In Acts 1:8, Jesus tells His disciples that they would be His "witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." I am not sure they understood His "great commission", because they seemed totally happy to stay in Jerusalem and teach. But God had other plans, plans that extend to you and me.
"On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria." (Acts 8:1) So Acts 1:8 found it's fulfillment in Acts 8:1. In verse 4, we are told that those that were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. Philip, one of the seven from chapter 6, went to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the gospel of Christ; the same gospel that Peter preached on the day of Pentecost and the same gospel that had been preached throughout Jerusalem. And their response was the same, "but when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women." (v 12)
Here we are introduced to Simon the sorcerer. He was the David Copperfield of his day and he amazed the people with his "magic". When he heard the gospel message of Jesus, "Simon himself believed and was baptized." (v 13) The exact same words are used to describe his conversion as all the others in Acts, so without some other evidence, Simon became a Christian the same as the others in Samaria. That is important for you and me. Why? Well, what he does next demonstrates several important things.
The apostles arrive in Samaria to pass on the miraculous gifts of the Spirit. Simon sees them pass on this gift by laying their hands on people. He wants to have that power also and offers money to purchase the ability. (v 18, 19) Important Point #1 - Only the apostles have the ability to give someone the ability to perform miracles. Philip, who was a great preacher and one of the "seven”, was unable to do this, so Peter and John went to Samaria to pass on the gifts to enable the people there to teach with the confirmation of miracles. When the last apostle died, the ability to pass on miraculous powers died with them and when the last person that the apostles had given that power to died, the ability to perform miracles died with them.
Peter responds to Simons request with a straight forward rebuke. “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.” (v 20-23) Important point #2 - After we become Christians, we still sin and have the ability to lose our salvation. Simon is told that because of his sin, he will perish. The word translated perish is much stronger than the English translation, what Peter tells him is "may your silver go with you into eternal destruction". Some will say Simon was never saved, but the text says otherwise. He was converted the same as everyone else in Samaria, he believed and was baptized. (read Hebrews 6:1-6; 10:26-31)
Peter tells Simon to "repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord". (v 22) Important Point # 3 - As Christians, we have access to God and can pray for forgiveness when we sin. Simon has the ability to repent of his wickedness and pray for forgiveness. That is great news to us because no matter how good we think we are as Christians.... we are still sinners in need of forgiveness and that forgiveness is available upon repentance and prayer. (read 1 John 1:5-10) Simon turns from his wickedness and asks for the prayers of the apostles. Another interesting note... the word simony finds its origin here. (look it up)
The eighth chapter closes with the story of a man from Ethiopia who is taught the gospel of Jesus and makes the decision to follow him while riding along in a chariot. I love this story. It is the story of an honest heart. He was a Jew that had been to Jerusalem to worship and on his way home is taught by Philip. Not many hearts are this honest and will respond immediately to the good news. As they ride along, they come to a stream. He commands the chariot to stop and he and Philip go down into the water and he is baptized. He believed and was baptized. Philip is called away and he goes on his way rejoicing. Wet to the bone, riding along rejoicing that he has found his Savior. No excuses, I have a long trip, I will be baptized later. He understood the need for forgiveness and wanted it right then and he got it.
Chapter 9 tells the story of Saul’s conversion. Same story as all the others, he believed and was baptized. (also read his account of his conversion in Acts 22) Many say that he was converted on the road to Damascus and I agree that he met the Lord there. But he was not a Christian until Ananias came and taught him the gospel. His sins were not forgiven until he obeyed the gospel. (22:16) I like the words to the Toby Mac song.... "Since I got that call, no more Saul, now I'm Paul". No more Saul.... now I'm Paul. I like that, after his encounter with the Christ, he was changed so completely that he even got a new name. May it be so with us, may we be changed so radically that the people who know us best ask us who we are. Better yet, whose we are. God bless you as you walk in Him.
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