When we are called out for sin or sinful hearts, we have an opportunity to look inward and reflect, asking God to lead us to a right response. When Peter called Simon the Sorcerer out, he responded with desperation, but was Simon truly looking to God for help?
4 But the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went. 5 Philip, for example, went to the city of Samaria and told the people there about the Messiah. 6 Crowds listened intently to Philip because they were eager to hear his message and see the miraculous signs he did. 7 Many evil spirits were cast out, screaming as they left their victims. And many who had been paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was great joy in that city.
9 A man named Simon had been a sorcerer there for many years, amazing the people of Samaria and claiming to be someone great. 10 Everyone, from the least to the greatest, often spoke of him as “the Great One—the Power of God.” 11 They listened closely to him because for a long time he had astounded them with his magic.
12 But now the people believed Philip’s message of Good News concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. As a result, many men and women were baptized. 13 Then Simon himself believed and was baptized. He began following Philip wherever he went, and he was amazed by the signs and great miracles Philip performed.
14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had accepted God’s message, they sent Peter and John there. 15 As soon as they arrived, they prayed for these new believers to receive the Holy Spirit. 16 The Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them, for they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then Peter and John laid their hands upon these believers, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given when the apostles laid their hands on people, he offered them money to buy this power. 19 “Let me have this power, too,” he exclaimed, “so that when I lay my hands on people, they will receive the Holy Spirit!”
20 But Peter replied, “May your money be destroyed with you for thinking God’s gift can be bought! 21 You can have no part in this, for your heart is not right with God. 22 Repent of your wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive your evil thoughts, 23 for I can see that you are full of bitter jealousy and are held captive by sin.”
24 “Pray to the Lord for me,” Simon exclaimed, “that these terrible things you’ve said won’t happen to me!”
25 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 8:4-25 NLT
In the scattering of the followers of Jesus because of persecution, the plan of God was fulfilled. Romans 8:28 speaks of this truth that God works all things out for good in those and for those who are called according to his purpose. Philip was living this out, as were the others, because the people of the towns to which they went needed to hear the gospel.
After the resurrection of Jesus, this was the first time the disciples went out on a missionary journey of the Great Commission. Remember that Jesus told them to wait in Jerusalem. He also affirmed (Acts 1:8) that they would be his witnesses in Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. But they needed the Spirit to do that. Now they had the Spirit. The dispersion of the disciples in Acts 8 was the first journey.
We can see that the miracles and signs they performed were attracting people. And they believed Philip’s message of the Good News. They believed, including Simon the sorcerer. He believed and was baptized, but we see in his life something that can happen to each of us. He was pulled back into his old life of sorcery or at minimum the attraction of the power of that life. He wanted what Peter had.
‘He offered them money to buy this power. “Let me have this power, too,” he exclaimed, “so that when I lay my hands on people, they will receive the Holy Spirit!”’
Peter identified this to be a heart issue relating to jealousy and sin in his life. He called Simon to repentance and prayer for forgiveness. When we are called out for sin or sinful hearts, we have an opportunity to look inward and reflect, asking God to lead us to a right response, influenced by him. When Peter called Simon out, under the power of the Holy Spirit, Simon responded with a desperate heart, but is Simon truly looking to God for help?
“Pray to the Lord for me,” Simon exclaimed, “that these terrible things you’ve said won’t happen to me!”
It is difficult to see in these verses if Simon is truly contrite. History tells us that he was not. There is a wealth of writing in the first and second centuries about Simon, his following, and how he died after continuing a life of sorcery. May it not be so with you and me. Always be sensitive and ready to consider the word from God through his messengers…
Amen.
Marc Kinna
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