Do you remember that Christ had commanded His disciples to be witnesses to the truth of the Gospel, the death of Christ and resurrection of Christ, first in Jerusalem, and then in Judea and Samaria, and finally to the uttermost parts of the world?
With the stoning death of Stephen, Luke has concluded the bulk of the story about the Gospel message being proclaimed in Jerusalem. He now turns his attention to the story about how the Gospel message left Jerusalem and was taken out to Judea and Samaria.
Acts 8:1 On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. 2 Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him.
God used Stephen’s Gospel presentation to so enrage the high priest that he not only murdered Stephen but the high priest used the entire incident to justify a great persecution on, what was by now, the thousands of Christians living in Jerusalem. While the horrible persecution may have felt unfair to the peaceful Christian citizens of Jerusalem, who fled for their lives, leaving their homes and businesses behind, God, who controls all things, had planned the persecution for good of Judea, Samaria, and ultimately the world. God used the evil plans of the apostate high priest to bring salvation to the world. What you intended for evil against me, God intended for good, to preserve the lives of many people. Genesis 50:20
Acts 8:3 But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.
The brilliant young Pharisee named Saul who had watched approvingly as the sham trial and stoning of Stephen unfolded, seized the opportunity to advance his own career and status within the priestly hierarchy. He volunteered to ruthlessly go from house to house arresting and dragging Christians off to prison and murdering those who resisted.
Acts 8:4 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. 5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. 6 When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. 7 For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was great joy in that city.
To understand the significance of Jews traveling to Samaria and sharing the gospel we need to understand a little history.
Civil war divided the nation of Israel into two nations at the time of Rehoboam, 1 Kings 12. Judah was the southern kingdom with Jerusalem as the capital city. Samaria became the capital of the northern kingdom. To discourage the residents of the northern kingdom from traveling to Jerusalem to worship, idols were set up in Dan and Bethel. 1 Kings 12:25-33 Additionally, after Assyria invaded and conquered Samaria, in disobedience to Deuteronomy 7:3-5, the residents of the north intermarried with the Assyrians. Because the Jewish Samaritans did not worship at the temple in Jerusalem, and instead worshipped idols, and because they had intermarried with gentiles, they were considered impure and were shunned. For these reasons if a southern kingdom Jew came in contact with a Samaritan the southern kingdom Jew was considered ritually impure. This is why it was considered such a scandal when Jesus spoke to or about Samaritans. John 4, Luke 10:25-37
Now put yourself in the position of a Jew from Jerusalem.
If you had just fled for your life with your family from your home and your business would your first impulse be to tell a despised Samaritan about the resurrection of Christ?
It would have been easy and natural to feel self-pity, anger, and outrage at the injustice of it all.
What was the reaction of those who fled from Jerusalem?
The Gospel of life was so real to them and the Holy Spirit’s indwelling presence was so powerful that whoever they were, rich or poor, teacher or laborer, educated or uneducated, wherever they went, they preached the word, even to their historic enemies.In the midst of great and ongoing persecution they preached the word. They had mourned Stephen but they had the full assurance and comfort that their deacon was with the Lord.
Is that your attitude?
Is that your reaction even in times of peace?
You have been given the words of life, and the high honor of sharing those words.
As the new believers scattered into Samaria proclaiming the Messiah, making demons flee, and healing the sick, overcoming the kingdom of the ancient dragon and introducing Christ’s Kingdom of life, the residents of Samaria all paid close attention. As the Samaritans accepted the good news of Christ there was great joy in the city.
In a world where for centuries political and religious leaders had sown division and suspicion to further their own selfish ends, the message of Christ brought unity. Historic enemies became brothers and sisters in Christ. There was great joy in the city.
What do you think would happen today in our world divided by race, gender, politics, and religion, if those who claim the name of Christ would boldly, without fear of death, without compromise or qualification, call for repentance, proclaiming the Good News in the power of the Holy Spirit?
Do you think that the Holy Spirit would be pleased to work through such bold people?
Acts 8:9 Now 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, 10 and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is rightly called the Great Power of God.” 11 They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his sorcery. 12 But 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. 13 Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.
There was a counterfeiter named Simon in Samaria who had made a living and a name for himself, gathering a loyal following, by practicing sorcery. He may have even come to believe the press about him: This man is rightly called the Great Power of God, that is until he saw the real power of God, as Philip proclaimed the news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. When the real power of God showed that Simon was nothing more that a fraud the people switched alliances to become followers of Christ. Simon, himself, became a believer and followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.
Of course, just like in the first century, there are many false, counterfeit, religions and teachings in our world today; teachings that people chase after trying to give meaning and purpose to their lives. But, just like Simon discovered, these counterfeits pale in comparison to the truth and power offered by Christ’s ambassadors.
In a world were men and women are slaves to sin, in a world where people are all searching for meaning and purpose, in a world that fears and hides from the uncertainty of death, Christ’s ambassadors have the privilege of offering everyone the life and hope of the Gospel.
Acts 8:14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria. 15 When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
At His ascension into heaven, Christ had told His followers that they would be His witnesses in Samaria. Acts 1:8 Upon hearing reports that the Samaritans had actually become believers, Peter and John were dispatched from Jerusalem to investigate. Finding the reports to be true the Apostles prayed for the Holy Spirit to fill the Samaritan believers. In this way God demonstrated in a visible way that the promise of the Holy Spirit was not only for believing Jews but also for all believers: even the despised and shunned Samaritans. Christ’s kingdom was beginning to look diverse, universal, and open to all.
Acts 8:18 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.”
When Simon, the former sorcerer, who had, as a new believer, been following Philip around trying to figure out this whole affair, witnessed the Apostles giving the Holy Spirit to new believers, a light went on, he had an idea. He offered to buy the secret from the Apostles as if it were one of his magic tricks. Peter rebuked Simon for believing that the Spirit of God could be a commodity that Simon could monetize just like he had made a living off of his old magic tricks.
Peter diagnosed the condition of Simon’s heart, calling him wicked, bitter, and captive to sin. Why bitter? Remember, prior to the gospel’s proclamation in Samaria, Simon had been considered a big deal. However, Simon’s tricks paled in comparison to the free gift of salvation, the miracles of God, and the giving of the Holy Spirit. But, Simon schemed, if he could have the ability to give out the Holy Spirit, he could be a big deal again. His standing in the community and the accolades could be his again.
Christ taught that while the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave — 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Matthew 20:25-28
This is a lesson that Simon needed to learn. But this was not only a first century problem. It is also a rebuke that many teachers need to be reminded of today; teachers who love to be put on a pedestal. Teachers who ignore the warnings in the Scriptures, using their position for fame, praise and financial success: As a means of financial gain, 1 Timothy 6:5, Their god is their appetite, Philippians 3:19, Shepherds who only feed themselves, Jude 12, Perverting grace into a license for immorality, Jude 4. Such men and women must be told to repent, as was Simon. Such frauds must not be allowed to operate within the Church. They must be exposed.
Acts 8:25 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.
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