Simon Magus

9Now 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, 10and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is rightly called the Great Power of God.” 11They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his sorcery. 12But 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. 13Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.

14When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria. 15When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

18When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money 19and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

20Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! 21You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God.22Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. 23For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”

24Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.” (Acts 8)

Thoughts: This is a real life confrontation between a famous sorcerer and the apostles.  In some ways it is about power.  The Apostles had tremendous power- doing miracles and having God answer prayers.  Simon the sorcerer was amazed and joined the crowd in following Christ.  But he was not sincere.  He ended up falling away.  He did not really submit to God, and in fact wanted to use God and the gospel to help him become even more powerful.  There is a scene in Aladdin where the evil Jafar wanted to be turned into the most powerful creature of all- which meant he would be a jeanie in a lamp.  So Simon wanted to be more powerful and it ended up hurting him- making him lose his fragile faith.  We will absolutely lose faith if we only want to believe in God in order for Him to make us more powerful or more money.  

Prayer: Lord, help me to want you more than anything.  Help me to want to serve you more than want your help.