Acts 8:18 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money,

NIV: When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money

NASB: Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money,

CSB: When Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money,

NLT: When Simon saw that the Spirit was given when the apostles laid their hands on people, he offered them money to buy this power.

KJV: And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,

NKJV: And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money,

Simon, a magician living in Samaria, has seen the Holy Spirit indwell new Jesus-followers as Peter and John lay their hands on them (Acts 8:9–13, 14–17). He thinks this is a magic trick worth learning.

It's easy to condemn Simon on this side of history. He is a professional magician; it's unclear if that means he has demon-given powers or if he is a fraud. Now, he sees real power. He's interested enough in Jesus' story to get baptized (Acts 8:13), but he's still an opportunist. If he makes a decent living doing his little tricks, think of what he can do with the power to endow people with the Holy Spirit.

The New Testament outlines several different relationships people can have with money and religion. The money-changers and vendors filled the courtyard of the temple to take advantage of travelers who needed coins to donate and animals to sacrifice; Jesus responded by flipping over their tables (Mark 11:15–17). Ministers should be able to make their living from those to whom they minister (Mark 6:7–13; 1 Corinthians 9:14), but sometimes they have to provide for their own needs if their converts are themselves needy, or spiritually immature (2 Corinthians 11:8–15). Jesus never promised that serving Him would make anyone rich (Matthew 8:19–20).

We all want something from God—He designed us to. But there's a difference between using Him to gain the comforts of this world and coming to Him as a child comes to a Father in trust that He will give us what we need (Matthew 6:33).

Acts 8:9–25 further describes the apostles' pursuit of Jesus' plan to bring salvation to those He chooses. Simon, a popular and presumably wealthy sorcerer, sees Philip's miracles. He especially notices the way the Holy Spirit comes on people when Peter and John lay their hands on them. Simon offers to buy their power. Meanwhile, Peter and John are in Samaria. The thought of Samaritans following Jesus goes against longstanding Jewish traditions. Yet the Samaritans are accepting Christ, and these messengers of the church are there to see the Holy Spirit come on them. God is not impressed by worldly popularity or wealth but on repentant, submissive hearts.

Jesus told the apostles they would spread the gospel (Acts 1:8) and persecution makes that happen. Upon the death of the first Christian martyr (Acts 7:54–60), a young Pharisee named Saul builds on the momentum to arrest and, if possible, execute Jesus followers (Acts 8:1–3; 26:10). The apostles mostly stay in Jerusalem, but the church members flee, spreading the gospel to Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth. Important encounters in this passage include a magician named Simon and the conversion of an Ethiopian court official.

Acts 1:8 gives the outline of the book of Acts; Acts 1—7 describes the spread of the gospel through Jerusalem; Acts 8:1—11:18 shows the gospel spreading in Judea and Samaria; Acts 11:19—28:31 sees the gospel spread to the ''end of the earth,'' finalizing in Rome. Ironically, although Paul is the central figure in spreading Jesus' good news to the ends of the earth, his early persecution of the church in Jerusalem is instrumental in spreading the gospel through Judea and Samaria.

The summary of the book of Acts is provided in Jesus' words in Acts 1:8: ''But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'' In Acts 2:1–13, the Christ-followers receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:14—7:60 describes the rapid growth of the church in Jerusalem. Chapters 8—12 find Jewish persecution inadvertently spreading the gospel throughout Judea and Samaria. And in chapters 13—28, Paul and his companions spread the good news throughout the Roman Empire.