Acts 8:4-25

1. Acts 8:4-25

2. What Simon Saw Acts 8:4-25

3. The difference between “sorcery” and truth [8:6-7; 9-13] • “Sorcery” is from Gk. Mageuo – a magician: “a wizard, sorcerer, a • pretenderto magic powers, a professorof the arts of witchcraft”; • cp. Matthew 2:1, etc. – a “wise man” [Vine’s] • Whatever “power” Simon had was based on illusion, not reality • Simon not really “someone great” – he just claimed this • Simon not really “the great power of God” – they just believed it What Simon Saw Acts 8:4-25

4. The difference between “sorcery” and truth [8:6-7; 9-13] • “Sorcery” = illusion, not reality • “Sorcery” “works” because people believe the illusion’s lie • v. 11 – “they heeded him because he had astonished them…” • cp. Bible’s warnings: 1 John 4:1; 2 Thess. 2:9-12 What Simon Saw Acts 8:4-25

5. The difference between “sorcery” and truth [8:6-7; 9-13] • “Sorcery” = illusion, not reality • “Sorcery” “works” because people believe the illusion’s lie • Philip came and “preached Christ to them” [vs. 4-5] • this preaching included miracles and signs [vs. 6-7, 13] • “miracles” is from Gk. Dunamis – “power, inherent ability…is used • of works of a supernaturalorigin and character, such as could not • be produced by natural agents and means” [Vine’s] • “signs” is from Gk. Semeion – “sign, token, or indication” [Vine’s] Signs and miracles indicate or pointto something else: cp. John 3:1-2; 2 Thess 3:17 – “a sign in every epistle” What Simon Saw Acts 8:4-25

6. The difference between “sorcery” and truth [8:6-7; 9-13] • “Sorcery” = illusion, not reality • “Sorcery” “works” because people believe the illusion’s lie • Philip came and “preached Christ to them” [vs. 4-5] • Miracles are meant to confirm the message’s truth; sign [Hb 2:1-4] • a sign comes AFTER what it confirms; cp. Mk 16:17-20; 2 Th 3:17 • v. 6 – “the multitudes…heeded the things spokenby Philip”; • the miracles came AFTER his message • v. 12 – “they believed Philip ashepreached…the kingdom of God” • cp. Bible’s warnings: 2 Th 2:9-12; Dt 13:1-5 – truth is the difference Unfortunately, many who donotknowthetruthstill find themselves victims to the “sorcery” of “wise men” who claim theology, philosophy, special knowledge, or power What Simon Saw Acts 8:4-25

7. The difference between “sorcery” and truth [8:6-7; 9-13] • That baptism is necessary for salvation [8:12-13] • The message of truth that Philip preached must have taught this • cp. Peter in Acts 2:37-38; also Philip in Acts 8:12-13, 35-36 • though baptism hotly debated today, doesn’t seem to have been • issue of debate in N.T.: heard, believed, repented, were baptized • though repentance not mentioned, no one denies it happened! What Simon Saw Acts 8:4-25

8. The difference between “sorcery” and truth [8:6-7; 9-13] • That baptism is necessary for salvation [8:12-13] • The message of truth that Philip preached must have taught this • All who heard and believedresponded this way, including Simon • When he was convinced of the truth, he believed it all, not in part • Today, people consider themselves “wiser” than those who heard • the unadulterated gospel preached by those who received it from • God directly! Rejecting baptism is rejecting the gospel’s salvation! What Simon Saw Acts 8:4-25

9. The difference between “sorcery” and truth [8:6-7; 9-13] • That baptism is necessary for salvation [8:12-13] • That “through the laying on of theapostles’ hands the • Holy Spirit was given…” [8:12-13] • This is a newoccurrence at this point in the gospel’s history • Philip had received the Holy Spirit this way [cp. Acts 6:3-6; 8:6-7] • Note that there are twosenses in which the Holy Spirit is given: 1) Non-miraculously to believers: Ac 2:38-39; 1 Co 6:19; 2 Tm 1:14; Philip was “full of the Holy Spirit” in Acts 6:3 before Acts 6:6! 2) Miraculously to a chosen few: Acts 2:1-4; 6:6 [6:8; 8:6; etc.]; After laying on of apostles’ hands, Philip able to do miracles! Having the Holy Spirit in a non-miraculous sense would be “invisible”; but Simon SAW these men receive the Holy Spirit! What Simon Saw Acts 8:4-25

10. The difference between “sorcery” and truth [8:6-7; 9-13] • That baptism is necessary for salvation [8:12-13] • That “through the laying on of theapostles’ hands the • Holy Spirit was given…” [8:12-13] • This is a newoccurrence at this point in the gospel’s history • Onlytheapostles had this power to pass on the Holy Spirit • There is noindication anywhere else in N.T. of others doing this! • Noonelivingtodayhas received the Holy Spirit by this means! What Simon Saw Acts 8:4-25

11. The difference between “sorcery” and truth [8:6-7; 9-13] • That baptism is necessary for salvation [8:12-13] • That “through the laying on of theapostles’ hands the • Holy Spirit was given…” [8:12-13] • That a Christian can so sin as to be lost [8:18-23] • Simon gave into his temptation for power and attention [cp. 8:13] • He wanted to be like the apostles with power to pass on the Spirit • Though we are told he “believed” and “was baptized” [8:13]: • he was to “perish” [8:20] • his “heart was not right” [8:21] • he must “repent of…wickedness” [8:22] • he was “poisoned by bitterness” [8:23] • he was “bound by iniquity” [8:23] What Simon Saw Acts 8:4-25

12. The difference between “sorcery” and truth [8:6-7; 9-13] • That baptism is necessary for salvation [8:12-13] • That “through the laying on of theapostles’ hands the • Holy Spirit was given…” [8:12-13] • That a Christian can so sin as to be lost [8:18-23] • Simon gave into his temptation for power and attention [cp. 8:13] • Many deny that a believer can lose his salvation, but: • Simon believed that he was in trouble, and sought help! [8:24] • Simon, just like Paul, learned that salvation is a precious gift that • must be treasured and preserved: cp. 1 Co 9:27; Ph 2:12; etc. What Simon Saw Acts 8:4-25

13. The difference between “sorcery” and truth [8:6-7; 9-13] • That baptism is necessary for salvation [8:12-13] • That “through the laying on of theapostles’ hands the • Holy Spirit was given…” [8:12-13] • That a Christian can so sin as to be lost [8:18-23] Are you willing to see what Simon so clearly SAW? TRUTH must guide our eyes, not illusions! OBEDIENCE means doing all that truth demands! God’s plan was carried out specifically and purposefully! God’s plan was put in action for YOUR salvation! Won’t you comply with His plan?? What Simon Saw Acts 8:4-25