Case Study: Simon Magus.

Reading: Acts 8:9-24

8:9 Now in that city was a man named Simon, who had been practicing magic and amazing the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great.

8:10 All the people, from the least to the greatest, paid close attention to him, saying, “This man is the power of God that is called ‘Great.’”
8:11 And they paid close attention to him because he had amazed them for a long time with his magic.
8:12 But when they believed Philip as he was proclaiming the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they began to be baptized, both men and women.
8:13 Even Simon himself believed, and after he was baptized, he stayed close to Philip constantly, and when he saw the signs and great miracles that were occurring, he was amazed.

[NOTE: The Philip mentioned here is not Philip the apostle, but Philip the deacon (see Acts 6:1-6)]

QUESTION 1: Was Simon Magus a real Christian? What is the evidence of his faith in Jesus? (see Acts 8:12-13)

8:14 Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.
8:15 These two went down and prayed for them so that they would receive the Holy Spirit.
8:16 (For the Spirit had not yet come upon any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
8:17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on the Samaritans, and they received the Holy Spirit.

QUESTION 2: What does Acts 8:15-16 mean to you?

8:18 Now Simon, when he saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, offered them money,
8:19 saying, “Give me this power too, so that everyone I place my hands on may receive the Holy Spirit.”
8:20 But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could acquire God’s gift with money!
8:21 You have no share or part in this matter because your heart is not right before God!
8:22 Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that he may perhaps forgive you for the intent of your heart.
8:23 For I see that you are bitterly envious and in bondage to sin.”


QUESTION 3: Peter mentions five indictments to Simon Magus: 1) a heart that is not right before God; 2) attempting to buy God's free gift; 3) wickedness; 4) envy; 5) bondage to sin (see Acts 8:20-23). Do you think there is a relationship between these indictments and Simon's self-proclaimed greatness (see Acts 8:9)? If so, what is it?


8:24 But Simon replied, “You pray to the Lord for me so that nothing of what you have said may happen to me.”

QUESTION 4: What does Simon Magus's prayer request indicate to you about the effectiveness of apostolic prayer (see Acts 8:24)?


QUESTION 5: Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed in Jesus?