“And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
The unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed.
And there was great joy in that city.
But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great, And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time. But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.
Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done. Acts 8:6-13
It was music in the hearts of those Samaritan believers— The Gospel that Philip had preached to them meant that they were half-breeds no longer! No longer despised and no longer cut off from their inheritance as children of Abraham. As Paul would later write: “because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying “Abba! Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.”
( Gal.4: 6-7)
As usual, whenever there is a move of God, there is always an attempt to counterfeit it by the Adversary. Enter Simon—“called the Great Power of God” because for a long time he astonished them with his magic arts. Because of the miracles and signs at the hands of Philip, the scripture says “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 amazed.”
We can only guess what he hoped to gain by attaching himself to Philip and hoping to learn what was the secret of his power. Simon was famous in Samaria; he was the “poster boy” for the movement. Just as in our world today we are far too easily impressed by status, power, and wealth, even in the church. Even Philip was seduced with the “Christian” veneer of his convert. The Holy Spirit signaled it was time for the apostles Peter and John to pay a visit to the church in Samaria.
Peter and John were to lay hands on these brethren of the Samaritan church since the Holy Spirit had not yet fallen upon any of them. When they had prayed and began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit. Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying of the apostles hands, he offered them money…..But Peter said to him “May your silver perish with because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!…Your heart is not right before God.”
How can a Simon work his way into God’s church by dent of his fame and popularity?
We say with the psalmist, Asaph:
“For I was envious of the arrogant
As I saw the prosperity of the wicked…
Therefore pride is their necklace;
The garment of violence covers them…
Until I came into the sanctuary of God;
Then I perceived their end.
Surely You set them in slippery places;
You cast them down to destruction.
Psalm 73:3,6,17-18
Simon was given the opportunity to repent of his wickedness….Peter noted “For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.” (Acts 8:23)
His response was terror, but not penitence. We never hear of this Simon again.
In the kingdom of God, there are no “big I’s” and no “little you’s”. No half-breeds; just sons and daughters. He is, and forevermore shall be, the Great Equalizer.
Questions To Think About:
The unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed.
And there was great joy in that city.
But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great, And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time. But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.
Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done. Acts 8:6-13
It was music in the hearts of those Samaritan believers— The Gospel that Philip had preached to them meant that they were half-breeds no longer! No longer despised and no longer cut off from their inheritance as children of Abraham. As Paul would later write: “because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying “Abba! Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.”
( Gal.4: 6-7)
As usual, whenever there is a move of God, there is always an attempt to counterfeit it by the Adversary. Enter Simon—“called the Great Power of God” because for a long time he astonished them with his magic arts. Because of the miracles and signs at the hands of Philip, the scripture says “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 amazed.”
We can only guess what he hoped to gain by attaching himself to Philip and hoping to learn what was the secret of his power. Simon was famous in Samaria; he was the “poster boy” for the movement. Just as in our world today we are far too easily impressed by status, power, and wealth, even in the church. Even Philip was seduced with the “Christian” veneer of his convert. The Holy Spirit signaled it was time for the apostles Peter and John to pay a visit to the church in Samaria.
Peter and John were to lay hands on these brethren of the Samaritan church since the Holy Spirit had not yet fallen upon any of them. When they had prayed and began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit. Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying of the apostles hands, he offered them money…..But Peter said to him “May your silver perish with because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!…Your heart is not right before God.”
How can a Simon work his way into God’s church by dent of his fame and popularity?
We say with the psalmist, Asaph:
“For I was envious of the arrogant
As I saw the prosperity of the wicked…
Therefore pride is their necklace;
The garment of violence covers them…
Until I came into the sanctuary of God;
Then I perceived their end.
Surely You set them in slippery places;
You cast them down to destruction.
Psalm 73:3,6,17-18
Simon was given the opportunity to repent of his wickedness….Peter noted “For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.” (Acts 8:23)
His response was terror, but not penitence. We never hear of this Simon again.
In the kingdom of God, there are no “big I’s” and no “little you’s”. No half-breeds; just sons and daughters. He is, and forevermore shall be, the Great Equalizer.
Questions To Think About:
- How does the reality that there are no “big I’s” and no “little you’s” in the Kingdom change the way you view people who have more (or less) status than you?
- Philip was initially “seduced” by Simon’s “Christian veneer”. Why are we often so easily impressed by fame, wealth, or talent within the church ? How can we develop better spiritual discernment?
- Simon was a “poster boy” to the Samaritans for Christianity. Have you ever felt pressure to maintain a “successful” image in your faith or ministry rather than being honest about your struggles?
- The Samaritans were seen as “half-breeds”. Are there groups today—either in society or in your own mind—that you subconsciously view as “less than” or “cut off” from God’s grace?
Posted in The Equalizer