In the early part of Acts, we are introduced to 5 brief biographies that I want to introduce to you now. If you enjoy reading a biography, then you’ll benefit from these short bios. Think of these five men as the Mount Rushmore of the early chapters of Acts, if you will. A week ago we saw the sterling character of Stephen, Christianity’s first martyr and real hero. Girls, he’s the kind of guy you want to bring home to meet your parents.
Today, we meet Simon. Simon was a first century version of David Copperfield or Harry Houdini. Whether he had saffron robes marked with the sign of the zodiac & made theatrical entrances, I’m not sure. Like Stephen, he also works miracles. But unlike Stephen, he doesn’t understand the ways of God. Thinking he could fake it until make it, Simon’s life is a warning for us all. Simon’s heart represents a crossroads where religion & greed collide.
Today’s Scripture
“Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. 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.
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.
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.” 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.” (Acts 8:5–13, 18-25)
Simon’s story is written in our history & our culture. Today, the act of simony is the paying for position or influence inside the church. Now, so many people hate religion because they think churches & pastors are only after their money. A number of people who have recently converted to Christ in our church over the past 4-5 years, many of their family members have warned them something to this effect, “If you must go down there and if you have must have anything to do with religion, don’t give them a penny of your money.” The power of Simon’s life & his story is the way it shows a path forward when religion and money collide.
1) Simon the Pretender
Simon’s story is really an insertion inside a larger story of how a group called the Samaritans came to faith in Christ. Simon is a magician hungry for power (Acts 8:9). If you asked Simon, “Are you great,” he would have simply said, “You bet I am.”
1.1 Philip the Hero
Now, I need to introduce Philip into our story for Philip and Simon are in sort of a competition for the same audience, the people of Samaria. We should note that Simon had a head start for he’s already there before Philip arrives. Luke wants to show you how the two compare & contrast. Simon works wonders (Acts 8:11); Philip works wonders (Acts 8:6, 13). Simon draws crowds (Acts 8:9-10); Philip draws crowds (Acts 8:6-7). Simon amazes (Acts 8:9, 11); Philip amazes (Acts 8: 13). Simon claims to have great power (Acts 8:10); Philip heals with great power (Acts 8:13). Philip, a deacon like Stephen (who we met last week), was an evangelist who brings the gospel to the Samaritan people. Philip deserves his own sermon but that’s for another day for he was incredibly bold in sharing the gospel among a hated people.
A moment ago, I mentioned the country of Samaria. The Jews even had a prayer in this day that history records as this: “…and, Lord, do not remember the Samaritans in the resurrection.” For a Jewish man to come and minister and touch Samaritans must have been electrifying. So this is a powerful story of the gospel’s ability to racial reconciliation but we must leave this for another time. Now, Philip is a hero in our story for he is obeying God’s command.
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) Five times in Acts 8, the verb for evangelism (euangelizomai) is used but you will probably miss it in your translation. Look at verse 12: “But when they believed Philip as he preached good news (evangelized) about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” (Acts 8:12) Again in verse 25: “Now when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel (evangelizing) to many villages of the Samaritans.” (Acts 8:25) Philip is doing evangelism & many believed in the gospel & so they were baptized. And this is always the order inside the pages of your Bible – belief 1st and baptism 2nd. It’s always conversion followed by immersion. I wonder if someone here today has never followed through in believer’s baptism? I invite you to do follow after the pattern of these believers in today’s story, believe in Jesus and be baptized to advertise to others your belief in Jesus.
So Philip enters Samaria he encounters Simon who has a hold on the Samaritans. Luke speaks of Simon’s boast & his hold over the region in verse 10 & 11: “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.” (Acts 8:10-11)
1.2 The Danger of Superficial Religion
Among those who say, “Yeah, I believe.” and was also baptized was our man, Simon. But no sooner has been dunked than we see he is obsessed with Philip’s ability to do “signs and miracles.” Luke is careful to distinguish Simon’s belief from the other Samaritan believers in verse 13. Acts presents Simon as an unbelieving believer. Simon was not a genuine believer for his faith was superficial. He believed in the miracles but he didn’t believe in the Master. Now this may cause some confusion among those of you in the room for you think everyone who goes under the water of baptism and a pastor says, “Welcome this brother/sister in the Lord” is genuine. But Acts is showing us we need to be careful.
Look again at Simon for here is an unbelieving believer. Jesus had a similar issue before our story today and it will be helpful to all of us to see how Jesus reacted to someone similar to Simon: “Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. 24 But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people 25 and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.” (John 2:23–25) There are many here who tell me, “I’m a believer but you have not been converted.” You may know the plan of salvation but you don’t know the man of salvation. You’ve had a religious experience, you have manners and you have culture, but you have not had a genuine conversion. Not everyone who believes and is baptized is a real disciple.
1.2 The Danger of Superficial Religion
1.3 The Menace of Counterfeit Religion
While Simon thought himself to be great, Philip worked in the name of Jesus. Simon has built up a reputation in the area by amazing people with his magic. Now we know from the writings of pastors about a century later than today’s story a little more about Simon. Justin Martyr, who also was a Samaritan, tells us demons empowered Simon to perform magic. Simon was later honored in the city of Rome as a god where a statue was erected in his honor with the words, “to the holy god Simon.” And as far as you can trust the account of Justin Martyr, even he presented himself as god.
I should say in passing here before I hurry along, that the Bible always condemns the practice of magic. The Bible will tell you magic is real but it is empowered by Satan. In fact, Satan’s superman is coming one day, the one called Anti-Christ. The Bible describes the supernatural power of the Anti-Christ as this: “The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders” (2 Thessalonians 2:9) Don’t be dazzled by satanic power of false religion, my friend. There’s a little ditty that dates back to the 1600s: “Whenever God erects a House of Prayer/The Devil builds a chapel there. And ‘twill be found upon investigation/The latter has the larger congregation.” Simon’s story is a picture of when the devil joins the church. “And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.” (2 Corinthians 11:14–15)
1) Simon the Pretender
2) Simon the Spender
Simon Shows You Limits of Money as we get back to Simon’ story. Simon doesn’t understand the inherent limits of money or the grace of God. Philip’s success is so great that Peter & John now join in Samaria. Some of you may well remember that this same John wanted to call down fire from heaven on Samaria for failing to offer Jesus’ a place to stay (Luke 9:54). John has come a long way! Simon’s obsession with spiritual power leads him to offer money for the Holy Spirit’s gift: 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.” (Acts 8:18-19)
Simon didn’t say, “Can I have the Holy Spirit?” Instead, Simon said, “Can I have the power of the Holy Spirit?” There is a world of difference between those who want God versus those who want God’s power? When Simon sees the apostles laying their hands on the new believers, he thinks he is seeing a new form of magic. So he offers money & when he does this he shows he fundamentally misunderstands Christianity. Simon doesn’t understand the inherent limits of money or the grace of God. Simon is like you and me. Our heart’s default mode is to control is to seek to control God and others for our purposes. Simon is a walking dollar sign for he is consumed with greed & power and prestige it brings him.
2.1 The Confluence of Money & Religion
Jesus said famously: “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” (Matthew 6:24) When money and God collide, one of the two will come out on top in your life.
2.1.1 When Money is King
If money wins in the collision, then money will use religion. Simon is walking, talking picture of what happens when money & religion collide & money wins. Money doesn’t hate religion for greed will even monetize religion. Money is a religion for its seductive powers calls out to us. Money’s power speaks to us, “Look at my power. I offer you homes, cars, prestige, and power.” Money’s temples are dotted all along Wall Street and the major office buildings in most our downtown cities. I find it helpful to tell you that Satan entered Judas, Ananias, and Simon all through their greed.
2.1.2 When God is King
In contrast, Peter is here a picture of what happens when money & religion collide & God wins. In our earlier study in Acts, we encountered Peter and the lame man.
But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” (Acts 3:6)
The Difference in Simon and Peter is that Simon wants to monetize the Holy Spirit’s power where Peter offers it for free. Everywhere you go, people want to monetize religion. Walk the streets of Jerusalem where a Muslim man will sell Jewish trinkets on the table to the left and Christian trinkets on the table to the right. Nearly a century ago, P. T. Barnum had remade himself from an impoverished country boy into what a recent movie called him the “The Greatest Showman.” Head of the great Barnum & Bailey Circus, he invited Charles Spurgeon to speak in the large tent at his traveling circus. Spurgeon’s preaching would often draw crowds exceeding 10,000 people and Barnum saw great opportunity to increase his show attendance if Spurgeon would join him. Barnum’s pitch to Spurgeon was an attractive one. He offered to supply the musical talent, unless Spurgeon wished to provide his own. Any equipment, side show, or manpower would be at his disposal. And Spurgeon had freedom to speak as long or briefly as he desired. The only catch was that the Barnum Circus Association would keep all profits from the gate tickets & in return compensate Spurgeon with a thousand dollar per sermon honorarium. This was a generous offer in Spurgeon’s day and likely would have persuaded many preachers to chase the opportunity.
Dear Mr. Barnum:
Thank you for your kind invitation to lecture in your circus tents in America. You will find my answer in Acts 13:10.
Very sincerely yours,
Charles H. Spurgeon
“You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord?” (Acts 13:10)
If Christianity gets into the hands of the Simons of the world, church will be nothing more than someone attempting to sell you a timeshare. Money can buy you a bed but it cannot give you sleep. Money can buy you a warm body but it cannot buy love. Money can buy you a house but it cannot make a home. Money can buy you luxurious, advancements, and preferred treatment but it cannot buy God. The power of God cannot be placed on the Chicago Board of Trade like cotton or corn. No, the Holy Spirit is a gift. Yes, money is needed and yes, money is helpful but here’s the problem when our hearts turn into Simon. The problem for your human heart is when it takes good things like a successful career and material possessions & turns them into the ultimate thing.
2.2 Repentance
“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.” (Acts 8:22-23)
All believers must renounce their former thinking and patterns of sin. If you make any effort to live for God, you will face opposition. If you’ve never run into Satan, it’s because you and he are traveling parallel in the same direction. The last words we hear from Simon’s lips are these: “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.” (Acts 8:24) It’s one thing to ask someone to pray for you but you need to pray for forgiveness yourself. When you renounce your patterns of sin, you show you truly know the Lord. Here’s a truth we need to say loud and proud: real believers repent while counterfeit believers stay the same.
