1. Misunderstanding the Gift of God
Acts 8:1-25
Misunderstanding the Gift of God

2. Things happening for the first time
New person: Philip (one of the seven from Acts 6:5)
New place: Samaria
New response: Joy (8:8)
New encounter: Magic, Sorcery (8:9)
Q: When you were new to the faith, what (mis)understandings of the Christian faith did you have?

3. 8:1-5 Setting the scene
1-4: Following the martyrdom of Stephen, all but the apostles were scattered. 4: Those scattered went from place to place, proclaiming the word. 5: Philip, to the city of Samaria, proclaimed Messiah to them.

4. 8:5-13 Philip and Simon PHILIP SIMON
5: Proclaiming Messiah in the city of Samaria [!] 12: Proclaiming the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ 6: The crowds paid close attention to what Philip said; as they saw signs 7: Unclean spirits were released, paralyzed and lame were healed 8: Great joy in the city
9: Practicing magic [!] 9: Claiming to be great 10: The people paid close attention to him 11: The people called him the “Great Power of God” 9, 11: The people were astonished [!]

5. 8:5-13 Philip and Simon
So Simon had astonishing magic, Philip had the good news
12-13: The people believed Philip, were baptized, even Simon.
13: Simon stuck closely to Philip, astonished by the signs and the miracles.
Simon, characterized by the attitude of astonishment. Keen on the sights and signs of the ministry.
The ministry of Philip began with the news, followed by the signs.

6. 8:14-16 Moving along …
14: Jerusalem heard, sending Peter and John, the importance of this situation. 14: Samaria has accepted the word of God : The city has yet to receive the Holy Spirit.

7. 8:17-24 Wickedness!
17: Peter and John laid hands, the Samaritans received the Holy Spirit 18-19: Simon! He saw, and he offered to buy … innocent eagerness? 21-22: A very stern rebuke by Peter: wickedness! the intent of your heart is not right! Why would Simon even think that was a wise thing to do? 20: Is the wickedness trying to buy the gift of God with money? 23: Full of bitterness (NIV), In the gall of bitterness (ESV, NRSV) bitter gall: toxic stuff deep within

8. In the gall of bitterness
Deuteronomy 29:18 (NRSV)
Renewing the covenant before entering the Promised Land, still in the Wilderness, the blessings and the curses
The Samaritans share the same Pentateuch as the Jews
18: It may be that there is among you a man or woman, or a family or tribe, whose heart is already turning away from the LORD our God to serve the gods of those nations. It may be that there is among you a root sprouting poisonous and bitter growth.
Peter calling Simon: a root sprouting poisonous and bitter growth! Wickedness!

9. In the gall of bitterness
Deuteronomy 29:18-20 (NRSV) 18: … It may be that there is among you a root sprouting poisonous and bitter growth. 19: All who hear the words of this oath and bless themselves, thinking in their hearts, “We are safe even though we go our own stubborn ways” 20: the LORD will be unwilling to pardon them, for the LORD’s anger and passion will smoke against them. All the curses written in this book will descend on them, and the LORD will blot out their names from under heaven.

10. 8:17-24 Wickedness!
22: “if possible” – Deut 29:20, the LORD will be unwilling 23: in the gall of bitterness: blesses himself, goes about his own stubborn ways, turning others away to serve other gods 9: Practicing magic 9: Claiming to be great 10: The people paid close attention to him 11: The people called him the “Great Power of God” 9, 11: The people were astonished

11. 8:24 Repent of this Wickedness!
22: Peter tells Simon: You repent! You pray to the Lord! for forgiveness. 24: Simon answers: Pray for me, that the curses will not happen to me. What happens to Simon? No proper ending: no mention of praise given to God, no devotion, no joy.

12. Living it: Restoring humanity
For Philip, his ministry led to joy
Proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ
Casting out unclean spirits, healing the paralyzed and the lame
Ministry of restoring humanity to the outcasts, mentally, spiritually, physically.
Sight is not the only factor here, but also words
Charity deeds – Yes! But not as a discharge of duty
Sharing a conversation, treating the other as human, bring people to joy.

13. Living it: Careful of the bitter gall
For Simon, his ministry led to astonishment.
Gall of bitterness: Blessing himself, maintaining his stubborn ways
Claiming greatness, astonishing people, but not bringing them to joy.
Examining our (mis)understanding, and our attitude behind it
Peter’s warning: repent, pray for yourself.
Turn around to the true understanding of the faith, not just observing the signs of the faith, but to pay close attention to what the good news really is.

14. Living it: Receiving the gift of God as it is
For Simon, the gift of God was a commodity.
to be bought, to be possessed, to be manipulated (magic).
A consumeristic view of Gift – it’s Free! (nowadays also returnable, exchangeable)
Here, this gift is given, and must be accepted, as it is.
Examining our (mis)understanding about the gift of God, how holistically have we received it.