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Were the Samaritans Converted?

The next question is, "Does the Bible ever indicate that the Church was anything but Judaism fulfilled?" Let us go on to see if the "conversion" of the Samaritans changed the faith.

Shortly after the disciples were given power by the Holy Spirit on at the Feast of Harvest and many souls were added to the church, the true Jewish faith known as "the Way" was persecuted by the politically motivated Jewish leadership. Peter and John are arrested several times (Acts 4:3, 5:18) and ultimately the church is persecuted among the common ranks (Acts 8:3). After this persecution, the apostle Philip went north and preached the Gospel to the Samaritans (Acts 8:4).

The Samaritans were a people of mixed heritage who had, years before, converted to Judaism (2 Kings 17:24). They were already circumcised and Torah obedient (2 Kings 17:27). The contention with the Jew was their mixed origin and their place of worship. Samaritans worshipped on Mt. Gerizim. Jews worshipped in Jerusalem (John 4:21). Many Samaritans already believed that Jesus was the Messiah (John 4:39ff) Philip confirmed the Gospel among them with miracles and wonders and many believed including a famous "Simon the Sorcerer" (Acts 8:4-13).

Were the Samaritans "Converted"?

The Samaritans were not "converted" any more than the Jews were converted. They also simply recognized Yashua Messiah as a logical extension of their existing faith. Jesus' sacrifice had now made the Temple sacrifices in Jerusalem obselete. Therefore, for those who accepted the truth in this matter, there was no longer a wall between Jew and Samaritan. Those who believed were baptized into the name of Yashua Messiah. (Literally God's "salvation anointing")and easily assimilated into The Way.

Has the "Church" now become something other than Judaism with Jesus as Messiah? If things had stopped here, "Christianity" today might simply be known as a Jewish sect.

History tells us that over time Christianity did change because of the large number of Gentiles who eventually joined the ranks of believers. This was a change not based upon the teachings of the Biblical text but based upon cultural and political factors foriegn to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.