Acts 8:9-13 – Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, 10 and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is rightly called the Great Power of God.” 11 They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his sorcery. 12 But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.
“Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, 10 and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is rightly called the Great Power of God. 11 They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his sorcery.” Simon was a sorcerer who performed amazing acts. Some are quick to claim that Simon did not have any real power but was a charlatan who deceived the people with tricks. Yet, we must not be so quick to dismiss that Simon may have used real power just as Pharaoh’s magicians used real power (Exodus 7-8). It is not amazing that non-believing skeptics quickly deny the supernatural. What is amazing is that those who claim to be believers would doubt the supernatural for both Biblical times and also for now. (Though we must remember that we live in Biblical times. Are all prophecies already fulfilled? Did we miss the Second Coming of Jesus?) God who supernaturally created the heavens and earth, who supernaturally spoke from a bush that was on fire but not consumed, who parted the Red Sea, who lived as man, was crucified, died and rose from the dead, He has always performed the supernatural. So we know the supernatural exists. The Bible speaks of the evil one being able to display “power, false signs and wonders. (2 Thessalonians 2:9). We have noted the real power that was displayed by the Pharaoh’s magicians. Revelation 13:2 not only states that the enemy has power, but that he can share his power with others, such as the Antichrist. The devil has magical, perhaps supernatural powers. But his power is limited and God’s is not. Let’s not confuse what the devil can do with true miracles of God. Practitioners of magic claim it comes from either themselves, or from the devil. (Not most modern “magicians” who will readily claim that what they do is an illusion.) Whereas miracles come from God and are accredited to God. Miracles are used by God to lead people to Him. Did Simon really do magic or was he a great magician? Well we might consider that the people of that day more “superstitious” than us. Yet it is more likely they understood more about magic and miracles than we did, especially those of us in the West who discount even the supernatural movement of God among us today. Did the devil give Simon power to do “magic”, or was he just an illusionist? If he was just an illusionist, because they had followed him and been amazed by him for a “long time,” he must have had a very large repertoire of tricks.
“But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” The people had paid attention to Simon. They had taken notice of Him. But the message that Philip delivered to them they believed. Philip gave them the Good News (The Gospel). The people believed and they were baptized. Philip did just as Jesus directs us all to do “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20) Simon and Philip were very different. Simon did his magic and took credit for it and accepted the admiration and acclaim of the people. Philip did exactly the opposite. The signs that He performed were never claimed by him to be of his own doing, but of the power of God. When God did mighty signs through Philip and people came to find out more, he pointed them to Jesus. Simon wanted power and praise whereas Philip came not to receive praise for himself but to bring people and their praise to God. Simon wanted for himself. Philip wanted for God and the people. They were opposites. As a result, God indeed made Philip a “Fisher of men.” (Matthew 4:19)
Ultimately Family, let us not desire miracles, but that we are used to lead people to Jesus that they may love and praise Him and thereby be saved. That is how we act if we properly love. If God decides to use miraculous signs, that is His decision. We must merely pray that the message we bring is given by the power of His Holy Spirit within. We should have humility and our hearts should desire what John the Baptist desired, that we would decrease and Christ would increase (John 3:30). Praise God! Let it be Lord! May Your name Jesus, be lifted high and may we lead all who will come to you. Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.