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This past Sunday, I taught from the biblical book, Acts of the Apostles. We are so used to shortening this, simply referring to these accounts by saying Acts. This week, we will be reminded why the apostles were nearby and why it was fortunate they were not sleeping on the job. 

The action in this story found in Acts 8: 9-25 takes place in the city of Samaria. That name rings a bell with many a biblical reader. We might recall some enmity between Jews and Samaritans by Jesus’ time. 

From the time the children of Israel came into Canaan, the reality of this little region was always perilous. Under the united kingdom of David and Solomon, Samaria held on as an important city. 

However, after their time, the kingdom divided. In 720 BC, the Assyrians came in and took over that northern kingdom, making Samaria an important holding. 

Jews felt like the Samaritans accommodated the invading Assyrians a little too easily. They saw the intermarriage with Assyrians and much assimilation of their Canaanite religions. 

So then, by even setting this story there, the gospel writer gets our attention. It seems a man named Simon has built quite a reputation for himself doing what is described as magic. The allusion to his wealth in the story, as well as the notion that he convinced people he was “great” sets up a showdown as Philip comes in preaching the good news of Jesus Christ. 

Now in Acts 8, the report is that many in Samaria who have followed this man Simon are now being baptized into faith through Jesus Christ. Simon himself gets fascinated with what Philip is preaching. He experiences the power of this new faith, and submits to baptism like so many others. It seems that he even follows Philip around as a disciple. 

The trouble in our story starts when news reaches Jerusalem about this newfound following that has clustered around Samaria. Peter and John decide to go and see things for themselves. As fledgling as the new Church was, this should be viewed as an official visit from the very seat of this upstart faith. 

Simon experienced as Peter and John laid hands on many of these new believers, imparting upon them in mysterious fashion the power of the Holy Spirit. Simon becomes convinced that he must possess this newfound power and offers to purchase or buy into it with Peter. His true colors are revealed by his actions.

Peter’s rebuke is nothing short of extraordinary. Let’s just say that any of the discipleship training I received in the 1970s wouldn’t have encouraged us to repel a new believer in such a strong and disagreeable sort of way. But therein is our lesson for this week. 

You see, there are some things this scripture prompts us to ask about. There are also some lessons it causes us to confront, ready or not. First, maybe I should not be as quick to judge or villainize Simon as is my first impulse. That is, each of us could be vulnerable to having a little bit of Simon.

If you’ve ever said to your minister, “Well, with as much money as I’ve given to that church, you’d think I’d get what I want,” you might be listening to Simon speak for you. If you’ve ever thought that if you worked fervently enough for Jesus or prayed the right prayer of incantation, you might convince God to do something specific, that might be Simon speaking for you. 

Also, we must remember not to sell the store too cheaply in our zeal to want new members. Peter could have held out his hand when Simon made his ill-intended offer to buy the power of the Holy Spirit. Instead, he pointed out that Simon’s heart truly wasn’t in the right place.  

When God’s grace, strength or spirit begin to look like something we could possess or attain, we have cast our gaze somewhere other than at the heart of Jesus Christ. When we begin to wonder how we could monetize the church or our good works in Christ, then perhaps we have lost our way. 

We share this one baptism with Jesus Christ. It is free of cost for a price we could never afford to pay anyway. It is available to you and to me. That is the good news. But what comes with that good news is that it is also available to anyone and everyone who should sincerely choose to follow Jesus’ lordship.

DR. CHARLES QUALLS is senior pastor at Franklin Baptist Church. Contact him at 757-562-5135.