Act 8:13-24 | KingComments | STEP | Before Philip came to Samaria, there was a man active who brought the people into ecstasy. He did this through magic. He was also not modest in his performance, but presented himself as “someone great”, someone of importance. [While I read this comment again, I get a postcard in the mailbox, which shows that people like Simon are still very much alive. The card says among other things: I am a great African medium and clairvoyant ... I offer you a solution for all your problems ... but also protection against bad influences ... I help you ... I bring success.’ This slave of satan certainly does not suffer from an inferiority complex.] With his magic, Simon turned his attention to himself, and with success. He got everyone’s attention. He appealed to everyone, he appealed to small and great, young and old. Everyone was impressed by him and attributed divine power to him. His sorceries were wonders of the lie ( ). Nor was it a hype, a star suddenly appearing and just as suddenly disappearing again. On the contrary, he continued to fascinate the people “for a long time”. At the same time, it shows that what the devil has to offer is always only for a certain time. It never satisfies constantly. The gospel, on the other hand, has a lasting effect. This is what the people who listen attentively to Philip and pay attention to his preaching discover. When they did not know any better, they were captivated by Simon’s magic. But when they see the wonders of Philip, they clearly see the difference between fake and real and that real and fake have nothing to do with each other. “What does straw have [in common] with grain?” ( ). Simon preached himself, Philip preaches the kingdom of God and the Name of Jesus Christ. The kingdom of God is the atmosphere in which the reign of the Lord Jesus is acknowledged. Faith in the Name of the Lord Jesus brings someone into that sphere. That is why baptism follows directly as an outward evidence through which someone shows that he wants to belong to Him and follow Him. Men and women are baptized. In the Old Testament only what was male was circumcised. In the New Testament, when it comes to saving and following Christ, there is no difference anymore between men and women before God ( ). Receiving the Holy Spirit, as was the case in Acts 2 ( ), is not yet mentioned here. They receive the Holy Spirit only after Peter and John have come from Jerusalem and identified themselves with them by the laying on of hands. God does this consciously this way. For there was a religious rivalry between Jerusalem and Samaria and this does not give them a chance to do a disturbing work. Simon also believes and is also baptized. He does not see a rival in Philip, but his superior. Simon constantly remains with Philip, as if he had his hopes set on him. With the eunuch this is different ( ). Simon’s faith is of the kind mentioned in John 2 ( ). Philip lets himself be deceived by Simon and baptizes him (or has him baptized). What really drove Simon were the signs and great powers that Philip did. Likewise, there are many today who are attracted to the Christian faith because of the sensational things they observe on certain occasions, such as healings or so-called prophecies.

‏ Acts 8:13-24

Simon the Magician

Before Philip came to Samaria, there was a man active who brought the people into ecstasy. He did this through magic. He was also not modest in his performance, but presented himself as “someone great”, someone of importance. [While I read this comment again, I get a postcard in the mailbox, which shows that people like Simon are still very much alive. The card says among other things: I am a great African medium and clairvoyant ... I offer you a solution for all your problems ... but also protection against bad influences ... I help you ... I bring success.’ This slave of satan certainly does not suffer from an inferiority complex.]

With his magic, Simon turned his attention to himself, and with success. He got everyone’s attention. He appealed to everyone, he appealed to small and great, young and old. Everyone was impressed by him and attributed divine power to him. His sorceries were wonders of the lie (2Thes 2:9). Nor was it a hype, a star suddenly appearing and just as suddenly disappearing again. On the contrary, he continued to fascinate the people “for a long time”. At the same time, it shows that what the devil has to offer is always only for a certain time. It never satisfies constantly.

The gospel, on the other hand, has a lasting effect. This is what the people who listen attentively to Philip and pay attention to his preaching discover. When they did not know any better, they were captivated by Simon’s magic. But when they see the wonders of Philip, they clearly see the difference between fake and real and that real and fake have nothing to do with each other. “What does straw have [in common] with grain?” (Jer 23:28b). Simon preached himself, Philip preaches the kingdom of God and the Name of Jesus Christ.

The kingdom of God is the atmosphere in which the reign of the Lord Jesus is acknowledged. Faith in the Name of the Lord Jesus brings someone into that sphere. That is why baptism follows directly as an outward evidence through which someone shows that he wants to belong to Him and follow Him. Men and women are baptized. In the Old Testament only what was male was circumcised. In the New Testament, when it comes to saving and following Christ, there is no difference anymore between men and women before God (Gal 3:27-28).

Receiving the Holy Spirit, as was the case in Acts 2 (Acts 2:38), is not yet mentioned here. They receive the Holy Spirit only after Peter and John have come from Jerusalem and identified themselves with them by the laying on of hands. God does this consciously this way. For there was a religious rivalry between Jerusalem and Samaria and this does not give them a chance to do a disturbing work.

Simon also believes and is also baptized. He does not see a rival in Philip, but his superior. Simon constantly remains with Philip, as if he had his hopes set on him. With the eunuch this is different (Acts 8:39). Simon’s faith is of the kind mentioned in John 2 (Jn 2:23). Philip lets himself be deceived by Simon and baptizes him (or has him baptized).

What really drove Simon were the signs and great powers that Philip did. Likewise, there are many today who are attracted to the Christian faith because of the sensational things they observe on certain occasions, such as healings or so-called prophecies.

Peter and John in Samaria

The apostles in Jerusalem hear that Samaria received the word of God. This does not make them jealous, but they send Peter and John to contact Samaria. Once there they do not reproach the believers in Samaria for not having contacted them or the church in Jerusalem, but they acknowledge that God is at work here. That is why Peter will use the keys given to him for the second time to open the kingdom of heaven (Mt 16:19), this time for the Samaritans. The kingdom of heaven is not the realm in heaven, but a realm ruled by a King in heaven Who rules on earth according to heavenly principles. In Acts 2, Peter opened the kingdom to the Jews. Later he will use the keys for the Gentiles as well (Acts 10:48).

By acknowledging this work of God in Samaria, the practical connection between Samaria and Jerusalem is also acknowledged. Local churches are not separate from each other, but belong together, however, without this being officially reported to other churches or being added to a list of ‘acknowledged churches’. Here there is no enmity or competition anymore (Jn 4:9). Peter and John descend from Jerusalem, which is also more than just a geographical indication. The spiritual application seems permissible that the apostles do not give their approval from an elevated position, but join them.

They show their dependence on God by going into prayer to ask Him to give the Holy Spirit to the Samaritans who have come to faith. The Holy Spirit had not yet come to them because it was a company that was in a way connected to Judaism. They first had to be fully accepted by the converted Jews in order to maintain unity. Receiving the Holy Spirit is thus preceded by baptism and the laying on of hands by the apostles.

With the converted Jews there is no laying on of hands. However, they too are baptized first and only then receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). With the conversion of the Gentiles we see that on the basis of faith first the Holy Spirit is received and then baptism takes place (Acts 10:44; Eph 1:13). This has been the order since then.

In Samaria, by the laying on of hands of the apostles Peter and John, the connection between the believers in Jerusalem and Samaria is sealed and the believing Samaritans receive the Holy Spirit. This avoids the idea of two separate churches, one Jewish and one Samaritan. By the laying on of hands there is unity and acceptance. This was even more necessary because there was no connection between Jews and Samaritans, but mutual hatred. There is no mention of outwardly perceptible accompanying phenomena, as was the case with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4).

Peter Sees Through and Judges Simon

The only outward display that is noticed by Simon is the laying on of the hands of the apostles. He understands that this is something he cannot do, but what he would like to be able to do because of his spiritual ability. He is willing to pay for it and offers Peter and John money so that they would give him that power.

This is where the word ‘simony’ comes from, an expression that means that someone is looking for financial gain in spiritual things or for buying offices. Such people believe that Godliness is a means of gain (1Tim 6:5). It covers all forms of trade in spiritual matters. It is the third time that evil appears in the church and all three times it has to do with money.

Inwardly, Simon had no part in the new life, as can be seen from the words Peter speaks to him. It seemed wonderful to him to lay hands on people and give them the Holy Spirit in this way. In this way he would regain his power over people. What Philip did not recognize, is sharply denounced by Peter. Simon is a corrupt man.

To think that spiritual gifts or even the Holy Spirit can be obtained from God through money makes Christ’s work worthless. It is greatly to the dishonor of God and Christ and is no other than the work of satan. The sharp judgment of Peter is the only correct response. Simon is an outward follower, while he invents other things in his heart. He is still busy with himself.

Peter concludes from Simon’s question that his heart is not right before God. After pronouncing the judgment, Peter offers Simon the way to salvation. For that he needs to repent of his wickedness. He must radically condemn that evil lust for power and prestige before God and turn his back on it. At the same time he must pray to the Lord for the forgiveness of his heart’s intention. Here we see that not only deeds are judged, but also the intention of the heart. This concerns the devising and pursuit of evil in his heart, even before it has actually happened. There is still hope for Simon if he repents.

Peter, who through the Holy Spirit can discern which spirit is in Simon (1Cor 12:10), sees in what he is imprisoned. He is in “the gall of bitterness” because of his loss of influence on the Samaritans who believed the gospel. He is also “in the bondage of iniquity” because he is not seeking the right of God, but his own right.

Simon is more appalled by what Peter has said about the consequences of his act, than by his act itself. It does not seem like real repentance, all the more so because he is looking for human mediation. Instead of praying himself, he asks if Peter wants to pray to the Lord for him to save him from the terrible things Peter has announced about him.

It resembles the repentance of Pharaoh who asked Moses to pray for him so that the plagues would cease, but who then hardened his heart again (Exo 8:8 ; 15). Also with him there was no real repentance, but only a desire to be redeemed from the plagues. We do not read Peter’s answer to Simon’s request.

It seems that Peter and John did not stay long with Philip. They did, however, solemnly testify and speak the word of the Lord before returning to Jerusalem. In the whole area of Samaria they find an open ear for the word of the Lord. When the Lord Jesus wanted to visit a village of the Samaritans, they refused to receive Him (Lk 9:52-53). Peter and John were there at that time and John is one of the disciples who, even because of that refusal, wanted to let fire come down from heaven to consume them (Lk 9:54). Fortunately, the Lord forbade that and John has returned to his wish of that time. Now, on the way back to Jerusalem, together with Peter, he is allowed to preach the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.