60IN60 Question

A question from the other day's reading:

- "I guess you're waiting on this one. Reading this passage, it tells us that after being baptized in the name of Jesus those in Samaria had not yet been filled with the Holy Spirit. It took the apostles praying for them and laying on hands for them to receive the Holy Spirit. Is this true for the church today? Refer to Acts 1:4-5 Jesus spoke of John baptizing with water, but in a few days you will receive the Holy Spirit, and in v.8 He says you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you. I have prayed for the Holy Spirit to fill me. What's up with this?" - The big answer to these questions is that the book of Acts represents an unusual time in the history of the church.  Just for one example: there is the part where Peter has the vision of the sheet and God tells him that it's now ok for Gentiles to be saved.  So it's not a good idea to look in Acts for general principles that are normative for our lives.  That's not to say that Acts is totally irrelevant - just that it represents a unique moment in church history.