“The Holy Spirit Is Not For Sale!”(Acts 8:14-25).
The early New Testament evangelists outside Jerusalem did not voluntarily go to other towns to spread the gospel of Christ. After the stoning of Stephen, “a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria”(Acts 8:1).
These people of the dispersion preached the word wherever they went. Philip found himself in a Samarian city, and he proclaimed Christ there and also performed miraculous signs. The people believed in Philip’s message and “were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ” Philip was one of the seven – known to be full of the Spirit – whom the apostles appointed to take care of Grecian widows who had hitherto been marginalised(6:1-7).
In Samaria, where Philip converted people to Christ, was a sorcerer called Simon who beguiled the crowds through magic. The more the people believed the gospel, so they turned away from him. “Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere and was astonished by the great signs and wonders that he saw”(8:9-13).
Philip had baptized the Samarians in the name of Jesus Christ, but the people had not yet received the Holy Spirit. The apostles in Jerusalem sent Peter and John, who went and prayed with the Samarian converts, placed their hands on them, and the converts received the Holy Spirit.
Meanwhile, Simon, the sorcerer, offered money to Peter and John, saying, “Give me also the ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
Peter rebuked Simon for thinking that he could buy the gift of God. Peter even cursed him, wishing for him to perish with his money because his heart was not righteous before God. However, Peter advised him to repent of his wickedness and pray to the LORD so perhaps he could be forgiven.
A few take-home lessons in this mostly expository message are:
- In the Great Commission, the Lord Jesus Christ gave the trinitarian formula for baptism(Mt.28:19). Could it be that since Philip was a new convert, he had not been appraised of this trinitarian formula for baptism? Philip is not to be blamed. When Peter preached the first gospel message after Pentecost, the people who heard him asked, “Brother, what shall we do?” “Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, all of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit”(2:37-38). It is not only the Holy Spirit that is left out in this formula. The Father is also left out, but both formulas are not contradictory. Baptising in the name of Jesus Christ alone is just “an abbreviated expression emphasising the authority of Jesus” who is one with the Father with whom they together send the Holy Spirit. When we baptize using the trinitarian formula, we still place our hand on the candidate and invoke the Holy Spirit on the one.
- We learn a big lesson from the action of Simon, the sorcerer. People like Simon still exist. They have received baptism, but they are like monitoring spirits, looking for an opportunity to pay for the gift of receiving the Holy Spirit or to possess the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
- The gifts of God are free, paid only with love for Christ and obedience to his commands. No amount of money is enough to purchase God’s gift. The Lord Jesus Christ is the priceless cash that was paid in full for us to receive freely the Spirit of God and his accompanying gifts.
Prayer: We exalt you, LORD God and Lord Jesus Christ, for sending to us the Holy Spirit to guide and lead us into all truths. Amen!
Have a blessed day! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.
28/05/2026.