And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
When the gospel had spread to Samaria after persecution scattered the believers from Jerusalem, Simon, who had been baptized and joined himself to the disciples, saw the Holy Spirit given through the laying on of the apostles' hands and offered them money for the power to impart Him by laying on hands, including the power to heal. He wanted that power to perform wonders and increase his own fame and wealth, confusing the Holy Spirit's power with sorcery and Satan's power and treating God's gift as something that could be purchased, which revealed presumption and a heart still untouched by grace. The Holy Spirit cannot be bought or sold, for Christ obtained this gift at the infinite price of Himself for His people, and it is given to chosen instruments whose lives are free from selfishness and sin. As the gift of the Holy Spirit cannot be obtained with money, so forgiveness cannot be purchased but pardon is to be sought from God, not bought from a religious authority. Simon regarded God's gift as a means of worldly gain rather than seeking spiritual truth, which warns against using spiritual power for personal advantage, and his presence as a false brother among the disciples shows that unworthy members will remain in the church until the close of time.
Setting and Simon's Motive
The verse belongs to the time when persecution had scattered the believers from Jerusalem and the gospel was spreading through Samaria. There Simon Magus was at work as a sorcerer, and by his deceptions and his opposition to Peter he hindered the gospel, with an influence that afterward reached as far as Rome where Nero patronized him. Though baptized, he had only joined himself to the disciples outwardly.
When he saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money to obtain that power for himself. What he sought to buy was the ability to impart the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands, including the power to heal. His aim was to perform wonders by it and thereby increase his own fame and wealth.
In this he was seeking supernatural power while welcoming satanic influence. Unlike those tormented by demons, he had no conflict with them because he welcomed that influence. He confused the power of the Holy Spirit with sorcery and with Satan's power, treating God's gift as something that could be purchased. The offer itself revealed presumption and a heart still untouched by God's grace.
Gift Cannot Be Purchased
The offer of money for the power to impart the Holy Spirit through laying on of hands, including the power to heal, treats the gift of God as something that can be purchased. The Holy Spirit cannot be bought or sold. Christ obtained this gift for His people at the infinite price of Himself. It is given to chosen instruments whose lives are free from selfishness and sin.
As the gift of the Holy Spirit cannot be obtained with money, so forgiveness cannot be purchased. Pardon is to be sought from God, not bought from a religious authority. Spiritual gifts and salvation cannot be purchased with financial giving nor used to gain a position in the church. A person must instead be thoroughly changed and converted.
Worldly Gain and False Believers
Acts 8:18 shows Simon Magus regarding God's gift and the Holy Spirit's power as a means of worldly gain rather than seeking spiritual truth. Like the man who asked Jesus to settle an inheritance dispute, he treated spiritual things as a way to serve earthly interests. The verse warns against treating spiritual power or gifts as tools for personal advantage.
Simon was baptized and joined himself to the disciples. His presence among them as an unworthy member and false brother illustrates that false believers could be counted among the early Christians. False brethren have been found in the church and will remain in it until the close of time.
When the gospel had spread to Samaria after persecution scattered the believers from Jerusalem, Simon, who had been baptized and joined himself to the disciples, saw the Holy Spirit given through the laying on of the apostles' hands and offered them money for the power to impart Him by laying on hands, including the power to heal. He wanted that power to perform wonders and increase his own fame and wealth, confusing the Holy Spirit's power with sorcery and Satan's power and treating God's gift as something that could be purchased, which revealed presumption and a heart still untouched by grace. The Holy Spirit cannot be bought or sold, for Christ obtained this gift at the infinite price of Himself for His people, and it is given to chosen instruments whose lives are free from selfishness and sin. As the gift of the Holy Spirit cannot be obtained with money, so forgiveness cannot be purchased but pardon is to be sought from God, not bought from a religious authority. Simon regarded God's gift as a means of worldly gain rather than seeking spiritual truth, which warns against using spiritual power for personal advantage, and his presence as a false brother among the disciples shows that unworthy members will remain in the church until the close of time.
Setting and Simon's Motive
The verse belongs to the time when persecution had scattered the believers from Jerusalem and the gospel was spreading through Samaria. There Simon Magus was at work as a sorcerer, and by his deceptions and his opposition to Peter he hindered the gospel, with an influence that afterward reached as far as Rome where Nero patronized him. Though baptized, he had only joined himself to the disciples outwardly.
When he saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money to obtain that power for himself. What he sought to buy was the ability to impart the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands, including the power to heal. His aim was to perform wonders by it and thereby increase his own fame and wealth.
In this he was seeking supernatural power while welcoming satanic influence. Unlike those tormented by demons, he had no conflict with them because he welcomed that influence. He confused the power of the Holy Spirit with sorcery and with Satan's power, treating God's gift as something that could be purchased. The offer itself revealed presumption and a heart still untouched by God's grace.
Gift Cannot Be Purchased
The offer of money for the power to impart the Holy Spirit through laying on of hands, including the power to heal, treats the gift of God as something that can be purchased. The Holy Spirit cannot be bought or sold. Christ obtained this gift for His people at the infinite price of Himself. It is given to chosen instruments whose lives are free from selfishness and sin.
As the gift of the Holy Spirit cannot be obtained with money, so forgiveness cannot be purchased. Pardon is to be sought from God, not bought from a religious authority. Spiritual gifts and salvation cannot be purchased with financial giving nor used to gain a position in the church. A person must instead be thoroughly changed and converted.
Worldly Gain and False Believers
Acts 8:18 shows Simon Magus regarding God's gift and the Holy Spirit's power as a means of worldly gain rather than seeking spiritual truth. Like the man who asked Jesus to settle an inheritance dispute, he treated spiritual things as a way to serve earthly interests. The verse warns against treating spiritual power or gifts as tools for personal advantage.
Simon was baptized and joined himself to the disciples. His presence among them as an unworthy member and false brother illustrates that false believers could be counted among the early Christians. False brethren have been found in the church and will remain in it until the close of time.