He is far too powerful to be controlled by us. Here is the root of all idolatry-thinking we can handle God, that we can control him with our religious deeds, our prayers, our words. The people of Samaria think he has divine powers- “the Great Power of God,” like a mini Hercules or Perseus, sons of Zeus. He’s arrogant, prideful, and claims to be someone great. Micky Mouse isn’t dancing around wearing a big blue pointy hat with stars on it and waving his fingers at a broom. Simon’s sorcery is no The Magician’s Apprentice. He boasted that he was someone great, 10 and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is rightly called the Great Power of God.” 11 They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his sorcery.
They know enough to get themselves in trouble, which is perhaps why Simon is someone who has so much power.Ĩ Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. They share some beliefs and background with their Jewish neighbors, but this has only caused religious and ethnic division. Samaria is a land where the people are Jewish but not Jewish. This man lived in the town of Samaria, north of Jerusalem. Maybe you’re wondering, “Who would ever try to buy the Holy Spirit?” Well, I’m glad you asked because a Sorcerer named Simon would. The Holy Spirit is a person, more like Charlotte. The Holy Spirit is not like the big brass pots or Navajo rug. The Holy Spirit is not something we can purchase or buy, not with money or good deeds. My hope and prayer is today’s sermon will make us more aware of the Holy Spirit’s power and how we sometimes attempt to purchase the power of the Holy Spirit. In today’s text one man has to learn the hard way… The Holy Spirit is not for sale. The legend goes that one time she was so still that someone thought she was a life-sized doll. Sometimes tourists tried to buy the little old lady, Charlotte, who had fallen asleep behind the counter, my boss. Occasionally tourists would try and buy this big beautiful Navajo rug we had hanging on our wall. Occasionally tourists would try to buy the big brass pots we had in the back of the store, but they were a decoration.
#Bible commentary on simon the sorcerer full#
23 For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”Ģ4 Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me ( S) so that nothing you have said may happen to me.Have you ever tried to buy something that’s not for sale? When I was a teenager, I worked at a tourist shop in the mountains of Colorado called Indian Village. 22 Repent ( R) of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. ( N)ġ8 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money 19 and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”Ģ0 Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! ( O) 21 You have no part or share ( P) in this ministry, because your heart is not right ( Q) before God. ( L) 17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, ( M) and they received the Holy Spirit.
15 When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, ( J) 16 because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them ( K) they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles ( F) he saw.ġ4 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria ( G) had accepted the word of God, ( H) they sent Peter and John ( I) to Samaria. 13 Simon himself believed and was baptized. 12 But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God ( D) and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, ( E) both men and women. He boasted that he was someone great, ( B) 10 and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is rightly called the Great Power of God.” ( C) 11 They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his sorcery. 9 Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery ( A) in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria.
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