Jesus did some “pre-evangelism” in John 4. He has His famous discussion there with the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well. You know that, speaking generally, there was animosity between the Jew and the Samaritan. But, animosities created by men are not necessarily shared by God. God wanted the Samaritans saved. Read John 4:28-30 and 39-42 for the background to the evangelism of the Samaritans.
THE BACKGROUND TO ACTS 8:
Saul’s (of Tarsus) hatred burned so much against Christians that he was able to stir up mobs against Christians in the city of Jerusalem. As a result of that persecution, numerous Christians fled the city of Jerusalem (8:1, 4).
One of those men scattered who preached the gospel was one of those deacons chosen in Acts 6, Philip. Either led by the Holy Spirit or remembering that Jesus wanted the Samaritans to be saved (Acts 1:8), Philip goes to the villages in Samaria, proclaiming Christ to them (vs 4).
SIMON THE MAGICIAN BELIEVES AND IS BAPTIZED – 8:9-13:
Before we can understand the nature of our chosen text, we need to understand the background of this man named Simon. Simon apparently was a Samaritan but he was a “magician.” Now, this magician was not someone who entertained you with sleight of hand tricks at birthday parties and office holiday parties. He did perform sleight of hand tricks but they were done to deceive people into believing that he was a messenger of God.
Verse 12 says that he listened to Philip preaching the good news about the reign of Christ on earth through the church of Christ, and preaching the name or the authority of Jesus Christ. Among the men and women who responded, Simon also believed and was baptized.
But because of Simon’s background and deeply engrained habits, Simon was perhaps a little more fascinated with the powerful miracles Philip performed rather than the powerful gospel Philip was preaching.
THE SAMARITANS CANNOT EVANGELIZE ON THEIR OWN – 8:14-17:
The text says clearly that Peter and John came down and prayed for the Samaritans so that they could – please observe – receive the Holy Spirit. Philip, the deacon, could perform miracles but he could not pass on that same gift. It seems that the Samaritans had received the indwelling of the Spirit that is promised to all Christians based on their fulfillment of the conditions in Acts 2:38 and the promise in Acts 5:32. But, here, they had not received the miraculous abilities that were available by the Holy Spirit to Christians in the first century.
The Samaritans heard the gospel from Philip. They believed it because he was performing miracles. They obeyed it. But then – they could not share it? Would they have to go around telling the gospel message and saying, “You just have to take my word for it?”
No, the apostles come down from Jerusalem, lay their hands on the Samaritans so they, too, could teach the message of God without error and perform miracles to confirm that message so that the kingdom of God could continue growing.
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SIMON HAS A RELAPSE – 8:18-24:
But as you know, old habits are hard to break and deceiving people for money was an old habit for Simon. Verse 18 says that Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands. So, he offered them money. Oh, Simon. You cannot buy off God!
Simon changed his heart and, as far as we know, changed his thinking and, subsequently, his life. He says to Peter, “Pray to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.”
LESSONS TO BE LEARNED:
What are some important lessons we can learn from this text?
- We need to evangelize wherever we are (vs 4).
- Miraculous abilities were always associated with a prophet of God.
- Preaching Christ (vs 4) is the same thing as preaching the kingdom and name of Jesus Christ (vs 12), including preaching baptism.
- Many people will respond to the gospel message whose hearts we simply do not know.
- Each of us must make sure our hearts are right with God.
- Since we have no apostles today, there will be no miracles today.
- If we do have a relapse, as Simon did here, then we have it within our own power to pray for our own forgiveness.
- On the other hand, we might feel compelled to ask other Christians to pray for us and that is okay (James 5:16).
We now have the Spirit’s message written down. Let us be dedicated to sharing it with others so they can be saved.
–Paul Holland
