Transformation and Struggle Acts 8:9-25 1-20-19
Overview
Transformation and Struggle: The Story of Simon Acts 8:9–25
Acts 8 marks a pivotal moment in the spread of the gospel. Persecution following Stephen's death scattered the church beyond Jerusalem, and the witness of Christ now reaches into Samaria—a region the Jews had long despised since the post-exilic intermarriage of those who remained in the land with surrounding Gentiles. That the gospel could leap this deep cultural and ethnic divide is itself a marvel of grace, which is why the apostles in Jerusalem sent Peter and John to confirm what God was doing Acts 8:14.
Into this scene steps Simon, a sorcerer who had captivated the Samaritans by claiming for himself the very status of deity—"the power of God that is called great" Acts 8:10. Yet when Philip preached, Simon believed and was baptized along with many others Acts 8:12–13. Heaven rejoices over such a sinner who repents Luke 15:7, for God desires all to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth 1 Timothy 2:4.
The text then says the Spirit "had not yet fallen on any of them" Acts 8:16. This does not mean the Samaritans lacked the indwelling Spirit; Scripture is clear that faith itself is the Spirit's work 1 Corinthians 12:3 and that baptism is the "washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit" Titus 3:5. Letting Scripture interpret Scripture, what is given here through the laying on of the apostles' hands is the same special gift first poured out at Pentecost Acts 2—the ability to proclaim the gospel in known languages. We see this gift appear again when the Gentiles are brought in Acts 10 and at Ephesus Acts 19. At each major expansion of the church, God authenticates that the same Spirit has come upon Jews, Samaritans, and Gentiles alike.
Then comes Simon's struggle. Watching this gift bestowed, he offers money to obtain the power for himself Acts 8:18–19. Peter answers sharply: "Your heart is not right before God… repent" Acts 8:21–22. The old craving for adulation—being called "great"—still pulled at him. This is the same self-seeking that entered the world in the Garden, when Eve "saw that the tree was good for food… a delight to the eyes… to be desired to make one wise" Genesis 3:6. Sin's signature is preoccupation with the self.
Simon was a believer who still wrestled with sin—and so do we. Perhaps it isn't a craving for fame, but worry, fear (Scripture says "fear not" 366 times—one for every day, including leap year), pride, misplaced priorities, or selfishness that treats others as instruments to make our lives easier. Every Christian carries two selves: the new self born of water and the Spirit, and the old Adam and old Eve who, as Luther observed, are drowned in baptism but are very good swimmers. This is why daily repentance is daily baptism—daily drowning of the old and rising of the new.
Hear the pastoral promise. When Peter calls Simon to repent, Simon turns and pleads for prayer Acts 8:24. The law convicts; the gospel restores. Christ has borne our sin on the cross, risen from the tomb, and claimed us in the waters of Holy Baptism. He keeps coming with His Word to put the old self to death and raise the new, until the day when there is no longer two of us, but only the one made wholly His. Transformed by grace, struggling still—keep listening for the promise.
Transcript
Would you open your Bible, please, with May 2 8th chapter of the Book of Acts? 0s
You'll recall last week as we moved into the 8th chapter of the Book of Acts. 4s
That was a very, very important transition point. 11s
Because you'll recall that Jesus had defined really the outline of the Book of Acts for us. 17s
When he said that the disciples would be witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, 24s
and then the ends of the earth. And so when you look at the first seven chapters of the Book of Acts, 31s
it is really the witness in Jerusalem. You come to the 8th chapter and now you move out to the next 37s
concentric circle of Judea and Samaria. And you'll recall what pushed the disciples out of Jerusalem, 45s
what God used was the persecution of the church. And that persecution of the church led by 53s
Saul propelled them out. So now as we study in the 8th chapter, it's after this being propelled 61s
out of Jerusalem. And the witness goes forward. And in this portion of the 8th chapter, 70s
we meet a person by the name of Simon. Look with me, please. At chapter 8, and we'll begin with 80s
verse 9. Now there was a certain man named Simon who had previously practiced magic in the city. 91s
And amazed the people of Samaria saying that he was someone great. 100s
When we hear the word magic, sometimes we conceive of it as a card trick. Don't we? 108s
This isn't that. Some translations translated Simon the sorcerer. It's a better translation than 117s
just doing magic. Because that's the magic that was being done. This was sorcery. Simon the sorcerer. 124s
This was one who was committed to being a practitioner of the occult. And what we see in the life 132s
of Simon, what we see is a transformation in his life. And we also see struggle. Transformation 144s
and struggle. Let's go on. Verse 10. All of them from the least to the greatest, 159s
listen to him eagerly saying, this man is the power of God that is called great. 170s
And they listened eagerly to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic. 181s
What Simon claimed for himself was the status of deity. Simon said that he was God in the flesh. 193s
How do we know that? In Mark 14th chapter, Jesus says, you will see the Son of Man 205s
seated at the right hand of the power and coming with the clouds of heaven. 214s
Power there is referred to as the Father. So go back now into verse 10 and hear it a new. 224s
All of them from the least to the greatest, listen to him eagerly saying, this man is the 232s
power of God that is called great. Simon then the sorcerer. Simon who was committed to practicing 239s
the occult claimed for himself that he was the power that he was God in the flesh. 251s
And people were amazed at him. Simon made an impression on the people. 264s
But the word made an impression on Simon. Look at verse 12, please. 276s
But when they believed Philip who was proclaiming the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of 289s
Jesus Christ, they were baptized. Both men and women, even Simon himself believed. 296s
After being baptized he stayed constantly with Philip and was amazed when he saw the signs 311s
and great miracles that took place. He was a practitioner of the occult 318s
and he is transformed by the Word of God and his heart has changed. He becomes baptized. 330s
He is a believer. Scripture tells us in 1 Timothy 2 chapter of God, 340s
it says that God desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 350s
Luke 15 chapter says, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who 357s
paints than over 99 righteous persons who need no repentance. That of course is tongue and cheek. 364s
Isn't that? Please not above us are righteous. This is an attack on the 373s
designation of one's self as being righteous and heaven rejoices when one sinner repents. 378s
Look at the beginning again, a verse 13, even Simon himself believed. 386s
That's how the story is. Verse 14. Now when the apostles that Jerusalem heard that Samaria 400s
had accepted the Word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. This is a big event in the life 410s
of the church because the Jews and the Samaritans they hated each other. They despised each other. 422s
Goes a long way back. As we're studying an adult class in 586, when there was the exile of the 433s
Jews to Babylon. Remember Babylon comes in and destroys Jerusalem and the Jews are exile into 442s
Babylon. Not all the Jews were exile. There were some Jews that remained. The Gentiles from the 449s
dead then was the Gentile and the Jew intermarrying. The Jew looked at the Samaritan and thought they 463s
were at best at best, partly a Jew. But they absolutely despised the Samaritans and the Samaritans 475s
despised the Jews. They hated each other. So now when the gospel has gone from the core of Jerusalem 488s
with the Jews, now has expanded out and has touched the Samaritans. This is a big deal. This is 499s
office being sent to check out what has happened here in Samaria. No, when the scripture says that 512s
Peter and John were sent to them, they were sent to them because this is rejoicing over what 519s
has happened. Follow the story. Verse 15. The two went down, prayed for them, that they might 528s
receive the Holy Spirit. Now listen to this. For as yet the Spirit had not come upon any of them. 540s
They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John laid their hands on them 551s
and they received the Holy Spirit. Listen to that again. Verse 16. As yet the Spirit had not 561s
come upon any of them, they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John 570s
laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. What is that thing? 580s
And talk about a section of scripture that can be misinterpreted. So this. 590s
Well, let's let scripture interpret scripture. What is scripture tell us in first Corinthians 597s
the 12 chapter? It tells us that when one comes to faith, it is by operation of the Holy Spirit, 602s
that when one comes to faith, the Holy Spirit in dwells in that person, where there's faith, 609s
there's the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Titus, the third chapter, tells us that baptism is a 617s
washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. When a baby is baptized, what is it that we say? 624s
They give associated with baptism. Forgiveness, life eternal, faith, the reception of the Holy 637s
Spirit being made a member of the family. So here remember, you've got people that have been 645s
baptized. They are converted. They are people of faith. Therefore the Holy Spirit must in dwell in them. 653s
And so why then does the scripture says, as yet the Spirit had not come upon any of them, 662s
they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When they're talking about, 668s
they're talking about the gift of speaking in tongues. The gift acts too of being able to proclaim 679s
the gospel in known languages, not unknown language, known languages. 689s
Did they have a Holy Spirit? Of course they had the Holy Spirit. They were believers. They were baptized. 701s
So the question then, and the call is for the bestowal of the gift of tongues upon them. 707s
How do we know that? We let scripture in the scripture. In Acts 10th chapter, you have a number of 715s
new Gentile converts. And there is a prayer for the bestowal of the Holy Spirit, and it says, 723s
that they began to speak in tongues. In other words, they began to speak in known languages, 731s
the gospel of Jesus Christ. When's the next occurrence of this? You go to Acts the 19th chapter. 738s
There you have new converts in Ephesus. There is the laying on of hands. The Holy Spirit comes 746s
upon these new converts who already had the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit comes with a special gift 754s
of the ability to guess what? Speak in tongues. And so what is being given here? It's the 760s
same gift back in Acts 2nd chapter. When the Spirit blew and the people were equipped to speak now, 768s
all of a sudden, in known languages, the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is given now to the 775s
Samaritans. This was a gift that popped up every now and then we see it here just a couple of times 782s
in the book of Acts to establish the church. Do we see them the gift again going forward? No, we don't. 790s
No, we don't. So did they have the gift of the Holy Spirit? Absolutely, they have the gift of the Holy Spirit. 799s
What is this? This is now the gift to proclaim the gospel in a foreign tongue, a known language. 805s
How does this relate them to Simon? Story goes on. Verse 18. 817s
Now in Simon, saw that the Spirit was given to the laying on of the apostles' hands. 826s
He offered them money, saying, give me also this power so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may 837s
receive the Holy Spirit. But Peter said to him, may you're silver perished with you, 848s
because you thought you could obtain God's gift with money. You have no part or share in this 856s
for your heart is not right before God. Simon looks at this ability here. This gift that was given 865s
says, I'll pay you money to be able to do this, to be able to lay my hands on somebody, 878s
and then all of a sudden they can speak in a language that they've never been trained in. 884s
I will pay you money for that. What's the heart problem? That's referred to. 889s
Okay, keep your finger here, but we're going to come back. Let's go to Genesis 3rd chapter. 901s
Genesis chapter 3 verse 6. Very first book. 907s
Genesis chapter 3 verse 6. Here of course is a story of our first parents. 914s
And we're God placed them in the garden, said you can eat of every tree, save one. 924s
Tree of knowledge of good and evil. God said that the tree of knowledge of good and evil, 927s
you die. The day you determine for yourself what is right and wrong, it's the death sentence for you. 932s
So in here in the third chapter, verse 6, it is after the temptation of Satan. 939s
Notice what it says. So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, 949s
that it was at a light to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, 958s
she took of its fruit and ate and she also gave some to her husband who was with her and he ate. 965s
That's an irrationalization process, isn't there, for the fall into sin. 973s
When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, I want that, 979s
that it was a delight to the eyes, I want that, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, 984s
I want that she took of its fruit and ate and gave some to Adam and he. 991s
Sin is manifest with a preoccupation with what we want, a preoccupation with the self. 1002s
Now as sin enters the world and there is the fall, there is a preoccupation among humankind. 1013s
I want what I want, and I'm going to get what I want. That's part of the manifestation of sin. 1021s
Sin, Simon remembers the fall and the wonder and the adulation that came upon him. 1037s
You know, when people think you're great and when people think you are God in the flesh, 1052s
that is pretty, heavy stuff, isn't it? 1058s
And Simon wants that back. 1065s
Is he a believer? Yes, scripture tells us he was a believer. 1074s
Did he struggle? 1083s
Yes. 1086s
He was a believer who struggled with a humongous ego and also wanting the adulation of the people. 1088s
Can you relate? 1111s
Maybe it's not a struggle of a humongous ego and wanting the adulation of the people, but 1116s
can you relate to being a believer who still struggles with sin? 1123s
Can you relate to that? 1131s
Of course we can relate. 1134s
Maybe it's the sin of worry. 1139s
You're a believer and the Lord Jesus Christ. 1142s
And at the same time you find yourself struggling with the sin of worry. 1147s
Maybe it's the sin of fear. 1156s
You know, God gives us 366 statements, fear not. That's one for every day and even leap here is covered. 1158s
That is fear not 366 statements in scripture. We can be a believer and at the same time struggle with the sin of fear. 1165s
We can be a believer and at the same time struggle with the sin of the priorities in our life. 1179s
Can't wait. We can be a believer and we can struggle with selfishness in our life. 1188s
Where we see whether overtly or even not consciously we see the role of others in our lives 1202s
is just simply make my life easier. 1211s
And so we see people in a role to serve. Do you struggle with that? Is it fear? 1219s
Is it worry? Is it pride? Is it selfishness? What is it? But can you fill in the blank in your own life? 1226s
What it is in a struggle? 1233s
Where you have been transformed your hardest been changed the Holy Spirit dwells in you and at the same time you struggle with sin. 1236s
Simon was transformed the Holy Spirit, dwelt in him and at the same time he said, I'll give you money for that. 1245s
Because what I miss. 1255s
I miss when it called me great. I miss that. 1260s
You relate to that? 1267s
We all relate, right? 1271s
Because there's two use in us, isn't there? 1274s
There's the new you, that's the one born of water and the spirit in the life giving washing of baptism. 1280s
That's the new you in us. And then there's the old you. 1288s
There's the old you and you and there's the old you and me. That's that old Adam and that old the 1294s
Eve in us. And I've said it before. I'm meant to be pleased to say it again. I loved the phrase from my professor 1299s
back at seminary when he would say the old Adam and old Eve they are drowned in baptism, 1307s
but they're really good swimmers. That's why Luther says, what is daily? The meaning of daily baptism 1313s
is daily drowning and rising. It is daily drowning through repentance and rising to new life, 1321s
drowning that old Adam and old Eve in you. There's two yous in each of us. There's the you, 1330s
struggle, that struggle continues until the day the Lord Jesus takes us home and the old Adam 1351s
and the old Eve don't go to heaven. Just to knew you, just to knew you. 1364s
Look back again, please, at our text. Verse 22. 1376s
Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours and pray the Lord that if possible, the intent of your 1385s
heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and the chains of wickedness, 1390s
Simon answered, pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may happen to me. 1398s
You see, there is one who's convicted by the law. There is one who is convicted of the old Adam 1409s
and the old Eve in him and there is one who is turned to the gospel, the same thing with us. 1416s
As the law goes forth, that law can vix us of our sin and thanks to God for the Savior who has 1423s
born our sin on the cross, who has come out of the tomb overcoming death, the sacrifice for sin 1431s
has been accepted. Thanks to God for our Savior who claims us in the waters of Holy baptism. 1438s
Beloved you who struggle against sin, you who are transformed through the waters of baptism. 1448s
You've been transformed and yet the struggle remains. It's the story of every Christian. 1459s
Listen for the promise. Listen for the promise. Because God keeps killing the old Adam and 1470s
Eve in us with his word. God keeps coming and saying, you are forgiven to the cross of Jesus. 1481s
You are mine. You have been claimed in the waters of baptism. I forgive you and love you and have 1494s
given you faith and I will keep you in that faith. He keeps coming with His promise. 1503s
Until the day when there's not two youths, there's only one you as you stand before him 1517s
and adore the author of the words. People of God transformed by God's grace, 1530s
a midst of struggle. Listen for the promise. 1551s