Acts 8:9-25

Simon became a Christian. Luke did not write that he pretended to believe, and Luke would have known the difference. In spite of his reconciliation with God, Simon still had a heart and mind that a life of wickedness had shaped. He still thought and believed as he did before he met the Lord.  That was normal; all new Christians have the same problem. His problem was greater than many only because his life had been more wicked than most.

Luke does not tell us what Simon’s motivation was for wanting the ability to give the Holy Spirit by laying on of hands. Most commentators apply wicked motives, but there is no factual basis for believing that. Perhaps he simply wanted the ability to do good works. It does seem to me that if the motivation were evil, Peter would have condemned his motivations and not just his actions.

Peter condemns his thinking, and his attempt to buy the gift of God with money. He tells him that this disqualifies him for ministry and is not righteous. If he does not repent of this wickedness and ask the Lord for forgiveness for thinking this, it will break his relationship with God. Peter refers to the root that produces a bitter poison/gall that leads to idolatry and captivity to sin (Deut. 29:18) Peter does not sugarcoat the truth; if Simon does not repent, his money will perish with him.

Simon asks Peter to pray for him. Luke does not record the rest of the story.  Some commentators believe Simon never repented and others believe he did. History does not give us an answer.

Simon was not Luke’s focus; Simon’s sin was the focus. Luke wanted us to know that it is wicked to think of God’s gifts as a commodity. People recognize that a minister who cons people by selling promises of healing is wicked. We forget it is just as wicked for a Christian to try buying God’s blessings. God’s blessings are not for sale at any price.