Please turn with me in your Bibles to Acts chapter 8.
We've been going through a series in the book of Acts.
We're in chapter 8, verses 1 to 25 this evening.
And we pray now for the reading and preaching of God's Word.
Heavenly Father, it is so easy, we confess, for us to think hard thoughts of you, small thoughts of you.
We pray that this evening that you would address us from your Word, magnify our vision of you,
that we might see your glory in all its grandness,
and your grace in all its tenderness, compassion.
That we might be empowered and emboldened to be witnesses of Jesus Christ in our lives.
In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Acts chapter 8, verses 1 to 25.
And Saul approved of his execution, Stephen's execution.
And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem.
And they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.
Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him.
But Saul was ravaging the church.
Entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.
Now those who were scattered went about preaching the Word.
Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ.
And the crowds, with one accord, paid attention to what was being said by Philip.
When they heard him and saw the signs that he did.
For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them,
and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed.
So there was much joy in that city.
But there was a man named Simon,
who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria,
saying that he himself was somebody great.
They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying,
This man is the power of God that is called great.
And they paid attention to him,
because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic.
But when they believed Philip,
as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ,
they were baptized, both men and women.
Even Simon himself believed,
and after being baptized, he continued with Philip.
And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed.
Now, when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God,
they sent to them Peter and John,
who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.
For he had not yet fallen on any of them,
but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
Now, when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands,
he offered them money, saying,
Give me this power also,
so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.
But Peter said to him,
May your silver perish with you,
because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money.
You have neither part nor lot in this matter,
for your heart is not right before God.
Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours,
and pray to the Lord that, if possible,
the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.
For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness
and in the bond of iniquity.
And Simon answered,
Pray for me to the Lord,
that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.
Now, when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord,
they returned to Jerusalem,
preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.
This is God's holy and authoritative word.
Every year, Open Door USA publishes the World Watch List,
which lists 50 countries
where the persecution against Christians is most intense.
And according to the 2021 report,
more than 340 million Christians today
live in places where they experience high,
very high, or extremely high levels of persecution.
That's one in eight Christians worldwide.
340 million.
That's up from the 260 million
and 245 million persecuted Christians
from 2020 and 2019, respectively.
For many Christians around the world,
even though that might seem so foreign to us,
the cost of being a disciple of Jesus Christ
is very high.
In milder, subtler ways,
Christians in the West
also experience sometimes rejection
and ridicule for their faith.
And we know that powerful men and women,
powerful religions, philosophies, and ideologies,
and powerful evil spirits
oppose the advance of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
How, then, are we to bear witness to Jesus?
This passage teaches us
that we are to proclaim the gospel
wherever we go by the power of the Holy Spirit.
And it beckons us to look at our world
not with our eyes of sight,
but with eyes of faith
by telling us about the great persecution
and the great power
and the great promise
that we see in this passage.
First, let's look at the great persecution
that the early church endured
when Stephen, the first martyr of the church,
was being stoned to death by his persecutors.
We looked at that passage last week.
It said in chapter 7, verse 58,
that the witnesses laid down their garments
at the feet of a young man named Saul.
This was our first introduction to Saul,
whom we know by his better-known Greek name, Paul.
And prior to his conversion,
Saul was a notorious persecutor of the church.
He says of himself in 1 Timothy 1, verse 3,
that formerly he was a blasphemer,
persecutor, and insolent opponent of the church.
And when Stephen was being stoned to death,
Saul provided the coat check service.
Watching the garments of the witnesses
in Stephen's trial,
who by law were required
to cast their first stones.
Since we know that Saul was educated
at the feet of Gamaliel,
we know that from Acts 22, verse 3,
who was a prominent member of the Sanhedrin,
the highest Jewish ruling court,
it's possible that Saul is present
at the trial as an assistant to the Sanhedrin.
But lest you think that Saul
was reluctantly complying
with orders of his superiors,
it tells us in chapter 8, verse 1,
that Saul himself approved of his execution.
Saul thought that that was well-fitting,
well-deserved, just.
As we noted last week,
even though the Jewish council
sanctioned Stephen's execution
because the Jews did not have the authority
to mete out capital punishment
under Roman governance,
this was essentially a lynching.
And the agitated mob that lynched Stephen
is not satisfied.
They are sun-soaked and sweaty
after exerting themselves
and casting heavy stones at Stephen,
but the air is still palpable
with the heat of anger
and hatred
toward the church
of which Stephen was a member.
And it says in verse 1,
There arose on that day
a great persecution
against the church in Jerusalem,
and they were all scattered
throughout the regions
of Judea and Samaria
except the apostles.
The persecution was so intense
that it broke up
the church in Jerusalem completely.
All the believers
had to scatter
throughout the regions
of Judea and Samaria
except the apostles.
The apostles,
who are the foundation
of the church
of which Christ is the cornerstone,
are the only ones
remaining in Jerusalem.
If you think of the early church
in Jerusalem as a house,
it looks as though
the entire structure
has been raised
and all that remains
is the foundation.
So Saul, it says,
was ravaging the church
and entering house after house.
He dragged off men and women
and committed them to prison.
With the zeal
of a religious fanatic
completely convinced
of the righteousness
of his cause,
Saul was ravaging the church
and he wasn't content
to just go to the temple,
Solomon's portico,
where Christians
were often gathering
and speaking and teaching.
He wasn't content
to just go to those public places
to round up the Christians.
No, he's interrogating people
to find out
where these Christians live
and he's going from house
after house
to drag off
against their will
men and women
to put them in prison.
That's the great persecution.
But against that great persecution,
we see a still greater power.
It says in verses 4 and 5,
Now those who were scattered
went about preaching the word
and Philip went down
to the city of Samaria
and proclaimed to them the Christ.
This is a remarkable turn of events.
The great scattering of the church
by persecution
led to the great spreading
of the gospel
by those very believers.
Ironically,
the attempt to snuff out
the gospel
actually spread the gospel
even further
so that it's no longer
confined to Jerusalem
and Judea,
the surrounding towns.
It's now,
through the ministry
of Philip and others,
penetrating even
the city of Samaria.
The persecutors of the church
are unwittingly
aiding the church.
And this is really encouraging
Noah and in light of
what Lauren shared earlier as well.
It's not just the apostles
who are proclaiming the gospel.
The apostles are all
left behind in Jerusalem.
All those scattered believers.
It names Philip as one of them,
but he's not the only one.
All of these believers
are going about
and sharing the gospel.
If you have ever gardened
or had a lawn,
you know that dandelions,
which you're seeing
all over the place now,
are extremely difficult weeds
to get rid of.
You could spend
an entire summer
mowing down dandelions
or hauling them
out of the ground,
but even if you work tirelessly
to remove every single one,
just weeks later,
even more yellow
dandelion flowers
sprout up again
in different parts of the lawn.
That's because of
the extraordinary way
in which dandelion seeds spread.
The pretty white
spherical heads
of the dandelions
contains approximately
150 seeds per flower.
And each plant
can produce up to
10 flowers.
So that means
each dandelion plant
can produce up to
15,000 seeds.
And each dandelion seed
is shaped like a parachute,
enabling it to travel
over half a mile
over a kilometer
by wind alone.
That's remarkable mileage
for a little tiny flower seed.
And for this reason,
when you're cutting down
the dandelions
or uprooting them,
you can unwittingly spread
hundreds of its seeds.
It's a losing battle.
You might as well
start calling them flowers
rather than weeds
and learn to enjoy
seeing them in your lawn.
The early church
was like these dandelions.
In this passage,
we see that the believers
in Acts
were effective carriers
of the seed of the gospel.
In verses 45,
those who were scattered
went about preaching the word
wherever they went,
including Philip to Samaria.
Verse 25 also says
that after visiting
the Samaritan believers,
the apostles returned
to Jerusalem
preaching the gospel
to many villages
of the Samaritans.
It begins and ends
with people sharing the gospel
wherever they go.
In fact,
the whole section of Acts
from chapter 8
to chapter 11,
verse 19
can be described
as examples
of believers
sharing the gospel
wherever they go.
And every Christian,
that means,
is a carrier
of the seed
of the gospel.
And we must not
lose our germinating potential.
Whether we are scattered
by persecution
or deliberately
moved somewhere
to do missions work,
or whether we move
somewhere for school
or work,
wherever we go,
wherever we are,
we must not forget
that we are carriers
of the gospel.
That's also an encouragement
for us not to be discouraged
when faced with persecution
or even seeming failure
in our ministries.
Outwardly,
if you were to visit
Jerusalem that day
when that great persecution
broke out,
it would have looked like
the church was decimated.
There was nothing
much to see there.
I mean,
the apostles were left,
but that was about it.
It was like a tree
with only its stump.
What happened
to all the believers,
all those thousands
that had been converted
and baptized
in recent months?
The persecution
looked like
a smashing success
if you were to go
and visit Jerusalem
that day.
But not visible
to the naked eye
was the spread
of the gospel
that God
had sovereignly
orchestrated
through this persecution.
Faithful gospel ministry
often invites
criticism,
opposition,
and even persecution.
Faithful gospel ministry
sometimes experiences
setbacks
and disappointments.
Faithful gospel ministry
will sometimes
look like
a complete failure.
But even then,
we must never despair
because we do not see
all that the Holy Spirit
is doing.
God is sovereignly
at work
and we are to do
our part
of sowing,
trusting that
the wind of the Spirit
will carry forth
the gospel of Jesus Christ.
As Philip did this
in the city of Samaria,
the response was electric.
It says in verses 6 to 8,
And the crowds
with one accord
paid attention
to what was being said
by Philip
when they heard him
and saw the signs
that he did.
For unclean spirits,
crying out
with a loud voice,
came out of many
who had them,
and many who were paralyzed
or lame
were healed.
So there was much joy
in that city.
These verses highlight
two things
that Philip did.
It says in verse 6,
When they heard him
and when they saw
the signs he did.
So the Samaritans
with one accord
paid attention
to what was being said
by Philip.
We know that
what he was saying
was proclaiming the Christ.
So they heard the good news
of Jesus Christ.
And they also saw signs,
miraculous signs
that confirmed the message,
which included
healings
and exorcisms
of unclean spirits.
And the response
of the Samaritans
to Philip's message
is contrasted
with their former
way of life
in verses 9 to 11.
But there was a man
named Simon
who had previously
practiced magic
in the city
and amazed
the people of Samaria
saying that he himself
was somebody great.
They all paid attention
to him
from the least
to the greatest
saying this man
is the power of God
that is called great.
And they paid attention
to him
because for a long time
he had amazed them
with his magic.
Simon was a famous
magician at that time
that many ancient writers
actually write about.
And by magician
I don't mean
people,
someone who practices
sleight of hand
and illusions.
I mean someone
who practices
sorcery,
witchcraft,
a person associated
with the occult
and the realm
of spirits
and demons.
Simon
unashamedly
styled himself
to be
somebody great.
And he was quite
successful
in promoting himself
because people
from the least
to the greatest
paid attention
to him.
The poor
as well as the rich,
the educated
as well as the uneducated,
the weak
as well as the strong
and the powerful,
they all regarded
him highly
saying that this man
is the power
of God
that is called
great.
This is likely
a divine title
that Simon
claimed
for himself.
Early 2nd century
Christian apologist
and philosopher
Justin Martyr
who was himself
a Samaritan
before coming
to faith in Jesus
writes in one
of his books
that his fellow
Samaritans said
that Simon
the magician
is God
quote,
God above all
power
and authority
and might.
2nd century
pastor Irenaeus
also says
in his book
Against Heresies
that Simon
the magician
quote,
represented himself
in a word
as being the loftiest
of all powers
that is a being
who is the father
over all
and he allowed
himself to be called
by whatsoever title
men were pleased
to address him.
So he was quite
a self-absorbed man
who had grandiose
claims about himself
but because
of his powers
of sorcery
people actually
believed him.
but all of this
changes
when people
of Samaria
are confronted
with a truly
great power
the power
of the living God
and when they hear
the good news
of Jesus Christ
the true God
incarnate
their transformation
is seen
here
look at the word
pay attention
paid attention
it says in
verses 10
and 11
that the Samaritans
paid attention
to him
to Simon
but now
it says in
verse 6
the crowds
with one accord
paid attention
to what was being
said by
Philip
their attention
is shifted away
from Simon
the magician
as a result
of Philip's
ministry
and notice
what exactly
people are paying
attention to
in verse 6
formerly they all
paid attention
to him
to Simon
himself
they were amazed
by him
and thought him
to be the great
one
the power of God
but look at
verse 6
it says
the crowds
with one accord
paid attention
to what was
being said
by Philip
this is carefully
phrased
and I believe
intentionally so
because the same
phrase is used
later in Acts
chapter 16
verse 14
to say that
the Lord
opened Lydia's
heart
to pay attention
to what
was said
by Paul
charlatans
false messengers
always bring
attention to
themselves
as Simon
the magician
did
but true
messengers
of the gospel
always bring
attention
to the message
because they
know well
that they
themselves
have no power
to save
because they
know that
only Christ
and only his
gospel can save
because they
know that they
themselves have
no power to
perform signs
and wonders
because they
know that they
are merely
conduits
instruments
in the hands
of God
so Philip
is not
interested in
bringing
attention
to himself
garnering
the acclaim
of men
he's simply
concerned with
being faithful
to his
Lord
by faithfully
conveying the
message
that he
was entrusted
and due to
Philip's
faithful ministry
and the power
of the Holy
Spirit
many men
and women
are converted
and baptized
it says in
verse 12
in fact
verse 13
says even
Simon himself
believed
and after
being baptized
continued
with Philip
and seeing
signs and
great miracles
performed
he was amazed
in verses
10 to 11
Simon called
himself great
and amazed
the people
in verse 13
Simon is himself
amazed
by the great
miracles that
God performed
through Philip
the man who
used to have
crowds of people
flocking to him
and gawking at him
now follows
Philip around
like a groupie
no great
powers
or boasts
of men
can hold
a candle
to the power
of God
sometimes I
see articles
or books
written about
Christian ministry
and they say
we're competing
with Hollywood
and Netflix
so we need
to make our
sermons
more entertaining
they say
we're competing
with pop artists
and concerts
so we need
more professional
worship bands
and to complete
with LED
stage lights
and fog machines
hear this
Simon
was a sorcerer
who had
captivated
the people
of Samaria
from the least
to the greatest
he was so
compelling
that people
thought he was
a deity
and yet
he can do
nothing
when the Holy
Spirit
does his
signs and wonders
and brings the
gospel of Jesus
Christ to bear
with conviction
on the hearts
of man and woman
he can do
nothing
to stop the
conversion of his
audience
and the loss
of his business
in fact
Simon himself
who is
who had made
a career
of wowing
people is
wowed and
won over
so let's
not
patronize
God
and treat
him
like a
has-been
act
or a gig
that needs
some extra
help from
our amazing
creative minds
instead
let's humble
ourselves
before him
confess
our own
inadequacies
and weaknesses
and ask
for his
help
ask
for his
power
because when
the power
of the Holy
Spirit
comes upon
his church
there is
nothing
that can
stand in
their way
this also
means we
have nothing
to fear
when we
face powerful
manifestations
of the
spiritual
forces of
evil
often in
foreign
missions
contexts
when facing
literal
witch doctors
and sorcerers
who claim
and manipulate
supernatural
power
people who
captivate
and rule
others
hearts
with fear
when they
threaten us
with curses
and incantations
and whatever
else
we have no
need to be
afraid
the
rulers
and the
authorities
the
cosmic
powers
over
this
present
darkness
the
spiritual
forces
of evil
in the
heavenly
places
have no
power
over the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
who is
seated
at the
right
hand
of the
Father
whose
name
is
exalted
above
every
name
that
is
named
in
heaven
or on
earth
or under
the
earth
the
spirit
of the
risen
Lord
Jesus
indwells
us
empowers
us
and goes
with us
and there
is nothing
that can
stand
in his
way
we are
to proclaim
the gospel
wherever we
go
not by
our power
but by
the power
of the
Holy Spirit
that's the
great power
that we see
and now we
turn to the
great promise
in verses
14 to
25
it says
in verse
14
now when
the apostles
at Jerusalem
heard that
Samaria had
received the
word of God
they sent
to them
Peter
and John
this is the
first time
in the book
of Acts
that Samaria
has received
the word
of God
throughout this
passage
Luke
emphasizes
the fact
that the
gospel
is going
beyond
Jerusalem
and Judea
into Samaria
five times
in this
passage alone
he mentions
Samaria
and Samaritans
to make sure
we don't miss
the significance
of the fact
that the
gospel ministry
is now taking
place in
Samaria
and this
is connected
to the
great promise
of Jesus
in Acts
chapter 1
verse 8
which is
the
programmatic
verse of
the entire
book of Acts
it's like
the thesis
statement
but you
will receive
power when
the Holy
Spirit
has come
upon you
and you
will be
my witnesses
in Jerusalem
in all
Judea
and Samaria
and to
the end
of the
earth
the book
of Acts
follows this
outline
recounting
the spread
of the
goodness
of Jesus
in Jerusalem
in chapters
1 through
7
in all
Judea
and Samaria
in chapters
8 to
12
and to
the end
of the
earth
in chapters
13 to
28
Jerusalem
was the
center of
Jewish
worship
and further
out in
Judea and
Samaria
you found
syncretic
Judaism
mixed with
folk
spirituality
and elements
of other
religious
traditions
and then
the end
of the
earth
represents
the realm
of the
nations
the Gentiles
who practice
pagans
we are now
at this point
of the book
in the second
stage of the
gospel's advancement
where the gospel
multiplies among
the Samaritans
Samaria was the
capital of the
northern kingdom
of Israel
when it was
divided into
two
Israel and
Judah
and the name
Samaria
eventually came
to be used
to refer to
the district
and sometimes
even to the
entirety
of the
northern kingdom
and when
the Assyrians
captured
Samaria
in 722
BC
they deported
all the
Israelites
of substance
and means
and then
left behind
other Israelites
and then
settled that
land with
foreigners
who then
intermarried
with the
remaining
Israelites
leading to
a form of
syncretized
Judaism
and when
the Jews
had been
the Jews
had been
deported
who had
been deported
returned to
their homeland
from exile
they viewed
the Samaritans
as kind of
half Jews
people who
were
sub-Jewish
both in their
ethnicity and
religion
and one
notable
religious
difference
between them
I mentioned
last week
is that the
Samaritans
saw the
Mount Gerizim
in Shechem
in the city
of Shechem
as the center
of worship
while the
Jews saw
Jerusalem
and Mount
Zion
as the center
of worship
and considering
this it's
notable that
Stephen in
the previous
chapter in
Acts chapter 7
pointed out
that Joseph
one of the
Jews revered
by the
patriarchs
was buried
not in
Jerusalem
but in
Shechem
he did
this to
emphasize
that God's
presence
is not
confined
to
Jerusalem
and that
God's
powerful
and gracious
work
transcends
the boundaries
of Israel
and with
that detail
Luke
deftly
prepared
a way
for chapter
8
where even
Samaria
receives
the word
of God
and when
the apostles
at Jerusalem
heard of the
reception of
the gospel
in Samaria
it says
in verse 14
that they
sent to them
Peter and
John
the reason
for ascending
them
is given
in verse 15
they came
down and
prayed for
them
that they
might receive
the Holy
Spirit
this was
necessary
because
as verse 16
says the Holy
Spirit had
not fallen
not yet fallen
on any of us
but they had
only been
baptized in the
name of the
Lord Jesus
this raises
the question
of how did
they know
that the Holy
Spirit had
not come
upon the
Samaritans
earlier in
Acts chapter 2
17 and 18
at Pentecost
Peter explained
that the
descent of
the Holy
Spirit is a
fulfillment of
the prophecy
in Joel 2
28 to 32
and Peter
and John
knew
likely from
Philip's
report
that the
Holy Spirit
had not
fallen upon
them yet
because there
was no
spirit of
prophecy
evident among
them
when we
repent and
believe in
Jesus and
are baptized
in his
name
the Holy
Spirit
indwells
us
he brings
genuine
conviction
of sin
and joy
of salvation
as we see
in this
passage
he sheds
the love
of God
upon our
hearts
so that we
love God
in response
and seek
to please
him
he produces
his fruit
within us
and distributes
his gifts
among us
gifts such as
tongues
prophecy
healing
he transforms
us
and this is
not
an
imperceptible
thing
it's
noticeable
to the
apostles
that the
Holy Spirit
had not
fallen upon
a Samaritan
this is a
very intriguing
and surprising
situation
you can see
on the screen
what Peter
preached in
Acts 2
38 to
39
repent and
be baptized
every one
of you
in the name
of Jesus
Christ
for the
forgiveness
of your
sins
and you
will receive
the gift
of the
Holy Spirit
for the
promises
for you
and for
your
children
and for
all who
are far
off
everyone
whom
the
Lord
God
calls
to
himself
so
scripture
ties the
reception
of the
Holy Spirit
to
baptism
in the
name
of
Jesus
Christ
and in
this
passage
we see
that the
Samaritans
have done
exactly
what Peter
said
they needed
to do
they've
repented
and they
believed
and they've
been baptized
in the name
of the
Lord
Jesus
and yet
where's
the Holy
Spirit
what gives
this is
supposed to
be an
odd
situation
Luke
acknowledges
the strangeness
of this
when he
notes that
the Holy
Spirit
had not
yet
fallen
on any
of them
but they
had only
been baptized
in the name
of the
Lord
Jesus
the word
only
highlights
this
conspicuous
absence
of the
Holy
Spirit
because we
saw earlier
in chapter
1
verses
46
Jesus
commanded
the
apostles
to wait
for the
promise
of the
Father
but he
said
you heard
from me
for John
baptized
with
water
but you
will be
baptized
with the
Holy
Spirit
not many
days
from now
the days
of John's
baptism
of water
has passed
now is
the age
of baptism
of the
Holy
Spirit
so it
is unique
that these
Samaritan
believers
have not
yet received
the Holy
Spirit
despite the
fact that
they have
received the
word of
God
so what's
the reason
for this
unusual delay
why did
God wait
to send
the Holy
Spirit
until Peter
and John
came to lay
their hands
on them
and pray
for them
the best
explanation
seems to
be that
this is
a special
moment
in God's
salvation
plan
when salvation
which is
from the
Jews
is extended
to the
Samaritans
were accustomed
to being
treated as
second class
Jews
they were
never fully
received into
the covenant
community of
God
in Ezra
chapter 4
when the
Jewish
exiles
returned
to Jerusalem
to rebuild
the temple
the Samaritans
approached
these Jews
and said
to them
let us
build
with you
for we
worship
your God
as you
do
and we
have been
sacrificing
to him
ever since
the days
of Eserhaddon
king of
Assyria
who brought
us here
but the
Jews
rejected
them
and said
you
have
nothing
to do
with us
in building
a house
to our
God
but we
alone
will build
to the
Lord
the God
of Israel
this ancient
rivalry
and enmity
between them
were so
strong
that they
wanted
nothing
to do
with each
other
as we
see in
John
chapter 4
it's in
that context
of hostility
Peter
and John
representatives
of the
twelve
apostles
who according
to Luke
22
30
sit on
thrones
judging
the twelve
tribes
of Israel
in the
kingdom
of God
personally
come to
Samaria
to physically
lay their
hands on
the Samaritans
Samaritans
and offer
them the
right
can of
fellowship
laying on
of hands
in the
book of
Acts
occurs
in context
of appointing
someone
for a
special
ministry
or for
healing
or for
impartation
of the
Holy
Spirit
it seems
to be
an outward
representation
of an
inward
transfer
of the
Spirit's
power
the
application
of the
Spirit's
power
God
this is
God's
way
in sending
Peter and
John
of
authenticating
and legitimizing
the inclusion
of the
Samaritans
to the
church
of God
this is a
momentous
occasion
there
cannot
be
two
separate
churches
the
Jewish
one
and the
Samaritan
one
there
can only
be one
church
of
Christ
this
was
not
a
case
of
Philip
the rogue
evangelist
offering
salvation
to
Samaritans
when God
himself
had no
plans
of doing
that
God
is
himself
putting
his
stamp
of
approval
on
Samaria's
reception
of his
word
Samaritans
are no
longer
second
class
Jews
they are
not
half
brothers
but
full
brothers
and
sisters
in the
family
of
God
they are
not
resident
aliens
but
full
citizens
in the
kingdom
of
God
they're
not
visitors
or
observers
but
full
members
of
the
church
of
God
this
is
the
Samaritan
Pentecost
and
God
had
delayed
it
to
reveal
and
confirm
his
salvation
purposes
the
spirit
of
God
fell
upon
the
Jews
in
chapter
2
he
now
falls
upon
the
Samaritans
in
chapter
8
and
then
he
will
fall
upon
the
Gentiles
in
chapter
10
of
course
the
Holy
Spirit
can
descend
upon
a
group
of
believers
in
power
today
also
but
these
three
occasions
are
unique
unrepeatable
events
that
mark
the
initial
reception
of
the
Holy
Spirit
by
Jews
Samaritans
and
Gentiles
respectively
the
implications
of this
are manifold
over the
last year
or so
we have
gone
through
a health
crisis
as well
as
a turbulent
election
season
our world
is full
of divisions
and factions
Democrats
versus
Republicans
Blacks
versus
Whites
Urbanites
versus
Ruralites
Rich
versus
Poor
Americans
versus
Chinese
but
such
divisions
must
not
create
a rift
within
the
church
of
Christ
as
it
does
in
the
rest
of
the
world
this
is
why
Ephesians
4
3
to
6
tells
us
that
we
are
to
be
eager
to
maintain
the
unity
of
the
spirit
in
the
bond
of
peace
there
is
one
body
one
spirit
just
as
you
recall
to
the
one
hope
that
belongs
to
your
call
one
Lord
one
faith
one
baptism
one
God
and
father
of
all
who
is
over
all
and
through
all
and
in
all
over
the
last
year
or so
we
as a
local
church
have
also
faced
many
tensions
and
potentially
divisive
issues
and we
will
undoubtedly
face
more
in the
coming
months
and
years
should
we
gather
in
person
for
worship
and
fellowship
or
not
in the
middle
of
a
pandemic
should
we
wear
masks
during
worship
or
not
should
people
who
have
already
had
covid
get
vaccinated
or
not
should
we
meet
for
worship
on
saturday
morning
or on
sunday
evening
you
probably
have
your
own
convictions
on
all
of
these
matters
as
do
I
and
we
should
frankly
acknowledge
that
we
don't
all
agree
on
these
matters
however
these
disagreements
do
not
nullify
the
fact
that
in
one
spirit
we
were
all
baptized
into
one
body
and
for
this
reason
with
all
humility
and
gentleness
with
patience
bearing
with
one
another
in
love
we
must
strive
to
maintain
the
unity
of
the
spirit
and
the
bond
of
peace
with
humility
not
prideful
condescension
or
dismissiveness
with
gentleness
not
harshness
or
rudeness
with
patience
not
impatience
or
irritability
in
forbearing
love
not
suspicion
or
indifference
and
many
of
you
have
been
fighting
valuing
for
the
unity
of
the
church
over
the
last
year
or so
and
I
want
to
encourage
you
and
exhort
you
to
do
so
more
and
more
and
the
reception
of the
Holy
Spirit
by
the
Samaritans
also
has
implications
for
our
evangelistic
efforts
Jews
and
Samaritans
were sworn
enemies
yet
Philip
the
evangelist
went
down
to
the
city
of
Samaria
and
proclaimed
to
them
the
Christ
because
being
indwelled
by
the
Holy
Spirit
is
not
an
exclusive
prerogative
of
ethnic
Jews
but
of
all
those
who
put
their
faith
in
Jesus
Christ
people
therefore
we
have
no
right
to
withhold
the
gospel
from
anyone
not
even
from
our
worst
enemies
who
would
you
say
are
people
in
your
life
that
oppose
you
maybe
political
opponents
theological
opponents
academic
opponents
racial
or ethnic
opponents
workplace
opponents
Maybe it's simply a rude and selfish neighbor that makes your living situation miserable.
Regardless, we have no right to withhold from them the saving news of Jesus Christ.
Because we have been commissioned as witnesses of the risen Christ,
and we are to proclaim the gospel wherever we go by the power of the Holy Spirit.
But this story has a twist.
It says in verses 18 to 19,
The word translated power in verse 19 is more frequently translated authority.
It refers to the right to control something, to dispense something.
Simon's selfish ambition is now laid bare before our eyes.
He is essentially coveting the apostolic office.
In the book of Acts, it's not only the twelve apostles who pray for and lay hands on people to receive the Holy Spirit.
Later in chapter 9, Ananias, who is not one of the twelve, lays hands on Paul and prays for him to receive the Holy Spirit.
And he's filled with the Holy Spirit.
In chapter 19, rather Paul himself, who is not one of the twelve, preaches and baptizes and lays his hands on believers and they receive the Holy Spirit.
Not on believers, on new converts.
And they receive the Holy Spirit as they're converted and baptized.
Sometimes the Holy Spirit even comes upon people without the laying on of hands.
Like in Acts chapter 10 when he falls upon the Gentiles even before they are baptized.
So it's silly, in a sense, to think that we can contain the activity of the Holy Spirit to the touch of our two hands.
But Simon the magician was used to thinking that way because he's used to paying money to exchange magical secrets.
That's how he made his living.
So he applies that pagan mentality to this situation.
He thinks he can buy the gift of God with money to acquire the authority to dispense the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
And Peter is understandably offended and we see his fiery response in verses 20 to 30.
May your silver perish with you because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money.
You have neither part nor lot in this matter for your heart is not right before God.
Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of your heart.
This is where we get the term simony.
Have you guys heard of that term?
Simony?
It's a term that we get from church history.
It was historically used to refer to attempts to buy or sell with temporal price something that is spiritual.
For example, if you pay a pastor money so you can be appointed a deacon, that's Simon.
There are people who actually think this way.
But spiritual benefits cannot be bought.
Peter tells Simon, you have neither part nor lot in this matter for your heart is not right before God.
Earlier in chapter 1, the word lot or the word share, it's the same word, was used to refer to the apostolic ministry of the 12.
And when they were choosing by lot who will be the 12th apostle to replace Judas Iscariot,
they prayed, you, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen.
God who knows man's hearts chose Matthias for the lot of apostleship.
And here, because Simon's wicked, selfish heart is laid bare,
Peter rebuffs his advances and tells him,
you have neither part nor lot in this matter, in this ministry,
for your heart is not right before God.
When God sent Samuel to anoint the new king in 1 Samuel 16, 7,
He told him, do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature,
because I have rejected him, for the Lord sees not as man sees.
Man looks on the outward appearance, the Lord looks on the heart.
That's why qualifications for officeholders in the church in Titus 1 and 1 Timothy 3
emphasize the person's character.
I don't care how much money you give to the church
or what kind of a big shot you are at your workplace or out in society.
I don't care if Joe Biden or George Clooney or Oprah Winfrey
or Justin Bieber or Jeff Bezos or Dalai Lama
walks into our church service.
Simon was a celebrity and most likely rich.
He clearly thought he could afford the great power, authority of dispensing the Holy Spirit.
But his conversion, which undoubtedly would have garnered a lot of attention from the region,
does not automatically make Simon hold standing authority in the church.
wealthy people, powerful people who are wicked think that they can get whatever they want with their deep pockets.
They try to buy politicians, police officers, newspapers, and even judges.
But to think that you can buy and control the spirit of the living God
is the height of human humorous.
This is why Simon is so sinful.
It offends the glory of God.
It makes him out to be some lesser deity that you can manipulate and control.
But Simon is sinful for another reason.
It offends the grace of God.
Why does Peter say in verse 20 that Simon can't buy the authority to impart the Holy Spirit?
Because it is the gift of God.
The Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, who applies all the saving benefits of Christ to us,
is the gift of God.
And a gift is by definition not something that is bought, but something that is freely given.
I often give my daughters, whom I love, gifts, whether it's clothes, food, books, or toys.
But imagine one day that they came up to me with four quarters that they had saved up
and said,
Dad, thank you for all that you've done for us.
We finally saved up enough money to pay you all back.
That would make me maybe laugh at first, but that would make me so sad and insulted.
Because they miss my heart as their father.
Because they have reduced my loving father-daughter relationship with them to a market transaction.
But this is so often what we do with God.
Non-Christians, and sometimes even Christians,
try to buy or earn the favor of God with what they bring to the table.
Look at what I've done, God.
Look at what I've paid to you.
Look at my devotion.
Look at my good works.
Look at my tithes.
Thinking that we can earn,
by our own merits,
the favor of God,
the salvation of God,
the grace of God,
the power of God.
But that is no less foolish than what Simon did here.
Because it also spurns the grace of God.
God doesn't need anything from us.
We can neither deserve nor afford the presence of God,
the gift of God,
His Spirit.
But God offers Himself to us freely in Jesus Christ.
Jesus says in Luke 11,
He who did not spare His own Son,
but gave Him up for us all,
will He not also with Him give us all things?
God sent His beloved Son,
His only Son, Jesus,
to die for our sins on the cross
and to rise from the dead,
to give us eternal life.
He owed us nothing.
We broke our end of the covenant.
We were sinners destined for
and well deserving of eternal punishment.
But out of His rich mercy,
out of His endless compassion,
out of His loving kindness,
God sent Jesus to be our Messiah,
to save us.
That, more than anything else,
reveals the heart of God toward us.
Do you think then that God would begrudged to give you His Holy Spirit?
We have freely received,
and now we are commissioned to freely give.
As recipients of the great promise of the Holy Spirit,
let's go liberally sharing the good news of Jesus Christ
wherever we go
by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Heavenly Father, we ask,
we claim this great promise
which You have already given to us.
we pray for more and more
the feeling of the Holy Spirit
who already indwells us.
That we might live
in spite of great persecution
with awareness of Your great power,
remembering Your great promise
to bear witness to Jesus
to the end of the earth.
In Jesus' name we pray.
Amen.