Exploring the Faith of Simon the Sorcerer
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Acts 8:14-23
June 19th 2016
Simon the Sorcerer's Journey
We left off with a peculiar situation last week. Remember? We read at verse 13 about one Simon the sorcerer who had gained favor of the people in Samaria for his magic and sorcery. But Philip went to Samaria and announced Christ and then we read verse 13 which said:
13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
But we then read where the history of this same Simon was very, very, bad – that he apparently (by all accounts) went on to become an enemy of Christ even to the point of calling himself God.
We talked about how this opens us up to a really vital discussion in the faith – is belief – what we might call initial or saving faith – enough (to both abide in God and go to Him after this life?)
The contributing views to our answer are interesting because in our day we have people who say: “Believe and you are saved” – and they can in fact use scripture to prove it – but in reality the number of passages that are this direct are few. Then there are those who say that a person CANNOT believe UNLESS God reaches in and touches them first – and these folks maintain that once God does this that person will never stop believing.
The Debate on Belief and Salvation
But in the case of Simon we have a conflict with this view – the passage plainly says that “he believed” (and was also baptized based on this belief) but we also know that he walked from the faith thereafter. This causes people who support the teaching of “once saved always saved” to say he didn’t really believe in the first place.
But this is NOT what scripture says – Luke says plainly that Simon “also believed” and that He was “also baptized.” I accept these words of Luke at face value. And I would suggest that Simon entered into relationship with God through Christ by the Spirit through the Word that Philip preached by belief. I believe this because this is what scripture says happened.
I also maintain that had Simon Magnus died (then and there) I am convinced he would have been saved as he responded with more dedication than the thief on the cross – who merely asked Jesus to remember Him when He entered His kingdom. Luke says that Simon Magnus actually believed (we don’t even read this about the thief on the cross) and he was also publicly baptized unto Christ in front of the people he once lead as a sorcerer.
As Jesus said in the parable of the sower Simon Magnus received the word into His ground heart and to some extent or another it began to take root. But something happens to Simon. And it happens rather quickly because in the next five or eight verses we will read that when the Apostles came and gave the people the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands (and Simon sought to buy this power from them with money) Peter rebukes him and gives insight into his character for the attempt.
Questions Regarding Faith and the Holy Spirit
So we are left with the questions: When we talk about believing and being saved today is it the same thing as having the Holy Spirit? In other words can a person believe (and be saved) without having the Holy Spirit? Is initial faith alone truly enough to being saved? Is there a difference between believing and then having the Holy Spirit indwelling in us? Can a person believe but then turn from it? And if there is a difference between believing and being born of the Spirit can a person turn from being born of the Spirit too?
Before we answer these questions (especially in the case of Simon Magnus) let's read on and discuss our text which will give us some insight. (Verse 13)
13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
Acts 8:14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: 15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: 16 (For as yet it was not fallen upon any of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord.
The Apostles' Role in Samaria
Acts 8:14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Notice that it says that “they sent” unto those that were in Samaria, Peter and John. This shows that amidst the apostles there was no head chief (like Peter) but a unity among them of equal authority.
We might also wonder why upon hearing that the people of Samaria had received the Word of God, it was necessary that the Apostles would see a need to send some of their own (in this case Peter and John) to the area. It could be that there was a revival and too much was happening for Philip to handle on his own. Maybe they saw the need to establish a church there or maybe having been part of the initial planting of believers there (which happened when Jesus was alive), they felt the need to follow up.
We also can’t ignore the fact that the Apostles were inspired and led by the Holy Spirit too so this alone may be why they sent two of their own. And one reason I think we can be assured of was that the Holy Spirit sent them to do exactly what they did there – conferred the gifts of the Holy Spirit upon those who believed.
The Bestowal of the Holy Spirit in Samaria
So Peter and John (we read at verse 15):
15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
Now, Luke wrote “when they were come down” because it was (and is) generally understood that everything was down from Jerusalem and when you are in Jerusalem and “everything is up to Jerusalem” when you are outside of it. Now remember something really important here – these people believed the message of Philip, they believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, and they were baptized.
Belief comes by the Holy Spirit reaching into the heart of a person and the person accepting and receiving its message. So we KNOW that when the apostles (who came down to them and “prayed that they might receive the Holy Ghost”) that this could not mean that they would “receive the Holy Ghost so they could believe” – they were already believers – as such they had already been baptized – and according to scripture if they believed they would be saved.
The apostles first “prayed for them” (apparently to seek the hand of God to bestow on them the extraordinary heavenly gifts of the Holy Spirit showing that even Peter and John did not pretend to have the power of doing anything without the approbation of God. In many cases, Jesus was the same way. So they prayed that those who had believed (LUKE WRITES) “might receive the Holy Ghost.” The question is what was meant by the Holy Ghost that they sought to give to these people?
The Gift of God in Samaria
In verse 20 what they give the people is called "the gift of God." Again, This IS NOT that gift of the Holy Spirit by which a soul is converted or regenerated for they had received the promptings of the Holy Spirit when they believed! All through scripture, conversion of a sinner is traced to his influence.
James 1:18 says this:
“Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.”
Of His own will begat He (God) us with the WORD of Truth… has this happened to the people of Samaria? Yes! Philip preached to them “the word of truth” and they believed and had great joy as we read last week.
17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. 18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, 19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. 20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. 21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. 22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. 23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.
Gifts of the Holy Spirit
Not sent around to lay hands on people to convert them to Jesus – again – this happens without the intervention of Men. If the apostles had to lay hands on everyone so they could be converted by the Holy Spirit then very few could know or believe in Jesus to salvation unless an apostle laid hands on them! So we know that Peter and John came to ensure that something else was going to happen among them.
Now, there are religions out there that suggest that Peter and John came to bestow the permanent gift of the Holy Spirit upon those who believed so that the Holy Spirit would remain in them to sanctify them over the course of their lives. Again, this begins at conversion (like a seed and when we are babes in Christ) and continues on so long as the believer abides in the vine (by faith). Now listen carefully – the apostles were there to deliver something that was discernible by external observation. Something that would actually cause an effect upon whom it was given. Again, they had believed. Again, they would abide in that belief over the course of their lives through the sanctification of the regenerative spirit which had already come and led them to believe.
Prayers and Laying on of Hands
So what did these apostles specifically pray for to give these people – by the laying on of hands? We know it was something that would manifest a change in them that would eventually cause Simon to try and buy the power to bestow the same thing upon those whom he laid his hands upon. And what the apostles were bestowing on the believers of Samaria was the . . . (beat) Gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Let me reread – for clarity's sake – verses 14-18 again – but I am going to insert a word to help our understanding which I will emphasize when I come to it
14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God (so they had believed and scripture says nobody can believe that Jesus is Lord but by the Holy Spirit . . . so when the apostles heard that Samaria had received the Word of God) “they sent unto them Peter and John:
15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive (GIFTS of the) of the Holy Ghost: (verse 16)
16 (For as yet these gifts was not fallen upon any of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the (GIFTS of the) Holy Ghost.
18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the (GIFTS of the) Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money . . .
Extraordinary Influences
I would strongly suggest that where we read "they might receive the Holy Ghost," signified not merely his ordinary influences in converting sinners, but the extraordinary influences that attended the first preaching and receiving of the gospel–the power of speaking with new tongues (as we saw in Acts 2) and the power of working miracles.
Later in Acts 19 we are going to read the following which help us understand the context of our passages here in chapter 8.
Acts 19:1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
2 said unto them, “Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?” And they said unto him, “We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.”
3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
Now, there are people who believe that a person cannot really be a Christian until the “Holy Ghost” comes upon them and they manifest it or his presence by speaking in tongues. I can see how this belief exists because reading these passages it seems like the Holy Ghost does not come upon someone until there is a laying on of hands and that when the laying on of hands occurs there is the
Main Topic: Apostolic Influence and Spiritual Gifts in the Early Church
Speaking of tongues and doing signs and miracles. We have to therefore try and understand all this information and these events to make sense of them.
Apostolic and Post-Apostolic Eras
New Testament Apostolic Material Church
To believe
To be Baptized
Holy Spirit to Convict
Holy Spirit Gifts
Manifestations by Tongues or Miracles
Tongues by the laying on of hands
Believer Alone
No
No
No
No
No
Other Believers Required
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes (apostles)
Yes
Yes
Apostle Required
No
No
No
Sometimes
Sometimes
Sometimes
Post 70 AD New Testament Material Church Where Apostles are Gone and the Spirit Reigns
To believe
To be Baptized
Holy Spirit
Manifestations by Tongues or Miracles
Gifts by Laying on of hands
Believer Alone
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Other Believers Required
No
No
No
No
No
Apostle Required
No
No
No
No
No
So let’s go back to Samaria and Acts 8.
Acts 8:14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
16 (For as yet it was not fallen upon any of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
The laying on of hands by Peter and John (and the result of them having done this) was something that seemed to impress Simon because he sought to purchase the power to do this from the apostles. This is another indication that the apostles were bestowing spiritual gifts (to speak in tongues and or do miracles) on the Samaritan believers and NOT converting them because why would Simon want to buy the power to convert people to Christ? But to be able to bestow the power for people to be able to speak in a foreign language or to do miracles! That was worth buying – because he could monetize that power couldn’t he?
All of these facts, in my estimation, make it clear that the apostles were bestowing upon the newly converted “GIFTS of the Holy Spirit,” which would greatly bless the early church in that day and time. How? Why? Because that area was a multi-cultural multi-lingual compote of people where miracles and ability to speak varied languages would go a long way in getting the Gospel up and running. Once a person from Crete heard the Gospel preached by the Gift of tongues he or she could take the good news to Crete and get it going there. In short order the Good News could spread by this gift.
One more thing. Some believe that what was happening was Peter and John were ordaining some believers with authority to act by a priesthood conferred only by apostolic authority. This begs the absolute need for more apostles, which we can show from scripture is not (nor can be) the case today.
The early church was thus armed with these observable powers of the Holy Spirit as an extraordinary attestation of God working among them at that otherwise extremely backward time – a time where signs were the lingua franca of the community. These spiritual gifts were used to greatly kick-start and establish the gospel from the roots. This early apostolic church was the church that Christ established where the gates of hell would not prevail against. It was the church He was coming back to save from destruction, and it was governed by apostles for almost all of its existence.
Where signs and wonders and tongues worked wonders in bringing many to the faith the greatest miracles today and heavenly language are love, which performs the miracles in our modern selfish technological and medicinally inclined age. (verse 18 and 19)
18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, “Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.”
Obviously Simon could SEE that the Holy Spirit was given by the apostles laying their hands by the outward sign – which I am convinced was the speaking of tongues. Simon once had a remarkable influence over the Samaritans through magic and it seems that when he saw that the possession of this power would perpetuate and increase his influence he wanted to have it. Since he was probably used to dealing and making things happen by and through money I think he tried to use it to add to his powers of persuasion.
As we stated last week it was from this act (of offering money) that we get our word, ”simony,” which speaks of buying and selling of ecclesiastical position or church offices.
The Case of Simon: Belief and Misguided Motives
The text shows that Simon was influenced by improper motives in the way he wanted to become connected or influential in the faith. At this point, we have to now ask: Was Simon a believer? Yes or no? If no, why does Luke say he believed and was baptized? So, I would say that Simon did, in fact, believe.
As a believer, are people able to still be messed up in their thinking and world views? Absolutely. The fact that Simon offered to purchase the power from the apostles does not reflect upon the fact that he was moved by the Spirit to believe and be baptized. What it does prove, however, is that as a babe in Christ, he was still operating under some false notions of how the Gospel operated.
Peter’s Response
Peter’s response to Simon’s offer (verse 20):
20 But Peter said unto him, “Thy money perish with you, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money."
Now, reading this, we might say that Peter’s response was pretty harsh. But remember, he was gifted with the Holy Spirit in abundance, and it is entirely possible he knew the soul of Simon and what would ultimately become of him. I do not accept the idea that Simon did not believe. This is the formula we have created to serve our present theological purposes.
But bottom line, even though he believed, he had certain things that were still on his heart—like the acquisition of money or fame or power—and Peter was keyed into this defect. We might suppose that had his belief been superior (or more important to this defect of character), then Simon would have taken the rebuke in stride. Apparently, his cares for the things of the world and his former activities in it made the seed of faith weak and he withered.
This possibility is attested to in Jesus's parable of the Sower where He says that the seed (which is the Word of God) falls on four types of soil (heart ground, if you will):
- Wayside
- Stoney
- Thorny and
- Good Soil.
The Heart's Soil
With the exception of the wayside soil, the seed (word of God) is received gladly into the heart-soil, and even takes root. This was the case of Simon. However, Jesus says this was not enough—for the word to be received and to even take root—because there were things that would overcome the seed that was sown:
- Persecution (stony soil) and
- The cares and riches of the world (thorny soil) which would choke out the plant's growth.
Apparently, this is what occurs in the case of Simon—and it’s quite possible that Peter knew it. The line from Peter, “Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money…" was probably more of a prediction on his part than a curse, and the words seem to reveal Peter’s contempt at Simon's offer.
"Let your money go to the same place of destruction where you are headed,” he may be saying. I do not think that because Peter used such a retort in that day that it gives us license to use the same tone with those who may appear to be of the same ilk as Simon in this day and age. This was a very different situation and Peter was put in a very different place than any of us today. Occasionally, we may witness people thinking they are filled with the Apostolic Spirit of rebuking others, but I think those days are past.
Peter continues (verse 21):
21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
What matter? The giving of God’s gifts to others. “You have no business in what is going on here,” Peter seems to be saying—“God has distributed these things to me and John (and others back in Jerusalem), and you have no skin in the game at all.” Now many commentators think Peter was telling Simon that he was not a Christian and had no part in the Body or faith. I don’t see it this way. I think Peter was responding to Simon’s direct offer—to buy the ability to give the gifts of the Holy Spirit to others.
21 You have neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
This added line is why some commentaries think Peter was indicting Simon's faith.
The Message in Simon's Story
"Your heart is not right in the sight of God," implies that Simon's desire to purchase God's power exposed a heart still focused on wealth. Peter's stern rebuke underscores this:
22 Repent therefore – (metan-o-eo – reconsider, rethink this in your mind and heart) “Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.”
This statement from Peter is significant and could be misunderstood if taken outside its context. It raises questions about Paul's teachings:
- Simon believed (knowing belief comes only through the Holy Spirit's influence).
- He was baptized, symbolically buried with Christ, as a Christian before this encounter with Peter.
- Then, he offered money for the Holy Spirit's power, which led to his rejection.
Notably, Jews typically had no interactions with Samaritans, viewed as "half-breeds" by Josephus. Yet, Philip, a Hellenized Jew, went there possibly because of Jesus' directive: "and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."
The Role of Repentance for Jews and Gentiles
Despite animosity, Samaritans were seen as part of Israel's House, deserving of the Gospel and Messianic promises, which Philip shared. Simon, being an Israelite of mixed descent, was expected to adhere to the call for repentance prescribed in their Law.
Repentance, however, held different meanings for Jews and Gentiles. For Jews, it was a decree due to their adherence to the Old Testament but was not a Gentile requirement in the same way. For believers today, the process involves initial belief, walking in faith, and the Spirit's guidance to repentance.
Peter's words to Simon suggested the possibility of unforgiveness for his greed:
"Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee."
Yet, this differs from the Gospel's message to Gentiles that emphasizes Jesus' completed work and constant forgiveness through faith, not continuous acts of contrition.
Understanding True Repentance
Some interpretations argue for seeking forgiveness for each sin, but this raises concerns about the essence of Protestant beliefs established by Luther. Modern Christians sometimes miscommunicate by demanding repentance from believers and non-believers alike, but the true core is to foster faith growth, with the Spirit naturally guiding towards repentance.
For Israelites, repentance was integral to their covenantal relationship with God, marking a key distinction in applying these teachings.
Understanding Spiritual Bondage
23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.
You have not been freed or liberated from your errant ways and you need to change your mind about where you currently stand because from what I can tell you are in bondage, in chains of iniquity and if you don’t repent, receive forgiveness from God and get straight you will perish (along with your money).
Repentance and Forgiveness
Let’s stop here.
