[:en]SCRIPTURE: ACTS 8
Bible Verses:
“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.” Peter answered: “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 in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.” (Acts 8:23)
THE CHURCH PERSECUTED AND SCATTERED (vs. 1-3)
There was a great persecution against the church at Jerusalem. All except the apostles were scattered. Godly men buried Stephen and Saul began to drag off men and women and put them in prison.
PHILIP IN SAMARIA (vs. 4-8)
Philip went to the city of Samaria and proclaimed Christ there. He did miraculous signs, cast out evil spirits and healed the paralytics and the cripples. There was great joy in that city.
SIMON THE SORCERER (vs. 9-25)
Simon was a sorcerer who had divine power called the “Ghost Power”. His magic power had attracted people to him. While Philip was preaching the good news, Simon also believed and was baptized. He followed Philip and saw the great signs and miracles that Philip did.
Peter and John went to Samaria and prayed that they might receive the Holy Spirit. When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostle’s hand, he offered them money so that he could have the ability to lay hands to people and receive the Spirit. Peter answered: “May your money perish with you because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or shares 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” (vs. 20-23). Simon then asked Peter to pray to the Lord for him.
PHILIP AND THE ETHIOPIAN (vs. 26-40)
An angel of the Lord told Philip to go south to the desert road from Jerusalem to Gaza. On his way, he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. He was sitting on his chariot reading the book of Isaiah, the prophet. The Spirit told Philip to go to that chariot and stay near it. Philip approached him and asked him if he understood what he was reading. The eunuch invited Philip to come up and sit with him. Philip told him the good news about Jesus. So the eunuch asked to be baptized. When they came up out of the water, Philip was taken by the Spirit of the Lord and disappeared. The eunuch went on his way rejoicing. Philip was taken to preaching the gospel until he reached Caesarea.
THOUGHTS:
- Philip was an evangelist with spiritual gift. The ministry of the Word moved from Jewish territory when Philip took the Gospel to Samaria. We need to preach the gospel to the ends of the world.
- Simon tried to use money to buy the power of the Holy Spirit. Peter rebuked him and told him to repent and ask God for forgiveness. No amount of money an buy salvation, forgiveness of sin or God’s power. Theses are only gained by repentance and belief in Christ as Savior.
- Sorcerers and magicians were influential because they could work wonders, perform healings, exorcism and practise astrology. Simon was a sorcerer but he was amazed at great signs and miracles that Philip did. He made a profession of faith in Christ and was baptized. But he was not really saved because he was a Satanic counterfeit trying to buy Holy Spirit with money. Beware of counterfeit Christians.
- The eunuch was humble enough to ask Philip to explain a passage of the Scripture that he did not understand. When we have trouble understanding the Bible, be humble enough to seek help from others.
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