Lessons from a Magician: Acts 8:9-24

In the book of Acts, Luke tells us of a man in Samaria named Simon who practiced magic and claimed “to be someone great” (Acts 8:9). All the people in Samaria gave attention to him, saying, “This man is what is called the Great Power of God” (Acts 8:10). However, when Peter and John arrived from Jerusalem, and when Simon saw them laying hands on people and the people receiving the Holy Spirit, he offered Peter money, asking, “Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit” (Acts 8:19). However, Peter rebuked him, saying, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! You have no part or portion in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity” (Acts 8:20-23) To this, Simon responded by saying, “Pray to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me” (Acts 8:24).

Four things are of interest in this passage. First, while Simon had seen Phillip working “signs and great miracles” (Acts 8:13), it was not until he witnessed the Holy Spirit being imparted through the laying on of hands that he sought to buy such authority. From Simon’s perspective, the ability to impart the Holy Spirit was far more powerful than the ability to work miracles. Simon must have seen something remarkable when people received the Holy Spirit that was more impressive to him than seeing people being healed. The laying on of hands, and the prayer for the Holy Spirit, was answered by God with a manifestation that could easily be seen and recognized by those who observed it.

Second, the Greek word used when Peter spoke of Simon thinking he could buy the Holy Spirit, though it can be translated to think, it can also be translated as being customary or to be according to common usage. Simon was asking according to what he thought was customary to ask. However, his aim was far from the mark. One cannot live and operate in the Kingdom of God according to the custom and ways of the world. What works in the world is often at odds with how the Kingdom operates and how we are called to live in relationship with God and his people.

Third, the tense of the Greek word here translated “to buy” is in the middle voice, which means to buy or possess for oneself. Simon’s motives were not that he might have this authority for the benefit of others but rather that he might use if for his own purposes; that he might use it to increase his standing among the people of Samaria. Peter challenged him that he was thinking only of himself and not of others and, certainly, not of God.

Finally, Simon’s response to Peter was not repentance, but a deflection of responsibility. He responds, “[you-all] pray for me.” Simon asked others to do what he himself ought to have done. He asked others to beseech God, not for his forgiveness, but that the things spoke by Peter may not come upon him. Simon’s heart was not to repent, but simply to avoid punishment. We too, must be careful that, when responding to the conviction of God, we seek God with true repentance and not simply with a vailed attempt to avoid the consequences of our sins.

David Robison