Some things Simon Saw

Acts 8 provides for the spreading of the gospel outside of Jerusalem. We were introduced to a man named Philip in Acts 6:5. We know Philip was a man full of faith and one who walked according to the will of the Spirit. In verse Acts 6:6, the apostles laid hands on him along with other men to impart miraculous powers from the Holy Spirit.

We find Philip again in Acts 21:8-9, where he’s described as an evangelist along with his daughters who are described as being prophetesses.

In Acts 8:5, we see Philip preaching the gospel! The Bible says, “Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming Christ to them.” Philip performed many miracles including casting out unclean spirits, those who were paralyzed and lame, Acts 8:7. We are then introduced to a man by the name of Simon. In Acts 8:9-11, Luke records, “Now there was a man named Simon, who formerly was practicing magic in the city and astonishing the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great; and they all, from smallest to greatest, were giving attention to him, saying, ‘This man is what is called the Great Power of God.’ And they were giving him attention because he had for a long time astonished them with his magic arts.”

Yet Simon would be converted as we read in Acts 8:13: “Even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed signs and great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed.”

No doubt his conversion was a great service for the spread of the gospel! It demonstrated:

·      The superior power of the gospel over false religions of men.

·      The genuineness of the gospel. Simon had been the one the people followed, crediting him as the great power of God. Now he followed Christ.

The conversion of Simon along with the challenges he faced after his obedience provide us some great lessons. Let’s consider some things Simon saw.

The difference between genuine miracles and counterfeits. Miracles we read in the Bible include raising the dead, healing the paralyzed, healing the lame, casting out demons, walking on water, calming storms, healing those who were blind, restoring withered hands, and even extraordinary miracles where handkerchiefs or aprons were even carried from the apostles body to the sick where then diseases left them and evil spirits went out, Acts 19:12. There’s more miracles we haven’t included. Today’s “so-called” miracles are nothing like these. Some testify they have cured cancer or healed someone’s migraine headache. But we don’t see the act, we only hear about it. People in the first century could see, taste (on some occasions), and hear the miracle! Simon knew he was a fake. He knew a fake miracle when he saw one. He knew a genuine miracle when he saw one. People need to see what Simon saw.

What to do to be saved! Through the preaching of the gospel from Philip he learned what is required for one to be saved!

a.        Acts 8:5: “Philip…began proclaiming Christ to them.”

b.       Acts 8:6: “The crowds with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip.

c.        Acts 8:13: “Even Simon himself believed…

d.       Acts 8:13: “…and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip…”

e.        Simon heard the preaching of Christ. He believed what was proclaimed about Jesus and His kingdom, just like many others. We know he would have repented of his deceptive behavior, because Philip would not have baptized him if he had not. He was baptized for the forgiveness of sins. Simon saw and heard what was necessary to be saved.

Many sadly, can’t see what Simon saw. We have an opportunity to share with them the gospel. Next week, we will consider some additional things Simon saw.

Simon saw that Peter was an apostle, not a Pope. The apostles Peter and John heard that Samaria had received the word of God, Acts 8:14. As a result, Peter and John went there. Notice who sent Peter and John? The text says, “Now when the apostles in Jerusalem…”  It was the apostles who sent two other apostles Peter and John. But if Peter was the first Pope, what authority would the apostles have in sending him? Wouldn’t it be Peter that would have done the sending? Those who are in positions of authority are not “sent” by their inferiors, John 13:16.

·      Peter was a Christian.

·      Peter was a disciple of Jesus.

·      Peter was an elder, 1 Peter 5:1-2.

·      Peter was a husband, Mark 1:30. The fact that he was an elder meant he had to be married. We also have an example of Jesus healing his mother-in-law, which meant he was married.

·      Peter was an apostle, Matthew 10:1-5. The word “Apostle” means “To send away, to send forth.” It can be used in several senses. With respect to Peter and the other apostles, it refers to a group of select men appointed by Jesus to do a special work on His behalf. These men were inspired by the Holy Spirit, John 16:12-13. But notice what Peter was not! He was not a Pope or the first Pope. Peter never trained other men to become a Pope. What Simon saw was just one of the many pieces of evidence against the false doctrine of Peter being the first Pope.

As we consider the actions of the Pope in the Roman Catholic Church, it differs greatly from the actions of the apostle Peter. The apostle Peter did not permit men to honor him as seen in Acts 10:25-26. The brethren contended with Peter after he went to Cornelius in Acts 10:28, 11:1-3. Would anyone question the actions and authority of the pope? Even Paul withstood Peter to his face in Galatians 2:11-13.

Simon saw how the power of the Holy Spirit was imparted.

When Peter and John arrived in Samaria,  the text says, “…Who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.” What does this mean and what does it not mean? It does not mean that their conversion was not valid until they received the Holy Spirit. When one obeys the gospel, they have fellowship with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Matthew 28:19. It does not mean that their baptism was of no consequence. What Philip proclaimed in Samaria is exactly what Jesus taught in Mark 16:16: “He who believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.” What does it mean then? Simon understood what it meant and so can we! “Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit. Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, ‘Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.’”  Peter and John came to impart miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands. Charismatics today will claim that anyone who is truly saved will manifest the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit (especially tongue speaking). That’s not what Simon saw! He saw these gifts were given only through the laying on of the hands of an apostle. Can we see what Simon saw?

Verse for the blue box: Acts 5:41-42 “So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.”