**5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. **
As soon as Stephen is taken away, Philip rises up to take his place.
The ‘salt’ was now leaving the ‘Jerusalem saltshaker’ to be spread over all Judea and Samaria, just as the Lord had commanded. (Wiersbe, 347)
Philip "went down" to the city of Samaria.
John Dick, “From this imperfect view of the religious state of the Samaritans, it is evident, that they were not better disposed than their rivals the Jews, to embrace the doctrine of Christ. Their system was more erroneous, their prejudices were equally great, and their knowledge was less.” (Dick, 100)
ILL: Jonah and the Ninevites // Abraham and Sodom and Gomorrah = Philip and Samaritans
Colossians 3:9-11, “Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.”
APPL: we pray for ISIS, pray for the Taliban, the trans, everyone
6 And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs that he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was much joy in that city.
The crowds paid attention for two reasons:
the message partially due to the “signs” he did.
They heard Philip preach.
Preach the gospel at all times. And if necessary, use words. - Author unknown (some attribute it to Francis of Assisi)
Romans 10:14, How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?
9 But there was a man named Simon, who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was somebody great. 10 They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the power of God that is called Great.” 11 And they paid attention to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic. 12 But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed.
“But” contrasts Simon’s magic with the Disciples’ miracles.
What a title: “This man is the power of God that is called Great.”
Simon said, “I am someone great.”
They regarded him as they should have God–with reverence and awe.
Amazed the people
… chemical experiments
… surely great udderances proceeded from his mouth.
… what sounded to ignorant people = deep mysteries (MacLaren, 147)
We know from the woman at the well account …
They did expect Messiah.
However Jesus said in John 4:22, “You worship what you do not know …”
ILL: David Hira from Dallas
APPL: The world still finds its fascinations.
Simon
The quack is great till the true teacher comes, and then he dwindles. Simon had a bitter pill to swallow when he saw this new man [taking] his audience, and doing things which he, with his sorceries, knew that he only pretended to do. (MacLaren, 149)
What does it mean that “Simon himself believed” (Acts 8:13)? We can answer that question best by asking another one: What was the basis of his “faith”? His faith was not in the Word of God, but in the miracles he saw Philip perform, and there is no indication that Simon repented of his sins. (Wiersbe, 348)
v.12 Again, people were baptized quickly (“men and women believed and were baptized”).
14 Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, 15 who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.
REF Acts 10, 44 While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 45 And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles.
Acts 1:10 was a time of transition from Judaism to Christianity in God’s economy.
… God wanted to unite the Samaritan believers with the original Jewish church in Jerusalem. He did not want two churches that would perpetuate the division and conflict that had existed for centuries. (Wiersbe, 348)
“he” … The Spirit is a Person
Our theology should be trinitarianism.
He is necessary for salvation:
TURN TO ROMANS 8
Romans 8:9-11, You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
He testifies to our spirit that we are the children of God.
Romans 8:16, The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.
He prays for us when we don’t pray well.
Romans 8:26, Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
He secures our salvation.
Listen to Ephesians 1:13, "In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,"
18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! 21 You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.” 24 And Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.”
“Me also.” … He regarded spiritual functions as a marketable commodity. (Robertson, 61)
No Part nor lot in this…Your heart is not right. Motives matter.
Simon was terrified at the terrible words of the Apostle; and for some time he was wanting intersession out of the danger Peter expressed. (Dick, 104)
Simon was a man who once practiced magic and never gave it up. (Deffinbaugh)
This Simon is depicted in postapostolic writings as the father of all Gnostic heresies. … he is said to have corrupted the Christians in Rome [as well] … . (Bruce, 166; cf. Schaff)
Some take issue with this idea. They said it wasn’t this Simon that started the Gnosticism.
I read some of the evidence and agree with those who were closer to the first century.
“I believe!”
1 John 2:19, “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.”
ILL: Harvard Graduate
APPL: Perseverance of the Saints
Dick said, We must not, like some persons of easy belief, reckon every man, who seems to be awakened, a convert, … . (105)
25 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.
The didn’t return as quickly as they could. They were fulfilling their mission: Make Christ Known!
Robertson observed that, The Greek for Returned [hupestrephon] draws a picture of their “joyful journey” of preaching … to the Samaritan villages. (66)
APPL:
Do you believe that sharing your faith may become great joy?
Bible, ESV (in bold type)
Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Brown, David. “The Acts of the Apostles.” Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown, 1871.
Bruce, F. F. The Book of Acts: The New International Commentary on the New Testament, ed. Gordon D. Fee, Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmanns Publishing Company, 1988.
Calvin, John. Commentary of Acts, trans., Christopher Fetherstone (1585), ed., Henry Beveridge, Vol. First, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, Christian Classics Ethereal Library, https://ccel.org/ccel/calvin/calcom36/calcom36/Page_Index.html.
Deffinbaugh, Bob. “12. Simon and Simon (Acts 8:1-25).” Bible.org, August 12th 2004, https://bible.org/seriespage/12-simon-and-simon-acts-81-25.
Dick, John. Lectures on the Acts of the Apostles, Second ed., New York: Robert Carter and Brothers, 1857.
Constable, Thomas. "Notes on Acts.” 2021 ed., https://www.planobiblechapel.org/tcon/notes/html/nt/acts/acts.htm.
Hart, David Bentley. The New Testament: A Translation, New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 2017.
MacLaren, Alexander. “Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts.” 1826-1910, https://www.bestbiblecommentaries.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Acts-.-Alexander-MacLaren.pdf.
Taylor, Chris & Jenifer. “Philip’s Journeys.” The Bible Journey, 2021, https://thebiblejourney.org/biblejourney1/7-journeys-of-jesuss-followers/philips-journeys/.
Mishnah, “Sanhedrin 6.6,” Sefaria, https://www.sefaria.org/Mishnah_Sanhedrin.6.6?lang=bi.
McGarvey, J.W. A Commentary on Acts of the Apostles, 7th ed., Lexington, KY: Transylvania Printing and Publishing Co. 1872).
“Roman Coliseum.” Daily Bread. Bible.org, Illustrations, https://bible.org/illustration/roman-coliseum.
Schaff, Philip. “Magicians not trusted by Christians.” ANF01. The Apostolic Fathers with Justin Martyr and Irenaeus, Christian Classics Ethereal Library, 2002-10, https://holybooks-lichtenbergpress.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/Ante-Nicene-Fathers-Vol-1.pdf.
Schultz, John, “Commentary to the Book of Acts,” Bible-Commentaries.com, 2002, https://www.bible-commentaries.com/source/johnschultz/BC_Acts.pdf.
Taylor, Chris & Jenifer. “Philip’s Journeys.” The Bible Journey, 2021, https://thebiblejourney.org/biblejourney1/7-journeys-of-jesuss-followers/philips-journeys/.
Utley, Bob. “Luke the Historian: Acts.” Bible Lessons International, 2012, http://www.freebiblecommentary.org/new_testament_studies/VOL03B/VOL03B_03.html.
Utley, Bob Utley, “Luke the Historian: Acts.” Bible Lessons International, 2012, https://bible.org/seriespage/acts-8.
Wiersbe, Warren. The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: NT, Colorado Springs, CO: David C. Cook, 2007.
Mark Yarbrough and Darrell Bock, “Unit 2. Acts: The Ongoing Witness of Jesus Christ (Ch. 1-16);” “Video 5. Acts 5-7: The Witness Prospers and Persists,” transcript (Dallas Theological Seminary, 2021), https://media.dts.edu/player/?course=BE106v2&unit=2&video=5&language=en-US (log in required).
NOTE: All resources may not have been used in this particular document.