9 Now there was a man named Simon, who formerly was practicing magic in the city and astounding the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great; 10 and they all, from smallest to greatest, were giving attention to him, saying, “This man is what is called the Great Power of God.” 11 And they were giving him attention because he had for a long time astounded them with his magic arts. 12 But when they believed Philip proclaiming the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, both men and women. 13 Even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed signs and great miracles taking place, he was constantly astounded.
14 Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, 15 who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16 For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit. 18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit had been bestowed through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you supposed you could obtain the gift of God with money! 21 You have no part or portion in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. 22 Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray earnestly to the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of unrighteousness.” 24 But Simon answered and said, “Pray earnestly to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.” Acts 8: 9-24 LSB
Acts 8: 9-24 Wolves Among Sheep
…10So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the LORD had commanded. Aaron threw his staff down before Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a serpent. 11But Pharaoh called the wise men and sorcerers and magicians of Egypt, and they also did the same things by their magic arts. 12Each one threw down his staff, and it became a serpent. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up the other staffs.… Exodus 7: 10-12
…18The magicians tried to produce gnats using their magic arts, but they could not. And the gnats remained on man and beast. 19“This is the finger of God,” the magicians said to Pharaoh. But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, just as the LORD had said. Exodus 8: 18-19
…10So they took soot from the furnace and stood before Pharaoh. Moses tossed it into the air, and festering boils broke out on man and beast. 11The magicians could not stand before Moses, because the boils had broken out on them and on all the Egyptians. 12But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not listen to them, just as the LORD had said to Moses.… Exodus 9: 10-12
V. 9 Now there was a man named Simon, who formerly was practicing magic in the city - So look at this against the backdrop of the same chapter, verses 1-8. This draws a contrast between Phillip's ministry, where demons were fleeing people and people were actually getting healed. Phillip performed miracles like Christ, and Jesus's miracles were attested to by even his enemies. Pharaoh's sorcerers and magicians relied on the occult, slight of hand, and when necromancers say they are communicating with the dead, I believe that, when not just trickery, to be demonic. In other words, I believe they talk to demons, not your dead relatives. Moses and Aaron, with the power of God, were able to do above and beyond what Pharaoh's sorcerers could fake. They could only make the problem worse.
5 Now Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began preaching Christ to them. 6 And the crowds with one accord were giving attention to what was being said by Philip, as they heard and saw the signs which he was doing. 7 For in the case of many who had unclean spirits, they were coming out of them shouting with a loud voice; and many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed. 8 So there was great joy in that city. Acts 8: 5-8
“Now there was a man named Simon, who formerly was practicing magic in the city,” the city of Samaria which, of course, is mentioned back in verse 5, “and he was astonishing the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great.” He was practicing magic, mageun in the Greek. Magic: To be skilled in the art of the magi.
You remember the magi who came to visit the Christ child? They were sorcerers; they were star gazers; they were magicians. That’s what the magi means. They were the ones who, with their arts and magic, tried to discern the times and discern reality, and understand the purposes of the divine mind. They were pseudoscientists whose superstitions basically were very influential in the Medo-Persian realm. They were like priests, but not priests of God and not priests of the true revelation of God. They were priests who didn’t know God, and who conjured up their superstitions and their magical arts.
In fact, the term magi, or magic, came eventually to refer to more than just the magi themselves, it came to refer to all practice of magical arts of any kind: astrologers, soothsayers, sorcerers – any pagans who dealt in incantations, charms, spells, divinations, horoscopes. They could pull off some amazing things, as magicians can today, by slide of hand, by deception, by trickery; and also were aided and abetted by demonic power.
The Samaritan people were generally superstitious. Now, remember, the Samaritans had long since been cut off from the true religion of Israel. When they were taken into captivity 700 years before this, they were destroyed at that point as the kingdom – they were the northern kingdom, capital city Samaria. And then they were repopulated – the Jews that were left – with pagan nations, with whom they intermarried and created a half-breed kind of nation; and they had a kind of an eclectic, syncretistic form of religion. They mixed some parts of the Old Testament with superstition and magic. They had fallen under the spell of this man, Simon, and his magical powers. So here we meet really the first false teacher to sort of infiltrate the church with his heresy. He is, for sure, the first false teacher to propagate what later became known as gnostic ideas.
Gnosticism, as sort of a philosophy of religion, didn’t really come into shape until much later than this. But the seeds of Gnosticism are already in the New Testament. They’re in some of the writings of the apostles in the New Testament, and you can see them here in Simon.
What is Gnosticism? It’s from the Greek word gnosis which means people in the know; people who have the secret knowledge; people who have the elevated knowledge; people who feel that they have ascended beyond the hoi polloi, the masses, and they somehow commune with God or gods. The Gnostics were those who are the only ones who had access to the divine secrets. - J Mac
V. 9 b&c And astounding the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great - Simon had already been active in the region. His motive is pride, power and money, much like Balaam. They don't just stay in their hippie, new age communities either, they try to come into the church, and bring their bad doctrine. They are arrogant in this too, men and women saying that they have a special call, an anointing. Men like Todd White and others try to do slight of hand, like making one leg grow to match another, or babble and call it speaking in tongues. Over and over again we have to hear how unique they are, and "God told me", putting the light on themselves rather than glorifying the Lord Jesus. Simon is promoting himself like this as well.
Adrian Rogers gives an interesting True/False question - Satan is against religion - true or false? Satan is not opposed to religion. He is in the religion business up to his ears. The first temptation was a religious one - to be like God. "Let me tell you how to be godly." It was a temptation to fall up, not down. Satan's chief weapon against the Gospel is false religion. God has been working in revival power and now there comes a conflict (Acts 8:8-9). There was great joy in that city. Heaven comes down and glory fills the soul. Revival brings joy and it also brings opposition. If you have never met the devil, it's because you and the devil have been going in the same direction. Satan's chief weapon against the Gospel is false religion. - PA
Vs. 10-11 "This man is what is called the Great power of God" - The people were so astounded that they attributed his show as being from God. We see this a lot today, people blending the occult with Judaism, with Christianity, losing focus of the gospel, and weighing things based upon their emotions rather than God's word rightly and soundly divided. So a lot of them, most of them, don't go around saying, "I am from Satan", no, they will say, "God, Christ, Jesus", and tell you that they are prophets, apostles, preachers, priests etc.
Vs. 12-13 Even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized continued on with Phillip - I want you to note this, because it will bring another huge contrast, a much scarier one. Simon believed in Jesus and was baptized. He continues on with Phillip, so Phillip doesn't seem to notice anything off-putting about this guy. Phillip is an evangelist and carrying out Jesus command to preach the gospel and baptize people in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. I went forward as a young boy, believed the gospel story and was baptized, but later left the church to chase atheism. The demons recognized Jesus, and many of Jesus' haters recognized the miracles, so it is possible to mentally ascent to something, but be without the power that changes the inward person. It is possible to be baptized, like I was as a child, outwardly, doing it as a work, the next step in the process, but remain filthy on the inside and self absorbed. Does baptism save you or Christ?
…9that if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved. 11It is just as the Scripture says: “Anyone who believes in Him will never be put to shame.”… Romans 10: 9-11
…20who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In the ark a few people, only eight souls, were saved through water. 21And this water symbolizes the baptism that now saves you also— not the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God— through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to Him.… 1 Peter 3: 20-22
…35And they remembered that God was their Rock, that God Most High was their Redeemer. 36But they deceived Him with their mouths, and lied to Him with their tongues. 37Their hearts were disloyal to Him, and they were unfaithful to His covenant.… Psalm 78: 35-37
Vs. 14-17 That they may receive the Holy Spirit - This has puzzled many, and in Roman Catholicism they think this is a power passed along to popes and priests. Some priests and even pastors have gone so far as to teach that baptism confers the grace of salvation. I think it's obvious here that Simon has only done this ceremonially. Others in the Pentecostal movements think this is a pattern to be consistent throughout the church age, a second baptism, that this occurs at some other point in the believers life, and is evidenced by tongues. A careful study of Scripture will reveal tongues as a gift, and not a gift that everyone received, and a sign to unbelievers. For those confused on this here are some links below:
And this then brings up the issue, because in verse 15 it says, “They came and prayed for the people who had believed and been baptized,” the genuine believers, “that they might receive the Holy Spirit, for He had not yet fallen upon any of them. They had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.”
You say, “Well, wait a minute. I thought that when you believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit came immediately.” That’s true now; that’s true. But the book of Acts is a historically critical time for transition; very, very important.
Why didn’t the Samaritans receive the Holy Spirit at the very instant they believed as believers do now? I’ll tell you why; because the Jews needed apostolic testimony and apostolic evidence that they were to be included in the one church. Why? Because the Jews basically hated the Samaritans. The Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans.
For 500 years, they had worshipped in Mount Gerizim on their own. The Jews in the south and the Samaritans in the north each claimed in their own way to be God’s chosen people; there was intense rivalry between them. Jews didn’t even go through Samaria. It would have been very difficult for the Jews in Jerusalem and in Judea, who had come to faith in Jesus Christ and received the Holy Spirit, to believe that the Samaritans were in the one church, the one body, baptized into the one body, as 1 Corinthians 12 says.
Strife between the two, the Jews and the Samaritans, would have been perpetuated, unless the apostles came, identified the fact that they were true believers, and that they were there when the Holy Spirit came upon them, that they were thus placed by the Holy Spirit into the same body as the Jews. There was always the danger of two churches, separation. There had to be Jews present.
Now, remember, Philip was sort of a non-Judean Jew. He was a Hellenistic Jew, as were the deacons in Acts 6. Now the rest of the people are Samaritans. They need Jews there to witness this unity; and not just any Jews, but the most trustworthy witnesses, Peter and John, so that everybody knows that the Holy Spirit came in the same way on the Samaritans that He did on the Jews at the Day of Pentecost. And I believe that’s exactly what happened because verse 17 says, “These apostles began laying their hands on these believers, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit, and Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles’ hands.” - J Mac
Vs. 18-19 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit had been bestowed through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money - It doesn't say what he saw, but he saw something that made him want this power. It is most probable that it was a manifestation of the Spirit like in Acts 2, where the believers received the promised Holy Spirit and His presence was made known by the believers being able to speak in languages they had not learned. The unbelievers standing present to this were astonished because they each heard the gospel message in their own language. If Simon saw or heard people speaking in indiscernible gibberish, he wouldn't have been impressed, but people want something like this so bad today, that they lay on the hands, and then babble, but it's a cheap counterfeit, yet they have no worries about assigning it to the Holy Spirit.
…14Their eyes are full of adultery; their desire for sin is never satisfied; they seduce the unstable. They are accursed children with hearts trained in greed. 15They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness. 16But he was rebuked for his transgression by a donkey, otherwise without speech, that spoke with a man’s voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.… 2 Peter 2: 14-16
…10These men, however, slander what they do not understand, and like irrational animals, they will be destroyed by the things they do instinctively. 11Woe to them! They have traveled the path of Cain; they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam; they have perished in Korah’s rebellion. 12These men are hidden reefs in your love feasts, shamelessly feasting with you but shepherding only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried along by the wind; fruitless trees in autumn, twice dead after being uprooted.… Jude 1: 10-12
He offered them money - See chrema below. Sadly Simon was like a lot of folks in the organized church in America -- he was in it for what he could get, not what he could give! Simon saw money in merchandising miracles (Does this sound familiar? Or perhaps you have never watched some of the "religious" programs on television!) As someone has well said, the hottest part of hell is reserved for folks like this!
Tannehill - ‘Whenever religion is used to make its leaders seem great and powerful, and whenever religion becomes a commodity by serving the interests of those who have or want money, it has become corrupt.’ - PA
V. 20 May your silver perish with you - Simon had made it past Phillip for a time, and "Elect" is not branded by the Holy Spirit upon true believers foreheads, so we don't know who has truly believed or who is a false professor always or even easily. It is so important to pray for wisdom and discernment, and check not only the doctrine of the one making the claim, but also their life. You don't want them bringing heresy into your church, nor do you want someone with sound doctrine getting in the pulpit, but then taking advantage of the people that he is teaching. Often it is about money, prestige, or sex. We have to take these things seriously, and today people will call you divisive for calling out false teaching, superstition and bad morals, but Peter shows no such restraint. He is not about the prosperity or politeness gospel.
…8But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. 9Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. 10For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.… 1 Timothy 6: 8-10
V. 21 You have no part or potion in this matter, for your heart is not right before God - Ouch, but Peter had already suffered through a Judas, and this is actually more kind than anyone politely patting you on the back to hell. Peter is a shepherd and this requires confrontation. Simon's words have revealed the true state of his heart, not regenerate as one being born of the Spirit. He would tie these things to money, much like those today promise wealth, health, your best life now, and some of these try to show for a sign, speaking in what they want to pass off as tongues and people falling over in what they attribute to the Spirit. Some try to show they are special by picking up rattle snakes in West Virginia, saying God told me, look at my expensive watch etc... ad nauseum.
…2And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 3“Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces. Should I consult with them in any way? 4Therefore speak to them and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘When any Israelite sets up idols in his heart and puts a wicked stumbling block before his face, and then comes to the prophet, I the LORD will answer him according to his great idolatry,… Ezekiel 14: 2-4
…3For the vision awaits an appointed time; it testifies of the end and does not lie. Though it lingers, wait for it, since it will surely come and will not delay. 4Look at the proud one; his soul is not upright— but the righteous will live by faith— 5and wealth indeed betrays him. He is an arrogant man never at rest. He enlarges his appetite like Sheol, and like Death, he is never satisfied. He gathers all the nations to himself and collects all the peoples as his own.… Habakkuk 2: 3-5
…22Behold, I will cast her onto a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her will suffer great tribulation unless they repent of her deeds. 23Then I will strike her children dead, and all the churches will know that I am the One who searches minds and hearts, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds. 24But I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned the so-called deep things of Satan: I will place no further burden upon you.… Revelation 2: 22-24
V. 22 Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours - This is always the call. It was never a call to a free ticket, God paid dearly for our salvation. He is calling us, through these messengers of the gospel, to see our state, that we are sinners that need to be made right through Jesus Christ. Peter doesn't offer a watered down version of the gospel, a call to continue in sin. He is calling out to Simon to turn around, "your thoughts aren't right about this, your intentions are all wrong, repent and come to God."
…18But in this way God has fulfilled what He foretold through all the prophets, saying that His Christ would suffer. 19Repent, then, and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped away, 20that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus, the Christ, who has been appointed for you.… Acts 3: 18-20
You have no part or portion in this matter (logos) - No is the Greek ou which signifies absolute negation. What matter? Luke has just been referring to the receiving of the Spirit, so that is what Simon has absolutely no part or portion. And of course by implication no Spirit signifies no authentic new birth or regeneration (Ro 8:11+). In turn Simon has no part in the privileges belonging to God's children (in this life or the life to come!)
Polhill adds that the word translated matter "is logos, a word used throughout Acts for the Gospel (cf. Acts 8:4+) (ED: AND logos IS TRANSLATED "MESSAGE" 10X IN NASB). Simon had not responded to the gospel; he had responded to greed. He lacked the contrition and inner conviction that accompany a true response to the gospel. - PA
V. 23 For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness - It would appear that he is not receiving this well, as most won't who hold a high opinion of themselves. Being impressed by power was not enough to change his heart, you have to be born again.
I see (present tense - continually) that you are (present tense - continually) in the gall of bitterness - Peter has a discerning spirit. He discerns that Simon is "poisoned by bitterness." (NKJV) and that this was not just a passing problem, but a present tense (habitual) problem!
Louw-Nida explains that the gall of bitterness is "an idiom, literally ‘to be in the gall of bitterness’) to be particularly envious or resentful of someone - ‘to be very jealous, to be terribly envious, to be bitterly envious."
Zodhiates adds that gall of bitterness "denotes extreme wickedness, highly offensive to God and all good men, likely to be hurtful and destructive to others, for which much suffering is reserved in the world to come for unbelievers [cf. Dt. 32:32 - describes the wickedness of Israel's enemies was described as having its roots in Sodom and Gomorrah.]) - PA
14Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord. 15See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God, and that no root of bitterness springs up to cause trouble and defile many. 16See to it that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his birthright.… Hebrews 12: 14-16
…18Make sure there is no man or woman, clan or tribe among you today whose heart turns away from the LORD our God to go and worship the gods of those nations. Make sure there is no root among you that bears such poisonous and bitter fruit, 19 because when such a person hears the words of this oath, he invokes a blessing on himself, saying, ‘I will have peace, even though I walk in the stubbornness of my own heart.’ This will bring disaster on the watered land as well as the dry. 20The LORD will never be willing to forgive him. Instead, His anger and jealousy will burn against that man, and every curse written in this book will fall upon him. The LORD will blot out his name from under heaven… Deuteronomy 29: 18-20
V. 24 Pray earnestly to the Lord for me yourselves, that none of what you have said may come upon me - Some think he was earnest in this request, thinking that it would mean more coming from the apostles, yet as earnest as it may be, we see what for. He finishes with, "so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me." He is only concerned about the consequences. Faith and repentance our gifts from God, allowing us to see our state and hate the sin that has separated from Him. It is a work of the Holy Spirit that regenerates in us life and points us to the answer that is Christ.
Alexander Maclaren - Simon was but slightly moved by Peter's stern rebuke. He paid no heed to the exhortation to pray for forgiveness and to repent of his wickedness, but still remained in substantially his old error, in that he accredited Peter with power, and asked him to pray for him, as if the Apostle's prayer would have some special access to God which his, though he were penitent, could not have. Further, he showed no sense of sin. All that he wished was that 'none of the things which ye have spoken come upon me. How useless are convictions which go no deeper down than Simon's did! What became of him we do not know. ' (Simon the Sorcerer) - PA
…9Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities. 10Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. 11Cast me not away from Your presence; take not Your Holy Spirit from me.… Psalm 51: 9-11
…26I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances. 28Then you will live in the land that I gave your forefathers; you will be My people, and I will be your God.… Ezekiel 36: 26-28
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