![]() ![]() Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, “Give me also this power, that any one on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” But Peter said to him, “Your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit for it had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed. Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. ![]() 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. ![]() They all gave heed to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is that power of God which is called Great.” And they gave heed to him, because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic. What a statement of the power of Jesus Christ.But there was a man named Simon who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the nation of Samaria, saying that he himself was somebody great. Even Simon himself, who deceived many people for so long, eventually turned to Jesus. Be like the people of Samaria, who heard the truth and turned away from the lies. Run away from anything that is an imitation of Jesus, or anything that tries to take God’s place in your life. It’s only Him, His word, His spirit and His love that can make our hearts leap and be filled with joy. Friends, it is only Jesus that can fill that gap in our lives. Other ‘stuff’ may fill or even entertain us temporarily but after the ‘fun, amazement, or initial satisfaction’ has worn off, it only leaves us feeling empty, yearning for something to fill our emptiness. Nothing can compare to the Good News of Jesus, His life transforming miraculous work in our lives, His un-conditional love, and His grace and mercy to forgive and cleanse us of our sins. Notice the text says, that even though many had been astounded and fooled by Simon’s sorcery, when they heard Philip’s message of Good News, they instantly turned away from the imitations, got saved, baptised and filled with the Holy Spirit.įriends, anything less than Jesus, is a cop-out. Yet when Philip came bringing the true Gospel and the power of Jesus Christ, people turned away from the ‘fake news’ and became hungry for the truth hungry for the only One that can satisfy – Jesus Christ. Simon the sorcerer had been living in Samaria for many years, fooling the people with his deceiving trickery and claiming to be someone great from God. ![]() As a result, many men and women were baptised.” But now the people believed Philip’s message of Good News concerning the Kingdom of God and the Name of Jesus Christ. “ They listened closely to him because for a long time he had astounded them with his magic. ![]()
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