Philip and Simon the Magician Acts: The Unfinished Story of the Church Series [18] Acts 7:54-8:3 July 8, 2012 Pastor Paul K. Kim

THE PERSECUTION OF THE CHURCH: EVIL AND GOD’S PROVIDENCE “Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.” (v.4) Stephen’s martyrdom brought two things: (1) the great persecution of the church and (2) scattering of the church, which led to spreading of the gospel beyond Jerusalem. In providence, God sometimes uses evil for good. The evil persecution of the church—by Satan—was used for good in the mission of the church. “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 end of the earth.” Acts 1:8

THE PERSECUTION OF THE CHURCH: EVIL AND GOD’S PROVIDENCE “Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.” (v.4) Stephen’s martyrdom brought two things: (1) the great persecution of the church and (2) scattering of the church, which led to spreading of the gospel beyond Jerusalem. In providence, God sometimes uses evil for good. The evil persecution of the church—by Satan—was used for good in the mission of the church. Hence, the most important elements in our life-perspective are NOT our personal comfort and happiness BUT God’s sovereign purpose [will] and God’s kingdom [reign].

PHILIP’S EVANGELISM IN SAMARIA AND SIMON THE MAGICIAN Four Questions for Our Study: 1)What are the marks of the Spirit’s work through Philip in Samaria? (i.e., keys of Spirit-dependent evangelism/missions) 2)What does Philip’s encounter with Simon the magician reveal? (i.e., what to be aware of in evangelism/missions) 1)How does the apostles’ laying hands on the Samaritan believers provoke Simon’s perverted motive? (i.e., a potential problem in evangelism/missions) 2)How does Peter rebuke and correct Simon’s perverted motive? (i.e., solving problems in evangelism/missions)

PHILIP’S EVANGELISM IN SAMARIA AND SIMON THE MAGICIAN 1) What are the marks of the Spirit’s work through Philip in Samaria? 5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. 6 And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip when they heard him and saw the signs that he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was much joy in that city. (vs.4-8)  The breaking down of the wall: gifts rather than titles & openness rather than cultural bias.  The power: signs by the Holy Spirit (Spirit-dependence).  The message: the kingdom of God & Jesus Christ.

But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. (v.12)

PHILIP’S EVANGELISM IN SAMARIA AND SIMON THE MAGICIAN 1) What are the marks of the Spirit’s work through Philip in Samaria? 5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. 6 And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip when they heard him and saw the signs that he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was much joy in that city. (vs.4-8)  The breaking down of the wall: gifts rather than titles & openness rather than cultural bias.  The power: signs by the Holy Spirit (Spirit-dependence).  The message: the kingdom of God & Jesus Christ.  The fruit: much joy & the baptism of many men and women.

PHILIP’S EVANGELISM IN SAMARIA AND SIMON THE MAGICIAN 2)What does Philip’s encounter with Simon the magician reveal? 9 But there was a man named Simon, who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was somebody great. 10 They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the power of God that is called Great.” 11 And they paid attention to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic. (vs.9-11)  The power encounter: Philip’s miraculous sign was a power encounter with the occult magic of Simon.  The marks of pseudo faith/spirituality: imitation of the real power that mislead many; but ultimately for self-exaltation.

PHILIP’S EVANGELISM IN SAMARIA AND SIMON THE MAGICIAN 2)What does Philip’s encounter with Simon the magician reveal? 12 But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed. (vs.12-13)  The power encounter: Philip’s miraculous sign was a power encounter with the occult magic of Simon.  The marks of pseudo faith/spirituality: imitation of the real power that mislead many; but ultimately for self-exaltation.  The mixture in the crowd: While there were many sincere true faith, there were also pseudo faith/baptism like Simon’s.

3 “Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. 5 Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil. 6 And when the sun rose, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. 8 And other Seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.” Mark 4:3-8

PHILIP’S EVANGELISM IN SAMARIA AND SIMON THE MAGICIAN 3)How does the apostles’ laying hands on them provoke Simon’s perverted motive? 14 Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, 15 who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. (vs.14-17)  The separate receiving of the Holy Spirit: The Samaritan believers did not receive the Holy Spirit when they believed and were saved. Why?

And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. 1 Corinthians 13:13

PHILIP’S EVANGELISM IN SAMARIA AND SIMON THE MAGICIAN 3)How does the apostles’ laying hands on them provoke Simon’s perverted motive? 18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” (vs.18-19)  The separate receiving of the Holy Spirit: The Samaritan believers did not receive the Holy Spirit when they believed and were saved. Why?  The reason: It was for the unity of the Jewish and Samaritan believers—i.e., this was exceptional not normative.  Simon’s perverted motive: He wanted to buy God’s power with money (which showed his perverted faith/baptism).

PHILIP’S EVANGELISM IN SAMARIA AND SIMON THE MAGICIAN 4)How does Peter rebuke and correct Simon’s perverted motive? 20 But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! 21 You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.” 24 And Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.” (vs.20-24)  Peter’s rebuke: Simon’s soul as unsaved, his motive as wicked, and his heart as full of jealousy and sin.  Peter’s correction: Repent from this wickedness and pray for God’s forgiveness of your intent.

PHILIP’S EVANGELISM IN SAMARIA AND SIMON THE MAGICIAN 4)How does Peter rebuke and correct Simon’s perverted motive? 20 But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! 21 You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.” 24 And Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.” (vs.20-24)  Simon’s response: He was remorseful yet not repentant; his desire was to escape God’s judgment yet not to restore his wicked heart by God’s grace.

Now when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans. (v.25)

PHILIP’S EVANGELISM IN SAMARIA AND SIMON THE MAGICIAN 4)How does Peter rebuke and correct Simon’s perverted motive? 20 But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! 21 You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.” 24 And Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.” (vs.20-24)  Simon’s response: He was remorseful yet not repentant; his desire was to escape God’s judgment yet not to restore his wicked heart by God’s grace.  The result: Peter and John preached the gospel to many Samaritan villages on their way back to Jerusalem.

THREE PRACTICAL QUESTIONS FOR OUR EVERYDAY LIFE 1.How can I have my life perspective more centered on God and God’s kingdom? 2.What example of Philip can I follow? In evangelism? In Spirit- dependence? 3.What warning in Simon’s story must I heed? In pseudo faith? In repentance?