Don’t you like to feel important? Don’t you like to know how to do something no one around you seems to be able to do? I think human nature makes us this way. Several years ago, a young boy in my Bible class enjoyed memorizing verses from the Bible. He was really good at it, and memorized every assignment. He came to me one day and asked for some extra memory work, so I encouraged him to memorize the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5, 6, and 7. He did, and said it perfectly. I then encouraged him to learn all of the one-chapter books of the Bible. He did that too. One Sunday morning the teacher of the teenage class asked him to recite the Sermon on the Mount to the teenage class. As you might guess, he was the talk of the congregation. He could do something no one else could do. He was, however, not prideful nor one who expected praise. He simply wanted to learn the Word.
Such a man with an exceptional talent was found in the city of Samaria by Philip the evangelist. Simon was a sorcerer, one who practiced magic. He amazed the people, and he told people that he was a great man. Scripture says, “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” (Acts 8:10-11 ESV).
Magic in the Bible was very serious. The magicians protected their secrets, and they attributed their powers to some god or idol. They knew the things they did were fake, but they were able to trick the people into thinking they were powerful.
Simon was present when Philip preached to the people. He watched as many men and women were baptized into Christ, and verse 13 says that Simon believed, was baptized, and then he followed Philip around to see the miracles he was performing. He was amazed at what Philip was able to do.
The apostles were in Jerusalem, and they received word that Philip had preached the gospel in Samaria; and many of the people had been converted. However, these new converts had not received the Holy Spirit. Philip did not have the authority or the power to lay hands on the people and give them the spiritual gifts, so the apostles sent Peter and John. When they arrived, they prayed for the new converts to receive the Holy Spirit.
Remember that Simon had been following Philip and watching everything that was going on. Of course, he saw this miracle; and he became very excited. Simon thought he could purchase this wonderful gift, so he offered Peter and John money and said, “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit” (Acts 8:19). Peter rebuked him and said, “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” (Acts 8:20-22).
There is no doubt that Simon sinned. He wanted to purchase a gift that was available only to the apostles. He may have wanted this gift so that he could continue to be called a great man in the city of Samaria. He may have become overzealous with the excitement of the baptisms, the visit of Peter and John, the laying on of the apostles’ hands, and the performing of miracles. Whatever Simon was thinking, Peter knew that his heart wasn’t right. He told him to pray and ask forgiveness.
Often, teachers and preachers stop here. They exhibit Simon as a sinful magician who was baptized and immediately sinned, and they fail to show a changed heart. Simon immediately asked Peter to pray for him. He didn’t want anything bad to happen because of his impetuous request to purchase this gift. Although we have no information about Peter’s reaction, we can surely surmise that Peter would have granted his request and prayed with Simon. He would not have left him in this sinful state.
This story is important because it is proof that God will forgive us when we sin after becoming a Christian. It also serves as proof that repentance, confession, and prayer is all that is needed when a Christian needs the Father’s forgiveness.
We know that Simon was a magician, thought himself to be great, became a Christian, sinned, and asked forgiveness. I would like to think that when we hear this story in the future, we will think of him as a human like all of us, guilty of sin, and with the need for forgiveness, and a determination to make things right.
As we look back at Rahab, Martha, Thomas, and Simon, we find four people who chose to serve God. Rahab turned from the gods of her people to serve the one true God and was justified by her works. Martha, though consumed with physical responsibilities, loved the Lord and affirmed her faith in Him by declaring He was the Son of God. Thomas wanted proof that the Lord was alive. He, like many others, wanted to see with his own eyes. Simon esteemed himself as greater than he was. He had to learn that greatness is in humbleness, not in a haughty spirit.
When we make judgments on one another’s actions, we often do so without all the facts. I truly believe this is why we are encouraged with Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:12. He says, “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” I think He wants us to give others the benefit of not judging. Consider the following scriptures as well:
“So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment” (James 2:12-13).
“Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door” (James 5:9).
“Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God?” (Romans 2:3).
I believe the lesson for us is clear.
Sandra Oliver