Acts 8:14

Peter and John sent down to Samaria. Conduct of Simon Magus

14. Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem The whole twelve still abiding there (Acts 8:1) and evidently all taking their part in the administration of the affairs of the Church, though it does not fall within St Luke's purpose to notice what each did or said.

heard that Samaria had received the word of God There was a communication kept up between the fugitives from Jerusalem and the twelve even from the first. Samaria here means the district, for although Philip's preaching was in one city, the newly-baptized would spread abroad in every part, and carry the teaching forth as the woman of Samaria did her "new learning" (John 4:28). They had received the word of God as their countrymen before, so as "to know that this is indeed the Christ the Saviour of the world."

they sent unto them Peter and John We gather from this passage that there was no special preeminence assigned to any among the twelve in these earliest days. Peter and John were sent forth on their mission by the decision of the whole body. These two were probably chosen for such a work, as they had taken the most active part and in concert (Acts 3:1) in establishing the Church in Jerusalem.