09 - Simon the Sorcerer

Little attention has been paid to the experience of the man
known as Simon the Sorcerer, as recorded in Acts 8:9-25. I
wonder why? I am convinced he has a great deal to say to
us – if we will listen!
Let me sketch the background. When persecution broke
out against the early believers in Jerusalem, and they were
forced to flee for their lives, they 'were scattered
throughout Judea and Samaria'; all of them, that is, apart
from the apostles (Acts 8:1-2). But they did not keep quiet.
Wherever these scattered believers ended up, they
'preached the word' (Acts 8:4). 'Preaching', of course,
means that they witnessed to Christ by speaking, not only
in the sense we usually understand today, but by means of
personal conversation, testimony, witness, and so on. They
preached Christ. Philip, in particular, preached Christ in
Samaria (Acts 8:4-5). And he enjoyed great success. So
much so, 'there was great joy in that city'. Many 'believed
Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of
God and the name of Jesus Christ', and 'were baptised,
both men and women' (Acts 8:8,12). Above all, one man,
this Simon, 'believed and was baptised' (Acts 8:13). I say
'above all' because he was a remarkable and important
figure in that society. Well, Simon was converted and
baptised.