9 But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great, 10 to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the great power of God.” 11 And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time. 12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. 13 Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done.
Commentary
Vs. 9-11 9 But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great, 10 to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the great power of God.” 11 And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time.
With Philips preaching the Gospel to the Samaritans we now hear of a certain man there named Simon, who previously practiced sorcery and through it who held all the people there in bondage to himself, because through it he astonished them with the sorceries that he did, so much so that the people there said of him, “This man is the great power of God” not that Simon was from God, or that the things he did through his sorceries were by God’s Power, but that the people there in their ignorance of God and His Holy Spirit’s Power had attributed to him such things. There is then the need for discernment not only by them, but us all, when spiritual works are being shown or done by anyone. For God’s Power should never be attributed to anyone who is only doing things by Satan’s power, influence, or control! Therefore, in rudimentally discerning what is of God and what is not the Apostle Paul later told the Corinthians that no one who speaks by the Holy Spirit will speak blasphemous words against God; thus no one who speaks by the Holy Spirit will say that Jesus is accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit (see 1 Cor. 12:3). Similarly, then no one who is being led by God’s Holy Spirit will violate the fruits of the Spirit, i.e., love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, self-control. Those then who think that the Holy Spirit causes one to lose self control of their person, whether it is their tongue or their body are only being deceived and misled by the devil who through such people and things is only making a gross misrepresentation and mockery of what God’s Spirit actually does which is enable all of the Lord Jesus Christ’s disciples to boldly speak and serve in His Name!
Vs. 12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.
In spite of Simon’s influence, Philips preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God and the Name of Jesus Christ moved both men and women to believe in Christ and thus they were baptized. Now please note that preaching the Kingdom of God apart from the Name of Jesus Christ is not preaching the Kingdom of God. But as with Satan always trying to undermine it, he takes a part of it, i.e., here the title, the Kingdom of God, and then repackages it under some of his own, who do not do anything that reassembles any of its works or ways so as to only leave people confused about it.
Vs. 13 “Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done.”
And so, with Philips preaching the Kingdom of God through the Name of Jesus Christ and the men and women coming to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, Simon himself also believed and was baptized and was amazed seeing the miracles and signs which were done by Phillip. Now what is not apparent here, but will be later, is that Simon’s “faith” was more or less a following the crowd’s faith, and was not something that he himself had personally come to believe and thus receive the Word of God for himself. For though the mighty works that Philip was doing were amazing him, yet the Author of them the Lord Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit he remained separate of, that is though he was water baptized he was not born-again by God’s Holy Spirit. For had he been what is to follow in the upcoming verses would not have happened to him. Therefore, like Simon people can be amazed by someone’s testimony and declaration of what God has done for them or through them and yet remain by their own choice outside of Him.
Scripture Quotations
New King James (1982):Thomas Nelson.
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