Word about Jesus’ resurrection and the good news of salvation was spreading fast in Jerusalem, but not everyone was happy about it. And as the persecution intensified, the disciples scattered. About thirty miles north, in the city of Samaria, people were eager to hear the good news and to see the work of God for themselves. So, when Philip showed up with the message of salvation in Jesus Christ, people paid attention, and a revival was ignited.
One of the people who took notice was a man named Simon. He was popular in Samaria and had made a name for himself practicing sorcery. When he saw God’s power working through Philip, he paid attention. And the fact that Philip had accumulated such a big following in such a short time was not lost on him. What was this all about? Simon was amazed and he wanted to know more, so he bought in to what Philip was preaching, got baptized, and started to follow Philip everywhere he went.
Not long after Philips’s arrival in Samaria, word of the revival got back to Peter and John, so they joined Philip to encourage the new believers. Simon was still watching closely, and when he saw people receive the Holy Spirit by the laying on of the apostle’s hands, he wanted in on it, so he offered them money to receive the power God had given them.
Peter saw through Simon’s request, recognized his faulty motives, and warned him sternly: “Bad plan, Simon! You want Godly power, but not for a Godly purpose! God’s gifts can’t be bought. You better get your heart right!” (my paraphrase)
“May your money be destroyed with you for thinking God’s gift can be bought! You can have no part in this, for your heart is not right with God. Repent of your wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps He will forgive your evil thoughts.” – Acts 8:20-22
Simon sought Godly power, but not for a Godly purpose!
Simon got caught up in the revival. He heard the gospel, yet somehow he missed the whole point. He was more intrigued by the growing crowds than by the Savior. He wanted God’s power, but not for God’s purpose. Simon may have left his sorcery business behind, but the lure of fame and fortune still had a pull. He saw the power of God and the gift of the Holy Spirit as a way to increase his own popularity.
We can learn a few valuable lessons from Simon’s story:
- Guard your heart and stay focused on Jesus so your motives and intentions remain pure.
- Don’t be so concerned with your own plans that God’s plans become secondary.
- If God chooses to use you in a mighty way, it’s not about you. And if He chooses to use you in the background, you are no less valuable in the work of the Kingdom.
So, what happened to Simon the Sorcerer? Did he really believe the gospel? We don’t know for sure. Hopefully, he heard and heeded Peter’s warning to repent and ask for forgiveness, but his response seems to indicate he was more worried about the consequences of his actions (namely the destruction of his money) than he was about making his heart right before God.
