Acts 8:9-11 ESV

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. 

This Simon the Magician went on to believe by the preaching of the gospel by Philip.

Acts 8:17-19 ESV

¹⁷ Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. 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.”

What were Simon the Magician’s interests? Power, magic, and reputation might have been a large part of Simon the Magician’s former life. This is the last tale from Acts 8 and it is unclear if Peter and John’s baptizing of Christians in the Holy Ghost included Simon the Magician.

The fact that he thought the power could be bought leaves me with the impression that he had not received the Holy Spirit. Chapter 9 goes right into the conversion of Saul, to become Paul. His change was so dramatic. In comparison Simon the Magician’s conversion seemed incomplete.

When we read of believers that do not fit perfectly within our understanding of salvation conversion, what are we to learn?

Number one has to be the issue of an unknown future. The future for each of us is an unknown at conversion. We have so much to learn about God’s promises, practices and will that we might only see the reactions of the flesh to our conversion. Simon leaned on old habits in trying to buy the magic from Peter and John. He had no real understanding of the power he witnessed. He desired the power. Why he desired the power remains unknown. All we can do is search our own motives in those things of God we desire.

John 6:26 English Standard Version (ESV) Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.”

Have you ever seen a soup kitchen where the homeless are fed? In the past Christian organizations would see to it that the gospel was presented during the meal. Those people were not there to be saved, only fed. Food banks today only feed the stomach and not the soul.

During Jesus’ ministry there should have been an understanding in the significance of breaking bread together. From the earliest days of waring nations the breaking of bread had always been a sign of putting an end to hostilities. Eating with your enemy was a covenant act. It is no accident that Jesus made that comment in chapter 6 of the gospel of John.

John 6:35 English Standard Version (ESV) Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

John 6:41 English Standard Version (ESV) So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.”

John 6:54 English Standard Version (ESV) Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.

John 6:66 English Standard Version (ESV) After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.

I have selected specific verses from chapter six to point out that the signs that where seen from old and passed down throughout all the generations was for putting an end to the hostilities between man and God. The bread of life was offer by God as a peace offering and a sign of the covenant between man and God. This new covenant was contained in the body and blood of Jesus Christ.

Many stopped following Jesus because they only wanted their physical needs met and could not see beyond their own selfish interest.

God wants to put an end to the rebellion.

What do you want?