To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.
All ranks of the Samaritans, from least to greatest, listened to Simon and hailed him as the great power of God. He held them spellbound for a long time by sorcery and magic worked through satanic power, and his claim to divine power was false. Those who face supernatural workings they cannot explain are in danger of mistaking them for God's power, for evil angels can perform real signs to deceive, yet popular acclaim does not prove a wonder-worker is Christ or sent by God. As the Samaritans gave heed to Simon, so in the last days multitudes will give heed to Satan when he impersonates Christ with miracles and claims divine authority, and Simon himself shows the danger, for though baptized he remained a false brother among believers.
Simon's Hold on Samaria
All in Samaria, from the least to the greatest, gave heed to Simon and called him the great power of God. People of every rank and class, from the lowest to the highest, regarded him as possessing God's great power and treated him as a manifestation of it. Those who had thus given him their attention were the same Samaritans who afterward welcomed the gospel.
His hold came through sorceries and magic by which Satan had long deceived them. His sorceries had so impressed and bewitched the Samaritans that his magic held the people spellbound for a long time. His reputation and claim to divine power were false, and his fame came through Satan's power rather than any true work of God. He belonged to those who welcome satanic influence in order to obtain supernatural power, and therefore had no conflict with demons.
The verse belongs to the spread of the gospel in Samaria beyond the Jews. Under Philip's preaching many Samaritans heard the message about Jesus, believed, and were baptized. Many people from different classes became believers, and the response was so great that Philip sent to Jerusalem for help.
Simon was a sorcerer whose deceptions opposed the gospel and whose plots Peter exposed. His sorcery led people to heed him as possessing God's great power. His devices later helped Felix persuade Drusilla to leave her husband.
Future Deception by Miracles
People confronted with supernatural manifestations they cannot explain may mistake them for the power of God, even when the signs are genuine productions of evil angels meant to deceive. Those who witness the real miracles worked by Satan's agents can be deceived into receiving them as the great power of God.
Crowds deceived by miraculous signs can confer divine status on a false wonder-worker, hailing him as the great power of God. As the Samaritans gave heed to Simon Magus, so multitudes in the final deception will give heed to Satan when he impersonates Christ and works apparent miracles. Their acclaim and response make the deception powerful, yet do not prove that the claimant is Christ or that his authority is from God.
In that last impersonation Satan will perform miracles including acts of healing, claim divine authority, and be acclaimed by the deceived. Deceived multitudes will give heed to him just as those deceived by Simon Magus acclaimed him as possessing God's great power. Part of his claim to authority will be authority to change the Sabbath.
False Believers and Gospel Work
Simon Magus was counted among the believers and received baptism, yet he was a false brother and not a true believer. He had drawn the people's attention and been hailed as possessing God's great power, but his baptism did not make his faith genuine. His presence among the early Christians illustrates that unworthy members may be found in the church.
One acclaimed as the great power of God can be a false light and a false representation of himself. Such a claim is made while linked arm-in-arm with the prince of the power of the air, whose evil mind molds his mind, and while putting God's remnant people in a false light. The false claim stands recorded against him in the books of heaven, is denounced as false, false, and leaves him weighed in the balance and found wanting.
Acts 8 is to be studied carefully by men and women physicians and other gospel workers because it shows a great work they can do that they little suppose can be done. It means going into unworked cities rather than neglecting them and centering in a few places, and spreading about through division and subdivision of experienced workers. It means establishing small schools in new places to prepare and educate workers, dispensing books and papers dealing more fully with the simplicity of Bible lessons, and putting up unpretentious buildings without extravagant display. By such earnest effort the truth is made a power, and the Holy Spirit cooperates with truly converted men baptized with the Holy Ghost.
All ranks of the Samaritans, from least to greatest, listened to Simon and hailed him as the great power of God. He held them spellbound for a long time by sorcery and magic worked through satanic power, and his claim to divine power was false. Those who face supernatural workings they cannot explain are in danger of mistaking them for God's power, for evil angels can perform real signs to deceive, yet popular acclaim does not prove a wonder-worker is Christ or sent by God. As the Samaritans gave heed to Simon, so in the last days multitudes will give heed to Satan when he impersonates Christ with miracles and claims divine authority, and Simon himself shows the danger, for though baptized he remained a false brother among believers.
Simon's Hold on Samaria
All in Samaria, from the least to the greatest, gave heed to Simon and called him the great power of God. People of every rank and class, from the lowest to the highest, regarded him as possessing God's great power and treated him as a manifestation of it. Those who had thus given him their attention were the same Samaritans who afterward welcomed the gospel.
His hold came through sorceries and magic by which Satan had long deceived them. His sorceries had so impressed and bewitched the Samaritans that his magic held the people spellbound for a long time. His reputation and claim to divine power were false, and his fame came through Satan's power rather than any true work of God. He belonged to those who welcome satanic influence in order to obtain supernatural power, and therefore had no conflict with demons.
The verse belongs to the spread of the gospel in Samaria beyond the Jews. Under Philip's preaching many Samaritans heard the message about Jesus, believed, and were baptized. Many people from different classes became believers, and the response was so great that Philip sent to Jerusalem for help.
Simon was a sorcerer whose deceptions opposed the gospel and whose plots Peter exposed. His sorcery led people to heed him as possessing God's great power. His devices later helped Felix persuade Drusilla to leave her husband.
Future Deception by Miracles
People confronted with supernatural manifestations they cannot explain may mistake them for the power of God, even when the signs are genuine productions of evil angels meant to deceive. Those who witness the real miracles worked by Satan's agents can be deceived into receiving them as the great power of God.
Crowds deceived by miraculous signs can confer divine status on a false wonder-worker, hailing him as the great power of God. As the Samaritans gave heed to Simon Magus, so multitudes in the final deception will give heed to Satan when he impersonates Christ and works apparent miracles. Their acclaim and response make the deception powerful, yet do not prove that the claimant is Christ or that his authority is from God.
In that last impersonation Satan will perform miracles including acts of healing, claim divine authority, and be acclaimed by the deceived. Deceived multitudes will give heed to him just as those deceived by Simon Magus acclaimed him as possessing God's great power. Part of his claim to authority will be authority to change the Sabbath.
False Believers and Gospel Work
Simon Magus was counted among the believers and received baptism, yet he was a false brother and not a true believer. He had drawn the people's attention and been hailed as possessing God's great power, but his baptism did not make his faith genuine. His presence among the early Christians illustrates that unworthy members may be found in the church.
One acclaimed as the great power of God can be a false light and a false representation of himself. Such a claim is made while linked arm-in-arm with the prince of the power of the air, whose evil mind molds his mind, and while putting God's remnant people in a false light. The false claim stands recorded against him in the books of heaven, is denounced as false, false, and leaves him weighed in the balance and found wanting.
Acts 8 is to be studied carefully by men and women physicians and other gospel workers because it shows a great work they can do that they little suppose can be done. It means going into unworked cities rather than neglecting them and centering in a few places, and spreading about through division and subdivision of experienced workers. It means establishing small schools in new places to prepare and educate workers, dispensing books and papers dealing more fully with the simplicity of Bible lessons, and putting up unpretentious buildings without extravagant display. By such earnest effort the truth is made a power, and the Holy Spirit cooperates with truly converted men baptized with the Holy Ghost.