![]() ![]() The field had been prepared by Jesus Himself-He said the fields were " already white for harvest. Maybe this is why they gladly received the word. The same truths had before been stated in Samaria by our Savior Himself. Philip went into the region of Samaria to preach Christ-to preach that the Messiah had come and to make known his teachings. This is the difference between the religion of Jesus Christ and the superstitions which the world calls religion. One man had to rely upon gullible people, the other man called for faith in the Son of God. One man amazed his audience with "sorcery," while the other man performed genuine miracles by the Spirit of God. One preached himself, the other preached Christ. Look at the differences between Simon the Sorcerer and Philip. Simon claimed, " that he was someone great" (Acts 8.9). In this lesson, we want to notice some of the things about his "religion" and the way many of the Samaritans viewed him. ![]() "His name, Simon, suggests he was of Jewish or Samaritan origin. He is known as Simon Magus or " Simon the Sorcerer. There is nothing more known for certain about this man other than what Luke wrote about him. The early " Church Fathers " wrote much about this man-some of their accounts are highly imaginative. His credentials as a " faith healer " would have been impressive. ![]() He could have had his own TV show and felt right at home on stage with several false teachers of our day. Prior to his conversion, Simon would have made a good televangelist. One Christian, a man by the name of Philip went down to Samaria to preach the Word. Having been chased out of the city by the uproar caused by Saul's persecution. One of the greatest stories of conversion in the book of Acts deals with a grifter by the name of, Simon, Simon the sorcerer.Īs we pick up the story, the Christians, except for the apostles went everywhere preaching the Word. Peter alludes to this, " by covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words. Today, this genre of men often pushes religion as a means of making merchandise of the brethren. A century ago, they came in the form of rainmakers and snake oil salesmen. We'll be reading about the conversion of the church in Samaria and one person in particular in Samaria, a man by the name of Simon, known today as Simon the Sorcerer, or Simon Magus.Įvery generation of people has had to contend with charlatans, con-artists, swindlers, and hucksters. 23 For I see that you are ( N)poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.”Ģ4 Then Simon answered and said, ( O)“Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me.Turn your attention to the book of Acts, we're looking in Acts chapter 8. 22 Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God ( M)if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. 17 Then ( I)they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.ġ8 And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”Ģ0 But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because ( J)you thought that ( K)the gift of God could be purchased with money! 21 You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your ( L)heart is not right in the sight of God. ( G)They had only been baptized in ( H)the name of the Lord Jesus. 16 For ( F)as yet He had fallen upon none of them. The Sorcerer’s Sinġ4 Now when the ( D)apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, 15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them ( E)that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 13 Then Simon himself also believed and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done. 12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the things ( C)concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. 9 But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously ( A)practiced sorcery in the city and ( B)astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great, 10 to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the great power of God.” 11 And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time. ![]()
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