Key Text: Acts 10: 9-17
SORCERY CAN’T STAND UP TO THE GOSPEL
9 Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, 10 and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is the divine power known as the Great Power.” 11 They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his magic. 12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.
14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15 When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into[c] the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
There are 3 points that I want to get across to you today!
I). Don’t be deceived by sorcery.
II). The Word is greater than sorcery.
III). You can’t buy God.
Backdrop: Philip is in Samaria where the people were part Jewish and Gentile and they had the word of God.
I). Don’t be deceived by sorcery.
“9 Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great 10 and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is the divine power known as the Great Power.””
1). 9 Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria.
i). practiced sorcery – (mageuō)
- ii) to be a magician, to practice magical arts
iii). The root word is (magos) which means – astrologers, seers, interpreters of dreams, augers, soothsayers, sorcerers etc.
Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament
The ancient Magi had their rise in Persia, and were at first addicted to the study of philosophy, astronomy, medicine, etc. This name came afterwards to signify those who made use of the knowledge of these arts for the purpose of imposing on mankind–astrologers, soothsayers, necromancers, fortune-tellers, etc. Such persons pretended to predict future events by the positions of the stars, and to cure diseases by incantations, etc.
“For You have abandoned Your people, the house of Jacob, Because they are filled with influences from the east, And they are soothsayers like the Philistines, And they strike bargains with the children of foreigners” (Isaiah 2:6).
c). There are modern day sorcerer’s that still practice. Wheat and tare like aspirin and LSD parmaekia
Ahmadinejad allies charged with sorcery
Close allies of Iran‘s president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, have been accused of using supernatural powers to further his policies amid an increasingly bitter power struggle between him and the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Several people said to be close to the president and his chief of staff, Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei, have been arrested in recent days and charged with being “magicians” and invoking djinns (spirits). Ayandeh, an Iranian news website, described one of the arrested men, Abbas Ghaffari, as “a man with special skills in metaphysics and connections with the unknown worlds”.
2). He amazed the people or King James version says he bewitched the people of Samaria!
i). To bewitch means to confuse the people or deceive or amaze them!
3). He boasted that he was someone great!
i). Simon wanted the people to believe in him and his ability not in Christ!
10 and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is the divine power known as the Great Power
i). people high and low – the bible is saying that all people no matter of their status exclaimed he had divine power and they called him the Great Power.
ii). but the people are confused by his magic tricks, his sorcery and they confuse their amazement with the power of God. They see the amazing things and equate them as from coming from God. But Simon is a fraud, a charlatan, a pretender. There have been many frauds in the world just look at Jim Jones who had the people commit suicide at Jonestown.
iv). It is the word of God that can make:
i). “7 The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple” (Psalms 19: 7).
ii). It’s the word of God that brings
– recovery of sight for the blind,
iii). It’s the word of God that says
– “105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105).
– it is the word of God that will allow you to see clearly!
3). 11 They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his magic.
i). We see that in the book of Acts Chapter five we saw another man claim to be great and full of himself.
36 “For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a group of about four hundred men joined up with him. But he was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing” (Acts 5: 36-37).
ii). the point is to wait and see if the words spoken produce any fruit. Do they point back to Christ? Do they actually come true? But make no mistake they should point back to Christ!
“1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world” (1 John 4: 1-3).
II). THE WORD IS GREATER THEN SORCERY.
“12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw”.
a). 12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
i). the word comes from a greater power it comes from God himself! For God is the Word who made himself flesh!
ii). Philip preached the good news of the Kingdom of God (The Living Word Church will preach the Good News). Philip performed miracles in v.5 thru 8.
“5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there. 6 When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said. 7 With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed. 8 So there was great joy in that city” (Acts 8:5-8).
iii). The miracles that Philip performed stood the test otherwise the people would have seem him as fake but instead his preaching of the Kingdom and Christ along with the miracles people were baptized.
b). 13 Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw”.
i). Even Simon believed and was baptized and he followed Philip everywhere. The bible say’s that “Simon was astonished by the miracles and sign that he saw”. Simon is astonished because the miracles and signs are no magician’s trick!
“14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15 When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit”.
a). Peter and John came to be witnesses of the Samarian people accepting the word of God.
b). the laying on of hands is usually associated with qualifying certain people for leadership.
c). there was an impartation (God>apostles>people) that took place so the men whom the apostles laid hands on could also perform miraculous signs and wonders. They already had accepted Christ as their Savior.
III). YOU CAN’T BUY GOD.
18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money 19 and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!
a). 18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money
i). Here is direct confirmation from the scriptures Simon thought he could buy the miraculous signs and wonders that the apostles imparted on the people through the laying on of hands. Simon wanted to purchase the power for his own selfish gain!
ii). The Adam Clarke Commentary:Then for what purpose was the Holy Spirit given?
Certainly not for the sanctification of the souls of the people: this they had on believing in Christ Jesus; and this the apostles never dispensed. It was the miraculous gifts of the Spirit which were thus communicated: the speaking with different tongues, and those extraordinary qualifications which were necessary for the successful preaching of the Gospel; and doubtless many, if not all, of those on whom the apostles laid their hands, were employed more or less in the public work of the Church.
b). 19 and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
i). God is not for sale it is God who tests the heart of the person and the people. Simon cheapened the manifestation of God’s power and glory with the thought that he could get it with his wealth.
c). 20 Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!
i). Did Simon really believe and get baptized or were they empty words?
ii). Simon was a new convert and new in his Journey in the Lord and old habits don’t disappear overnight. Simply put he fell to temptation.
21 You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. 23 For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.” 24 Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.” 25 When they had testified and proclaimed the word of the Lord, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages.