Bible Text: Acts 8:9-25 | Preacher: Akash Gaikwad

Introduction:

The expression “face the music” is said to have originated in Japan.  According to the story, one man in the imperial orchestra couldn’t play a note. Being a person of great influence and wealth, he had demanded that he be given a place in the group because he wanted to “perform” before the emperor.  The conductor agreed to let him sit in the second row of the orchestra, even though he couldn’t read music.  He was given a flute, and when a concert would begin, he’d raise his instrument, pucker his lips, and move his fingers.  He would go through all the motions of playing, but he never made a sound.  This deception continued for two years.

Then a new conductor took over.  He told the orchestra that he wanted to audition each player personally.  One by one they performed in his presence.  Then came the flutist’s turn.  He was frantic with worry, so he pretended to be sick.  However, the doctor who was ordered to examine him declared that he was perfectly well.  The conductor insisted that the man appear and demonstrate his skill. Shamefacedly he had to confess that he was a fake. He was unable to “face the music.”

Background:

The book of acts is the account of what have happened after the death, burial, resurrection & ascension of our lord Jesus Christ. This book is written by Dr, Luke addressed to Theopilus. Theopilus is a gentile Christian. This book is written around A.D. 62.

The book of acts is the story of Gods grace flowing & flooding out to the world. The good news of the death and resurrection of Lord Jesus Christis going out from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth. The whole book of Acts talks about the how gospel has spread through out the world. Preaching the Christ is the theme of this book.

In this passage, the word preaching appears more times than in the whole New Testament. In the book of Acts we see the disciples are following the command that Jesus has given to them. In the books of acts we see the Gospel crossing the boundaries, its reaching to Judea, Samaria, and to the end of the world.

 

Let’s turn our bible to the book of Acts of the Apostle cp. 8:9-25.

Here in Cp. 7 the death of Stephen is recorded. Stephen has been stoned to death. Due to the death of Stephen, person name called Saul has got some more courage and in CP. 8 Saul is using all his power and authority to destroy the Church. V1 tells us, “there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem”. So here Saul has started persecuting the church. This is one side, and in other hand we have a person named Phillip, who is taking word of gospel to Samaria. Philip is proclaiming Christ with more boldness. Witnessing the death of Stephen, he has been motivated & others as well to take the gospel around Judea and Samaria.

Later on this passage we see that how the scattered people are taking Word of Christ to others. We see one interesting thing here about scattered people / persecuted people. They are scattered, they out of their house v3 tells us “but Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison”. People are being persecuted, beaten, facing prison, they are separated from their family, friends they are leaving all their belongings behind. But they are not grumbling about that, instead they went about preaching the word/ gospel. John Calvin comments on this, he says “when the faithful flee from Jerusalem, they are not afterward discouraged either with exile or with their present miseries, or with any fear, that they degenerate into slothfulness; but they are as ready to preach Christ even in the midst of their calamity as if they had never suffered any trouble.”

V4-8 describes the ministry of Philip in Samaria. Briefly I will tell you about who Philip was. Philip was one of the seven men chosen to help the apostles to minister to the early church. Like the apostles, Philip also was filled with the Holy Spirit he was preaching gospel, healing sick and casting out demons. Result of his ministry bible tells us “there was much Joy in that city (Cp8:8).

            In today’s passage we have Phillip on one side who is preaching gospel and Samaritan people believe the good news, and the same time at other hand we have a person called Simon the magician.

           Outline:

Simon the great Magician (9-11)
Simon the baptized Magician. (12-13)
Simon the ambitious, greedy Magician (14-19)
Simon the unrepentant, lost Magician (20-24)

 

Simon the great Magician (9-11)

            V9 “but there was a man named Simon, who had previously practice magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying he himself he was somebody great ”. v10 they all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying “This man is the power of God that is called Great”.

As we all know who is our adversary? That Satan. And also the bible tells us in parable Matt.13:24-30. Wheat and tares are growing to gather. In our passage Simon is that tare that the devil planted among the wheat that was planted by God.

Let’s look at what the scholar has to say about Simon. A) That he was the founder of the Gnostic heresies, b) that he perverted Christian doctrine.

In our passage bible tells us that before gospel reach to the Samaria those people were amazed by the practice of sorcery in the city by Simon. He must be doing some evil activities, and by the satanic power he must be controlling people and also he must be doing kind activities that must have marveled people. Therefore people called him Great, and having the power of God.

In many times in the book of acts the people who did not hear the gospel they always called people who has done something amazing they have called them god has come down and great man. Here in our passage everyone was amazed by the Simon.

The people who were calling Simon great they were the people whose eyes were blinded by Satan, by the demonic power that Simon has.

One Ps. said about Simon, this man was doing sorcery and that is evil, and also he says that in this passage there were exorcisms, and unclean spirit was cast out, but still there was one spirit and that was in Simon. The bible says in Gal 5:19“Now the works of the flesh are evident: …… v.20 – sorcery.”

 

Simon boasted on himself that he is Great and people believed in him.

V11. And they paid attention to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic.

            By his magic arts he bewitched the minds of people, the same like Paul says in Galatian(Gal 3:1)

We will briefly look at who were the Samaritansv9. Samaritans were known as historically as corruptors of Judaism. Also the Samaritans were considering racial ‘half breeds”. According to our passage the people of Samaria must have been controlled by the demonic power of the magic of Simon. Also he must have filled their heart and mind with his sign and false wonder. And these false satanic wonders seems to be a miracle for this people. This people believed on lie because they did not have the truth.

So because of Simon, all this demonic power activity had attracted people to him.

Simon the baptized Magician. (12-13)

But in V12 “but when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized men and women.”

            Reaching the gospel to Samaria its only Gods holy plan. In John 4, Jesus preaches the gospel to the Samaritan women at the well. John 4:39 says “many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony”, but later in Luke 9.51 it us that the Samaritans (probably from another village) did not receive him.

So the gospel has gone pretty well in Jerusalem and some of the parts of Judea. Now here Jesus has gone to heaven and its three years now, but gospel has not reached fully to Samaria. The reason why because they were having highly racism between Jews and Samaritans. And from Jerusalem, Samaria was only 40km. but gospel was not reached there till this time.

Verse 12, tells us that when they heard first time Phillip, it was like eye opening for them. Here we see the power of divine grace that worked in anyone’s life. And the grace of God brought them to repentance and to believe in Jesus Christ. Gospel came to them in form truth. And they have come to know how they were blinded by the demonic power of Simon the magician.

The people who were once praising the liar, deceiver, but they are no longer praising him but they are worshiping Jesus, now they are obeying real King, the real God whom they once have rejected. People who rejected Jesus in Luke 9v 50 onward, but they are the people are believing in Jesus. As their Lord and Savior of their life.

APPLICATION:This very verse gives us really hope for our nation for our city for our village, for our work calque, for our community, for our family, for our relative that gospel has power to change people. So brother and sister don’t be ashamed of the gospel to share with others. Because it’s not you who saves people, but it’s only our Holy and loving God. Jesus has power to deliver people from their darkness he has power to heal them, Jesus only has power raise dead, Jesus only have power save sinners, he only has power forgive us what we have done in our life. There is no other hope.

In our days we see people are blinded by the darkness they can’t see the light, and the reason world cannot provide them any light, world gives them only false hope, and that is to go take bath in river. But we are here who has come know the truth of the Gospel, we know Jesus, everyday there opportunity for us to reach to the people.

Philip preached the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, bible tells us that people who heard the gospel from Philip, they believed and were baptized.

V13 even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continue with Phillip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed he was amazed.

            Here now we have Simon who believed. The greek word for believe is “pisteuo”, which is the same word used in James 2:19, which says “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe–and shudder!” The word believe simply means to have faith in a person or a thing. This does not mean Simon had saving faith.

 

Simon being a sorcerer himself, he probably knew all the magicians tricks. So now seeing for himself the genuine mighty power of Philip, he knew it was real power and he believed.

But he has not believed in THE ATONING WORK of Jesus Christ to save him from his sins. And for what reason he has not believed in Jesus it’s soon revealed. Luke author of this book never mention that Simon is believer in Jesus or not. But when we read further and see the context, we see that he has not received the Holy Spirit, and in v23 Peter speaks this verse to the Simon “for I see that you are in gall of bitterness and bond of iniquity.” Wow these are very harsh word from the mouth of Apostle Peter. And Apostle Peter certainly would not speak this words TO JUST any believer, because in those words there nothing that can help believer or edify them.

APPLICATION: Do you have saving faith?

This is definition of faith by commentator Peter Jeffery.

Faith is an unwavering trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as the only savior to deal with sin. (Acts 20:21; Rom. 3:25). It is not merely an intellectual assent to a set of doctrine, but a coming to Christ in repentance, crying for mercy. Faith hears the truth of the gospel believes it and then act upon it. Saving faith progress from a belief in certain facts to real trusting Christ & what he has done on our behalf and for our salvation.

 

Simon the ambitious, greedy Magician (14-19)

V18 clearly shows Simon heart attitude, “now when Simon saw that the spirit was given through the laying on of the apostle’s hands, he offered them money. V19 saying, give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.

One commentator says that he never asked them to lay their hand on him but instead of that he wants to compare himself with the apostles. He wanted to gain his fame once again which has lost. That’s the kind of man he was. He wanted buy the gift of God, he was thinking this is the kind of trick that I can use. His heart was never truly humbled. He was always thinking of his own fame, and never thinking of God’s glory.

You will ask why then did he join Philip in his ministry? That’s good question we can ask.  The reason because v5 “Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. V6 And the crowed with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip when they heard him and saw that what he did.v7 for unclean spirit came out of many who were possessed, crying with a loud voice, and many who were paralyzed or lame healed. So there was joy in that city.

            Now people were following Philip not Simon, and when Simon saw this that now my power, my magic, my tricks are not going to work. And if say or do anything people will do something to me, so now I can’t go against Philip. But I can do one thing, why don’t I join to Philip. In V13 bible tells us that he has seen many more sign and miracles and he was amazed. He has seen the power of Jesus.

Simon the unrepentant, lost Magician (20-24)

So today there are many people around us who has same belief, because their belief is not on the risen Christ but the miracles, signs and healings. John Cp2: 23-24, it says“Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people.”

 

Jesus knows what’s there in mans heart. Bible tells us that God searches the heart. Here we see that false believer focuses the signs and miracles rather then the grace of God. A true believer recognizes their sin, and calls out to the Saviour for mercy. Simon never recognized his sin and his need for the Saviour. He only wanted to be a beneficiary of the Christian community.

Brothers and sister this character Simon is really a mirror for us to check what motives we have behind following Jesus, ask us 1. What type of faith do we have? 2. Why do we want to be part of the community of faith (the church), ask yourselves check your heart where are you heading towards, for Jesus Christ’s glory or for your own.

Conclusion.

From v14-17 the bible tells us that Peter and John prayed for the Samaritan that they might receive the Holy Spirit and when they laid their hands on them they receive the Holy Spirit.

Act 8:18 “Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money”

 

As we read further on in this passage we come to know of Simons evil motives. Peter rebukes Simon, after he offers him money.

 

Act 8:20-23 “But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.”

 

You can see from these next verses Simon still has an un-repented heart. A later verse tells us that Simon wanted them to pray for him about what Peter said to him that may not come to him. You can still see that unrepeated heart of Simon that he wanted them to pray for him but do not want do by himself, e.g. this is the same case we see Judas Iscariots life when he realized what he has done he went to the leaders, and wanted to give money back to them, and when they rejected, bible tells us that he hanged himself, but didn’t go to Jesus.

APPLICATION -In same way in our life also who do you run to first? Peter told Simon in v.22 “to repent of your wickedness and pray to the Lord.” Simon answered and asked Peter to “pray for him to the Lord”. Simon would not go and pray to the Lord directly, instead he wanted Peter to pray for him. His faith was misplaced in the wrong people and the wrong things.  Do you run to a man or trust in a person, or a church or a ceremony rather than the Lord? Ask yourself why do you follow Jesus?

Once again there is a reminder for all of us inv25 now when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.

Finally last APPLICATION – J.I. Packer wrote these words nearly twenty-five years ago, they are a needed reminder of the essential role God plays in all evangelistic activities.

“While we must always remember that it is our responsibility to proclaim salvation, we must never forget that it is God who saves.  It is God who brings men and women under the sound of the gospel, and it is God who brings them to faith in Christ.  Our evangelistic work is the instrument that He uses for this purpose, but the power that saves is not in the instrument:  it is in the hand of the One who uses the instrument.  We must not at any stage forget that.  For if we forget that it is God’s prerogative to give results when the gospel is preached, we shall start to think that it is our responsibility to secure them”.

It is our responsibility to reach out to the people and we are not to think God has not chosen this group of people so we should not go to them, but job is to do the work of ministry, with a pure motive. We have been saved for a purpose, not to become rich on this earth, but to show the glory of God who is our Lord and King.

So in conclusion:

Is your heart right with God?  Is your faith in the risen Saviour? Do you believe in the death burial and resurrection of Jesus? Have you repented of your sins that put Christ on the Cross?

Are you serving God with the correct motives?

Can you pray this prayer that David prayed in Psa_139:23, 24“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! ”

 

John MacArthur says in his book True Worship.

“Devoting our lives to Gods glory means sacrificing self. It means that we prefer God above all else. The true worshiper does not think about how much it’s going to help him, how much money he is going to get, how much success he will realize, how much fame he will have, how many friends he can garner, how spiritual he may appear, and so on.

The pursuit of the glory of God is purely selfless, lonely pursuit. True worshiper is not concerned with the popularity of the stand it takes, or the kind of response its gets”.