Acts 8:9-25
MAGIC - WITCHCRAFT
Just the word stirs some response in everyone’s mind!, but it differs probably with each of us.
To the African mind, it is seen in the local “witch doctor” with her herbs, and other items, and the dress of her pagan ancestors, she claims to cast a spell of evil, to deliver escape from some els’ spell, to heal the sick, or just about do what ever people are prepared to pay for. I know of at least two times I was personally on the receiving end of an evil spell. The first was, when there was a church problem. This particular African black church wanted rid of their Coloured Minister so they turned to the missionaries in the hope that they would solve everything for them. When things did not seem to go their way, they began singing and dancing, to cast a spell on the missionaries and solve their problem in their own way. Their “knobkerries” and convenient stones would finish it all. Sometimes they simply hid a packet of evil objects on the property of a white employer and no one would work for that person. Sometimes a baby, or an adult, would simply die for no apparent reason. (They no longer fed them, because they were going to die anyway.) This is the reality of witchcraft, still throughout Africa. My second personal time, I simply turned away a women demanding money at my door. She stood in the street and cast spell over us. We are still here, and she is not after many years.
In the mind of the South African European, white person, it is more likely represented by the “Gipsy” fortune teller and financial advisor who when the weather turns warm enough, will leave her affluent home, and park her travel trailer beside a major street in the city. I have even seem them parked downtown beside a parking meter! She will advise guidance in decision making, financial matters, in fact whatever you may want, again for a fee. She will “read your palm,” consult her crystal ball, read your tea leaves, or call back the dead.
This is the type of thing that Saul had forbidden in his kingdom and then he, himself, consulted the witch of Endor. The word “witch” is of Medo-Persian” source, so it has been around for a very long time, and is still alive, and very evident, not only in Africa. I think it is the same as the “demons”, the fallen angels, of the Bible.
9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:
The local such person was Simon. He was evidently a man of means and this had been his
source of income, so when he became a believer, he began to look for ways to keep his income flowing. His faith was weak, so he certainly was attracted by the miracles he was seeing. He could adapt this to his own benefit! In that way he could retain his wealth and his power!
SOME GREAT ONE
(Acts 8:11, Acts 13.6, Acts 5:6)
10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.
His title was being challenged, but he could turn this in his own favor. His talent was that he was confident, and he was a leader. He had proven that. If he were living today, he would probably be the charismatic leader of thousands with a television program and a budget to prove his power. There have been many such men who consider themselves to be “some great one.” and their proof of their greatness to be the size of the church they minister toI recall one such man in South Africa. His base was a large and affluent, and his message and personality impressive. This was so much so that one April 1, the leading newspaper of Johannesburg announced that he had bought a LearJet to reach his many followers. That was one of the paper’s most successful “April Fools” jokes. Many believed it.
(Acts 14:11, Acts 28:6)
11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.
(Acts 8:9, Acts 13:6)
12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
At that time Philip, who had been appointed a deacon to help in the church’s widows aid, was preaching in Samaria. This Philip was also a gifted evangelist in that many men and women were believing, repenting of their sinful lives, and being baptized for the remission of their sins.
(Acts 1:3, Acts 8:4, Acts 2:38)
13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
Simon also believed, seeing their miracles and signs. One wonders about the repentance of his past sins, for his attraction seems you have been the miracles and signs. These things he could certainly use to his advantage. Since he was wealthy, and Philip and those with him were clearly not, he assumed that they would be eager to sell this ability to him.
(Acts 8:6, Acts 19:11)
14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
(Acts 8:1, Luke 22:8)
15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
Peter and John prayed for the Samaritans. That was enough of a shock, for the Jews hated the Samaritans.
(Acts 2:38, Acts 19:2)
16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only that they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
This verse gives us reason for thought. I have personally been concerned that most baptisms have been done only, “in the name of Jesus Christ.” and not “in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and the gift of the Holy Spirit” as we read was the case in Acts 2:38. How are those who witness these baptisms to know anything about the Holy Spirit and his work, if they are not told so at this time?
(Matthew 28:19, Acts 19:2, Acts 2:38, Acts 10:48)
17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
In this case, they apparently gave the power to perform miracles to the Samaritans, here was the opportunity for Simon to also receive it. This was his opportunity, They received it, why not I?
(Mark 5:23, Acts 6:6, Acts 2:4)
18 And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
Peter’s response was a shock to Simon. Smon went for the heart, not the question. His heart was not right. How many of us make our decisions for other than from a heart felt need to be serving God better?
(2 Kings 5:16, Isaiah 55:1, Daniel 5:17, Matthew 10:8, Acts 2:38)
21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
(Deuteronomy 10:9, Deuteronomy 12:12, Ephesians 5:5, Psalm 78:37)
22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
The mind may be responsible for sending the message to the rest of our being, but the purpose, and that which we do arises from the heart. The mind deals with logic, but the heart with love. We do not love because it is logical. I recall that I was married at a most illogical time. Logic would have said, “Get your degrees out of the way first,” but the heart said, “Now.”
(Isaiah 55:7)
23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of wickedness, and in the bond of iniquity.
(Isaiah 55:6)
24 Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.
It is said that the early church fathers, credit the first steps of Gnosticism to Simon.
(Genesis 20:7, Exodus 8:8, Numbers 21:7, James 5:16)
25 And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem,and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.
(Luke 16:28, Acts 13:12, Acts 8:40, Matthew 10:5)
__________
READ YOUR BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN THIS YEAR
JUNE
16th Sunday - 1 Kings 2, Acts 11, Psalm 74:10-17
17th Monday - 1 Kings 3, 4, Acts 12, Proverbs 15:1-8
18th Tuesday - 1 Kings 5, 6, Acts 13:1-25, Psalm 74:18-23
19th Wednesday - 1 Kings 7, Acts 13:26-52, Psalm 75
20th Thursday - 1 Kings 8, Acts 14, Psalm 76
21st Friday - 1 Kings 9, 10, Acts 15:1-22, Proverbs 15:9-18
22nd Saturday - 1 Kings 11, Acts 15:23-41, Psalm 77:1-9
__________
MEMORY VERSE
“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”
- Acts 17:11
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IT WASN’T ME
Coming through the church just before the service was scheduled to begin, a visiting special speaker, noted that there was a very sparse congregation.
“There are not many people in church today,” he commented, “Did you tell them I was coming?”
“No, sir,” his host replied. “Someone else must have told them.”
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