Daily Bread Acts 8
Daily Bread Acts 8
Simon the Sorcerer
9Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, 10and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, "This man is the divine power known as the Great Power." 11They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his magic. 12But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.
14When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 17Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
Observation:
Although the church was being persecuted it provided a way for it to be spread out and multiplied, as it did in this instance of Philip going to Samaria. As Philip performed signs and wonders many took notice and became believers. Even Simon the Sorcerer, who was known for his magical abilities, noticed and became a believer.
When the other apostles came to visit these new believers, they laid hands on them to receive the Holy Spirit, because they had only been baptized in the name of Jesus, or into the name of Jesus. As the apostle’s laid hands on them they received the Holy Spirit. Simon was so impressed he thought he would offer to buy this power for himself. Peter rebuked him for thinking he could buy that which was a gift from God.
Application:
We see here a separation of the belief and baptism into Jesus’ name, and the reception of the Holy Spirit. We will notice in Acts, the order of these things is not very predictable. It has caused some to say Acts presents a very “messy spirituality”. But this should not surprise us, as we know this about the Holy Spirit, “It blows where it wants, so we do not know where it is going or where it comes from.” (John 3:8)
Wherever we get too formulaic in the church, there is a danger in losing the spontaneity in which the Holy Spirit works. But despite the different ways in which the Holy Spirit is received and people come to faith in Jesus, the important thing is that both happen. One becomes a believer through faith in Jesus and repenting from belief in other gods, and then is empowered by the power of the Holy Spirit to live this new life in Christ. Often we forget about this second part.
Because the Holy Spirit has been less predictable and also led to some controversy regarding the use of extraordinary gifts like “speaking in tongues”, we sometimes shy away from too much focus on the Holy Spirit. Yet, we see through the book of Acts that the Holy Spirit is the means through which these new believers are empowered to live out their new found faith with the very power needed to confront the powers controlling the culture. Ie. Simon had some power but he recognized true power in the apostle’s and wanted it.
Prayer:
God fill us with Your Spirit’s power. Help us to repent of trying to do it on our own strength. We need your power more than ever to live out our faith dynamically in a culture that is increasing hostile to the Gospel. If we are persecuted may we, like Philip, see it as opportunity to spread your gospel in new places!! In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Simon the Sorcerer
9Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, 10and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, "This man is the divine power known as the Great Power." 11They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his magic. 12But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.
14When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 17Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
Observation:
Although the church was being persecuted it provided a way for it to be spread out and multiplied, as it did in this instance of Philip going to Samaria. As Philip performed signs and wonders many took notice and became believers. Even Simon the Sorcerer, who was known for his magical abilities, noticed and became a believer.
When the other apostles came to visit these new believers, they laid hands on them to receive the Holy Spirit, because they had only been baptized in the name of Jesus, or into the name of Jesus. As the apostle’s laid hands on them they received the Holy Spirit. Simon was so impressed he thought he would offer to buy this power for himself. Peter rebuked him for thinking he could buy that which was a gift from God.
Application:
We see here a separation of the belief and baptism into Jesus’ name, and the reception of the Holy Spirit. We will notice in Acts, the order of these things is not very predictable. It has caused some to say Acts presents a very “messy spirituality”. But this should not surprise us, as we know this about the Holy Spirit, “It blows where it wants, so we do not know where it is going or where it comes from.” (John 3:8)
Wherever we get too formulaic in the church, there is a danger in losing the spontaneity in which the Holy Spirit works. But despite the different ways in which the Holy Spirit is received and people come to faith in Jesus, the important thing is that both happen. One becomes a believer through faith in Jesus and repenting from belief in other gods, and then is empowered by the power of the Holy Spirit to live this new life in Christ. Often we forget about this second part.
Because the Holy Spirit has been less predictable and also led to some controversy regarding the use of extraordinary gifts like “speaking in tongues”, we sometimes shy away from too much focus on the Holy Spirit. Yet, we see through the book of Acts that the Holy Spirit is the means through which these new believers are empowered to live out their new found faith with the very power needed to confront the powers controlling the culture. Ie. Simon had some power but he recognized true power in the apostle’s and wanted it.
Prayer:
God fill us with Your Spirit’s power. Help us to repent of trying to do it on our own strength. We need your power more than ever to live out our faith dynamically in a culture that is increasing hostile to the Gospel. If we are persecuted may we, like Philip, see it as opportunity to spread your gospel in new places!! In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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