Simon the Sorcerer and the Holy Spirit

The early church spread out from Jerusalem as a result of persecution. As if the persecution wasn’t difficult enough to handle, more difficulties ensued in the surrounding cities where they preached the gospel. Even though there was a fantastic response to the gospel in Samaria, one such difficulty ensued when Simon, the local sorcerer, believed and attempted to buy the power of the Holy Spirit from the apostles. Let’s look at this fascinating account in Acts 8:9–25 with these notes from the NKJV Spirit-Filled Life Bible.

Kingdom Dynamics – HOLY SPIRIT FULLNESS

A Spirit-Filled Revival. Peter and John’s concern for the Samaritan revival directly relates to their desire that those born of the Holy Spirit also receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit. The text and their ministry clearly differentiate water baptism (vv. 12, 16) from receiving the Holy Spirit’s fullness (v. 17). The apostles laid hands on the converts, and they received the Holy Spirit with miracle signs. This attracted the interest of Simon the sorcerer (vv. 18, 19), who desired the same power demonstrated by the apostles as they laid hands on the converts.

For the apostles, the Holy Spirit fullness was no small matter; their focus and approach were dedicated toward guaranteeing the transmission of the power of Pentecost among new believers. They obviously felt the need for every believer to become equipped with power, as sure as each of them had received new life in Christ and obeyed Him in water baptism. Such leadership is still needed in the church today.

Study Notes on the Text

8:14 Since the Samaritans were the first non-Jews to receive the gospel, the Jerusalem church sent Peter and John to Samaria as an official, apostolic delegation to investigate. This was a direct fulfillment of Acts 1:8.

8:15–17 This passage has been subject to unnecessary debate. The sequence of events described in v. 12 leaves little doubt that the Samaritans had become Christians. They had already had a conversion experience with the Holy Spirit, evidenced by their water baptism (vv. 12, 16). Now, through the ministry of the apostles, they are being led into another significant experience with the Holy Spirit, which Luke describes both as “receiving the Holy Spirit,” including their allowing Him to “fall upon” them. This, therefore, may best be seen in the sense of their initial baptism with the Holy Spirit.

8:18–25 Simon evidently saw some outward phenomenon that convinced him that the Samaritan converts had received the Holy Spirit . . . through the laying on of the apostles’ hands. Although Luke does not identify the external manifestation, many commentators agree that it may likely have been speaking in tongues.

Your money perish . . . iniquity: Simon’s quest to buy the ability to impart the power of the Spirit was his obvious sin, including a more subtle evil is his desire to use the power of God for his own gain. The word “simony,” which is the buying and selling of church offices and influence, originates here. Some ask, Was Simon really saved? “Simon himself also believed” and “was baptized” (v. 13), but Peter’s scathing rebuke (v. 21) leaves us uncertain about where Simon really stood with God. Furthermore, the early writings of church history continue to depict Simon as a father of heresies.

Kingdom Dynamics – DELIVERANCE

The Bonds of Unforgiveness. A sorcerer is one who deceives, manipulates, and delights to control others and does so by demonic enablement. Peter identified the basis for Simon’s sorcery as bitterness—the deepening effect of unforgiveness (v. 22). Here is warning regarding the danger of tolerated or embraced unforgiveness, which may, like poison, permeate and bind the soul, ultimately corrupting everything around it. In Simon’s case, his bitterness shaped his passion to control others (v. 19)—which prompted his quest to purchase the ability to impart the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Though having believed and been baptized (v. 13), the residue of his past bondage surfaces as he unworthily seeks power to manipulate others for self-exalting purposes. Peter discerns the root of his bondage (v. 23) and summons Simon to repentance and deliverance. Though Simon did not repent, this episode still points to one of the foremost keys to deliverance from entrenched bondage in a believer’s soul—the act of forgiveness. Forgiving others from our heart flushes out the “poison” with the power of the Cross. In contrast, unforgiveness can, as with Simon, lead down paths we would never have imagined we would travel (see Matt. 6:14, 15; Col. 3:13; Heb. 12:15–17).

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