Acts 8:18-25 – When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money 19 and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! 21 You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God.22 Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. 23 For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.” 24 Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.” 25 After they had further proclaimed the word of the Lord and testified about Jesus, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages.
“When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money 19 and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” It is debated whether Simon actually had demonic powers or was just an illusionist as we have illusionists today. One thing that is certain is that He could recognize power and when he did, he wanted it. A true Believer wanting the Holy Spirit moving through them is wonderful. Such a Believer wants this for the fellowship of oneness with God (John 14:20) (as God and servant) and to be used of God to lead others to God that souls would be saved and He would be praised. Simon’s motives it appears, were dark and selfish.
“Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! 21 You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God.” We know that the Lord had given Peter the gift of Discernment, which was on full display here and in Acts 5:3, 7-10. The stronger and more true translation of “May your money perish with you” is “May you and your money go to hell!” It was not a curse, but rather a revealing of the ugliness of Simon’s heart and mind. Some may want to judge Peter for this proclamation, but we must withhold that judgment. Sadly, but true, if we follow the command of Jesus to share the Gospel, we have heard some ugly things expressed about God. Or we have read of them. I remember a time in elementary school, even long before I had become a Christian, that a group of us kids had gathered and the question was brought up “What is the difference between Catholicism and Protestantism?” To most of us it appeared that we believed in much the same way. Than a boy said something that shocked me to core (I still remember). He said the difference was that “Catholics worship that **or* Mary and Protestants don’t.” Obviously that classmate had heard some very ugly things from adults. I was horrified. I was stupefied. How could someone say something so ugly about the Mother of God? Even today, as I remember I am nauseated by the comment. The point being that the comment was so ugly and repugnant that Peter’s reaction was quick and strong. It is easy to understand how Peter could react this way to somebody speaking so ugly and disrespectful of the Spirit of God, of God Himself. It was stunningly horrific that Simon could think that the works of God could be bought and sold as one would sell a donkey or wine.
Peter was not being cruel or unloving, but responding to the ugliness of Simon’s statement that could not be left alone. Sometimes, when in gatherings, I have heard some pretty blasphemous statements by proud people speaking ignorance. It demands a quick response so as not to poison the group. It is not an attack on the person but a defense of The Truth. Peter, who was still quick to defend the Lord (John 18:10), must reprove this heinous request by Simon. What Peter was doing was not actually condemning Simon to hell, but warning him that his heart and mind were not right and that he would have no part in the promises of God if that remained so.
“Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. 23 For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.” It was Simon’s heart that was wrong, not Peter’s. After issuing the harsh, but true, words to Simon, Peter told him to repent so that he may be forgiven. KJV states the verse this way “Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.” After telling Simon to repent Peter tells him to seek forgiveness from God. The words “If perhaps… may be better understood by us as meaning “therefore” instead of “perhaps.” Or “so then.” Peter is telling Simon to repent and after he has does that, then God will forgive him. But Simon needs to know that God does not accept an unrepentant heart that is full of bitterness and sin. This description could be understood as Simon having a heart that is handcuffed to sin with no key to free himself. He has walked in sin, he has embraced sin, and now, as a result, he is seemingly hopelessly handcuffed to sin without a way to get released. And that is true, outside of the grace of God through Jesus, Savior to all who will come.
“Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.” The big question here is, was Simon sincere in that prayer. The scripture gives us no indication either way. Some doubt his sincerity. Others may state “Why should we doubt him?” I know that I have long pondered this. Still I am not sure. However having learned more from the early elders of the church, it is said that Simon may be the initiator of heresy of Gnosticism. Another tradition states that he became such a heretic, and so deluded, that he thought that if he were too be buried alive that in three days he would rise from the dead. Harry Houdini, a recently popular magician that astounded more modern audiences, also promised to return from the dead. Neither did. Arrogance in a person is like a disease that begins small and then overtakes and kills. Only Jesus rose and not either of these two tricksters.
“After they had further proclaimed the word of the Lord and testified about Jesus, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages.” Peter and John had a divine appointment to not only bring a blessing from God to the Samaritans, but to also know with their own eyes, and see with the discernment given to them by the Holy Spirit, that God was to save beyond the borders of Jerusalem, and to all people of all nations. They brought this testimony back to The Twelve.
We see that all along the way Peter and John preached the Gospel wherever they were. We shall see that so did Philip. Oh Lord God, may we be faithful to your command to preach the Gospel wherever we are and at all times. May no consideration presented to us or conceived by us, back us down. Let us always be found with the joy of knowing You as Savior and Lord and let it be a river that floods through us and out of us. Family, let us praise God, now and always! 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.