emmaus. I joined those two disciples on...."
Near and Far
Devo: A Year with Jesus
"Dear Friend, The verses you read below are from Acts chapter 8. They tell of the scattering of My followers from Jerusalem. This scattering began..."

Illustration

Illustration of Acts 8:25 NLT — After testifying and preaching the word of the Lord in Samaria, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem. And they stopped in many Samaritan villages along the way to preach the Good News.

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Thursday, April 30, 2026

Daily Wisdom
A daily devotional featuring wise counsel found in Scripture.
Proverbs 26:11
"As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly."
God's Holy Fire
A daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
'Breathe Life!' (Ek. 37:9-10)
"[God] said to me [Ezekiel], "Prophesy to the breath. Prophesy, son of man. Tell the breath, 'GOD, the Master, says, Come from the four winds. Come, breath...."
A Year with Jesus
A devotional to help reclaim Jesus as the daily Lord of our lives.
'Treacherous Travels'
"Dear Follower of The Way, Paul's path to Rome was difficult. First, he faced a series of legal hearings before he even left for Rome. Then, he faced...."
Today's Verse
A daily devotional featuring a Bible verse, thought and prayer.
John 3:20-21
"Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the...."

About This Devotional

Unstoppable! is a one-year devotional guide through the book of Acts. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage, a reflection and a prayer. The reflection opens up the day's scripture and shows how it challenges one to live for Jesus.

Unstoppable! is written by Phil Ware.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

More Unstoppable!