What Does Acts 8:14 Mean in the King James?
Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
Samaria’s reception turns the apostles’ title into action: the sent ones hear, then send.
THE MEANING
Samaria receives the word of God, the news reaches the apostles in Jerusalem, and Peter and John are sent to those who received it. The verse holds welcome and sending together: what is received in one place draws others toward it.
THE ROOT
ἀπόστολοι
apostoloi
GROWS FROM
στελλ-
stell-
To send or dispatch; with apo-, to send out or away.
“apostles / sent” in this verse is apostoloi. The Greek noun for “apostles” and the verb translated “sent” belong to the same word family. The sent ones hear that Samaria has received the word, then send Peter and John: sending is not just their title, but an action passed on.
ALSO GROWS
apostolos: one sent; messenger
ἀπόστολος
This is the word rendered “apostles” at the start of the verse.
apostolē: sending; commission
ἀποστολή
This related noun makes the act of sending explicit in the same word family.
δέχομαι
dechomai
GROWS FROM
δεχ-
dech-
To receive, welcome, or accept.
The verse uses dedektai, a form of dechomai: Samaria has received the word, and that reception stands as a present fact. The text distinguishes hearing about the word from welcoming it; the apostles hear the report of that welcome, and respond by sending others.
ALSO GROWS
apodechomai: receive; welcome
ἀποδέχομαι
This related verb carries the same sense of taking something in, echoing Samaria’s reception.
dektos: accepted; welcome
δεκτός
This adjective from the same family gives the receiving root the shade of welcome.
THE PATTERN
The word moves outward as people receive it and others are sent to meet them.
So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!THE THREAD
And the apostles and brethren that were in Judæa heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.The same Greek verb, dechomai, describes the Gentiles receiving God’s word, and the phrase “received the word of God” recurs. The repeated root carries the pattern onward: the word is received across communities, and news of that reception travels.
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