by David Chadwick
Simon Magus. Have you ever heard of him? His story is found in Acts 8:9-24 and he is today’s bad guy of the Bible.
Simon was a magician in the area of Samaria. He attracted large throngs of people with his magic arts. Could these have been demonic antics? Absolutely. Whatever it was, it caused him to be a man full of pride who boasted in his own greatness and motivated large crowds to follow him.
When Peter and John came to Samaria, having heard that great things were happening under Phillip’s teaching, they were expecting another mighty move of God. As they preached, the power of the Holy Spirit came upon people and many were healed and made well. Lives were being changed everywhere.
Simon, so impressed and amazed by these miracles, began to ask Peter how he could purchase this power. Simon said, “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit” (Acts 8:19).
Peter was offended and enraged. He basically told Simon that he was wicked and evil. That his heart was not right before God. He was horrified that Simon thought that he could acquire a gift from God with money and called him to repent, although there is no indication that he ever did!
He did, however, ask Peter to pray for him so that nothing bad from God would happen to him. I find this troubling. A heart that wants to avoid the discipline for a bad decision is very different from a heart that is contrite and desirous of holiness. There are plenty of people who want to throw up a prayer so they can dodge the consequences of God. But few who long to live holy and righteous lives, turning from their sin and choosing the hard and narrow path of Jesus.
Much like Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11), Simon wrongly believed that money could buy anything. How wrong was he! He wanted to use God’s power for his magic tricks. A dangerous quality of another one of the bad guys in the Bible. You may not be a magician, but you may desire to adulterate the power of the Holy Spirit for your own gain.
Be careful. Only the pure in heart will see God (Matthew 5:8).