A lesson by Pastor John Skaggs

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church

P.O. Box 1447, Claypool, AZ 85532

520-425-8345 or 520-402-9134

Web Page: www.oocities.org/heartland/plains/3364

Email: pastorjohn@gila.net

Date: 4-9-00

Sermon Number: 013

Text: Acts 8:1-24

The Expansion of the Church

When we last visited the book of Acts we witnessed the stoning of Stephen, a deacon in the first Christian congregation. This particular deacon was also a preacher of the scriptures and an effective one at that. He spoke the truth to all who gave him audience and even to those who were not interested in hearing. The members of Sanhedrin fit in this last category. Stephen had been captured and taken before this Jewish court. Lying witnesses were brought forth to accuse him falsely. When the false testimony had been presented the high priest ask, "Are these things so"? This was Stephen's cue and opportunity to speak. He spent a good deal of time recounting Israel's history and, in the process, answering the accusations against him. He was innocent of all the crimes he had been accused of. In the closing words of his response he identified the officials before whom he spoke as being guilty of murdering the Messiah.

(Acts 7:51-54 NASB) "You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did. {52} "Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become; {53} you who received the law as ordained by angels, and yet did not keep it." {54} Now when they heard this, they were cut to the quick, and they began gnashing their teeth at him."

The teeth gnashing soon turned to murderous action. Stephen was stoned to death. Involved in his murder was a man named Saul. In today's text we see how God used Stephen's death and Saul's hatred of Christ to take the gospel beyond the confines of Jerusalem, to grow and expand the new church.

(Acts 8:1-24 NASB) "And Saul (This man's name would be changed to Paul when he was converted. But in the mean time he . . . ) was in hearty agreement with putting him (Stephen) to death. And on that day a great persecution arose against the church in Jerusalem; AND THEY WERE ALL SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE REGIONS OF JUDEA AND SAMARIA, EXCEPT THE APOSTLES. {2} And some devout men buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him. {3} But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house; and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison. {4} Therefore, those who had been scattered went about preaching the word".

The book of Acts begins with this foretelling of the future by Christ, " . . and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." (Acts 1:7-8 NASB) This statement is not remarkable in anyway until we come to today's text and discover just how God would move His witnesses into the remotest part of the earth. I speak of God moving them because it is the nature of people to stay where they are most comfortable. In this case that was Jerusalem. All those born again during the days of Pentecost would be happiest sticking together. They were surrounded by brothers and sisters and they had the apostles to teach them God's word. Why would they ever want to go home or those who were home to a foreign land? Most would not, therefore, the church would not expand beyond Jerusalem, at least not very fast. Therefore, God moved them. But He did it in a way that makes us recall the words of the prophet Isaiah.

(Isaiah 55:8-9 NASB) "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Neither are your ways My ways," declares the LORD. {9} "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts".

God moved His witnesses out of Jerusalem by means of persecution. Further, He used the death of Stephen to get it all in motion. Which brings me to a truth that should be kept in mind at all times. When God deals with me it is not just about me. Yes, He is working in me to will and to do of His good pleasure but He is working in other people's lives at the same time. My blessings and hardships will have an effect on others. Romans eight twenty-eight must rule the day once again. The death Stephen died was designed by God for his good and God's glory. But it also had far reaching, divinely appointed, effects on literally millions of others. Stephen's death was tragic in a sense but it probably did more for the spread of the gospel than he could have done if he lived to be an old man. In addition to this strange fact we must also conclude that Saul was a tool in God's hand for the dispersion of the new church and ultimately the propagation of the Gospel. True, he was a God hater but that is not important at this point. God uses all his creatures for the accomplishment of His will. Proud, murderous, Saul was no exception. So as we look at our text today let us not fail to see God's hand bringing it all to pass, fulfilling His intent that the Gospel be taken to the uttermost parts of the earth.

We notice that the Apostles themselves did not leave Jerusalem. "AND THEY WERE ALL SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE REGIONS OF JUDEA AND SAMARIA, EXCEPT THE APOSTLES". This tells us that the intense persecution was focused on a certain segment of the church which was ultimately driven out of Jerusalem. Perhaps it was the Hellenists whom the deacons had been assembled to take care of. They would have been identified with Stephen and, therefore, the focus of persecution. Whatever the case the church in Jerusalem was not completely disbanded. The apostles remained to care for and instruct the Jerusalem Christians who remained.

"Saul began ravaging the church, (in Jerusalem) entering house after house; and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison". As a result many Christians fled the city. Predictably, Saul pursued the fleeing Christians into other regions.

Next we see that some of the deacons fled with the rest of the people. {5} And Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming Christ to them. {6} And the multitudes with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip, as they heard and saw the signs which he was performing. {7} For in the case of many who had unclean spirits, they were coming out of them shouting with a loud voice; and many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed. {8} And there was much rejoicing in that city". Like Stephen, Philip was a preacher of God's word. Wherever he went he took the message of good news, even to the Samaritans. This was quite surprising in view of the animosity that existed between the Jews and Samaritans.

Until the rise of Assyrian power in the ancient Near East, Samaria was occupied by the tribes of Ephraim and the western portion of the tribe of Manasseh, two of the twelve tribes of Israel. Construction on the city of Samaria was begun by Omri about 880 b.c. and completed by his son Ahab (about 874-853 b.c.). Samaria became the new capital of Israel, and successive kings added to it and rebuilt sections to make it a well-fortified capital. But the city fell to the Assyrians in 722-721 b.c. Most of the leading citizens of the Northern Kingdom were deported to places in Syria, Assyria, and Babylonia. Meaning most of the Jews were forced to leave.

Sargon replaced the deported Israelites with foreign colonists (2 Kin. 17:24). These new-comers intermarried with the Israelites who remained in Samaria. Later their numbers were increased when more Assyrian colonists were sent to the district of Samaria. These Gentile-Jewish people took the name "Samaritans" from the territory and attempted to settle the land. However, "they did not fear the Lord, and the Lord sent lions among them, which killed some of them" (2 Kin. 17:25). Not knowing what to do they sent to Assyria for "one of the Jewish priests" who would "teach them the rituals of the God of the land" (2 Kin. 17:27). Thereafter the Samaritans worshipped the God of Israel. But they also continued their idolatry, worshipping the pagan gods imported from foreign lands (2 Kin. 17:29). So, you see, the Samaritans were a "mixed race" contaminated by foreign blood and false worship.

There is more to be told but the final break between the two groups, the Jews and Samaritans occurred when the Samaritans built a rival temple on Mount Gerizim, claiming Shechem rather than Jerusalem as the house of God. So hated were the Samaritans that the traveling Jew would walk all the way around Samaria to avoid contact with the people and even their ground. This should help us understand why it is so surprising to see Philip, a Jew, deliberately taking the gospel to the Samaritans.

He, "began proclaiming Christ to them. {6} And the multitudes with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip, as they heard and saw the signs which he was performing. {7} For in the case of many who had unclean spirits, they were coming out of them shouting with a loud voice; and many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed. {8} And there was much rejoicing in that city".

How beautiful are the feet that bring a sinner the truth of the gospel. Philip proclaimed Christ to the Samaritans while healing the sick and casting out demons. Many were converted and there was much rejoicing in that city. God had not forgotten, or rejected, them, the Messiah had come! No doubt many had been prepared for the preaching of the gospel by their study of the Old Testament and by Jesus' dealings with the woman at the well. Once again in our text we see the sign miracles authenticating the ministers of God to the people. And again I remind you that these were temporary gifts as reading the rest of Acts and the epistles will reveal. There is no man today who can do what these men did. No one today can heal on demand with or without the "faith" of the individual. Neither can men cast out demons at will.

Philip's words and miracles captured the attention of a man named Simon. {9} "Now there was a certain man named Simon, who formerly was practicing magic in the city, and astonishing the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great; {10} and they all, from smallest to greatest, were giving attention to him, saying, "This man is what is called the Great Power of God." {11} And they were giving him attention because he had for a long time astonished them with his magic arts".

Simon's hold on the people of Samaria was complete. For the text says that all of them, from smallest to greatest, were giving attention to him. Their deception is revealed by their exclamation, "This man is what is called the Great Power of God". That Simon received the title shows that he in fact claimed deity for himself. Some historians say he actually claimed to be the Messiah. His claim was supported by "magic". Magic referred originally to the magi, the priests of the Medo-Persians. These were the men of science, superstition, astrology, divination, and the occult along with history, mathematics, and agriculture who once traveled a great distance to see the Christ child. How closely Simon was related to such men cannot be known but that is where the word magic comes from. Whatever he was doing and however he was doing it the desired effect had been obtained. He was revered, admired, and no doubt feared by the Samaritans. That is until they saw the real thing. When they saw the power of God as displayed through Philip, Simon's tricks were no longer impressive. His popularity fell off, the people were being saved from the darkness of mind that once ruled over them. Simon was being left behind.

{12} But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike. (Baptism is to be submitted to by and only by those who have first believed the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. Infants cannot believe, therefore, they should never be baptized.) {13} And even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip; and as he observed signs and great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed".

We will see in just a moment that the belief of the many and that of Simon the sorcerer were two entirely different kinds of faith. He had an ulterior motive in making his profession of faith and submitting to baptism.

{14} Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John,

Why would they have done this? Those left in Jerusalem would have been astonished at the news of Philip having taken the gospel to the Samaritans. They would have been even more astonished when they received the report that God was saving them just as He had saved those in Jerusalem. Peter and John were sent to bear witness to, and confirm the report. When they arrived and saw that the report of Samaritan conversions was true they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit like everyone else.

". . . Peter and John {15} who came down and prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit. {16} For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. {17} Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit". The evidence of this was probably speaking in tongues.

Many today teach that Christians receive the Holy Spirit AFTER salvation. These groups often appeal to this passage for support. Here is a clear example, they argue, of people who were saved, but did not have the Holy Spirit. However, such teaching ignores the unique circumstances described in the book of Acts. Such a view does not take into account the transitional nature of those days. That the new church was being born and the ground rules for inclusion were being established. God allowed the audible and visible signs of the Spirit's presence to verify that both Jews and Gentiles were now equal in Christ. To say now that the Holy Spirit does not come to one until after salvation flies in the face of clear teaching to the contrary. The Bible declares that, "if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him" (Rom. 8:9). There is no such thing as a Christian who does not yet have the Holy Spirit, since "by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body" (1 Cor. 12:13). If a person does not have the Holy Spirit he or she is simply not a Christian.

So why did the Samaritans have to wait for the apostles before receiving the Spirit? God had good reason, some of which I have already described. The separation between the Jews and Samaritans must end. Both groups must realize that there is one God, and one Savior of sinners, the Man Christ Jesus. Both groups must understand that they belong to one Christian family. God had designed one church, in which "there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female," but "all [are] one in Christ Jesus" (Gal. 3:28). By delaying the Spirit's coming until Peter and John could witness first hand His arrival, God proved and preserved the unity of the church. The apostles needed to see for themselves that the Spirit came upon the Samaritans so they could take the report back to Jerusalem. The Samaritans, likewise, needed to learn to be subject to apostolic authority even though the apostles were Jews. The Jewish believers and the Samaritan believers were members of one body. This is now an established fact, all believers regardless of race are part of the whole family of God. Therefore, today, all believers receive the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation (1 Cor. 12:13). Now lets get back to this man named Simon.

{18} Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money, {19} saying, "Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit." {20} But Peter said to him, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! {21} "You have no part or portion in this matter, for YOUR HEART IS NOT RIGHT BEFORE GOD. (Christianity is a religion of the heart. If the heart is not right ones religion will be meaningless. Such a person will have no power over sin, self or the devil because he does not have the Holy Spirit. What must one do if he or she determines that their heart is not right with God? Peter advises . . ) {22} "Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you. (When Simon gave himself to baptism it was not because he had come to believe in Jesus as his Savior. He "joined" the Christian religion because of what he could get out of it. He saw the miracle working power the apostles had and knew that if he could obtain that he could be both a wealthy and powerful man. By the spirit Peter saw the truth about Simon and declared . . .) {23} "FOR I SEE THAT YOU ARE IN THE GALL OF BITTERNESS AND IN THE BONDAGE OF INIQUITY." (You are not saved!) {24} But Simon answered and said, "PRAY TO THE LORD FOR ME YOURSELVES, SO THAT NOTHING OF WHAT YOU HAVE SAID MAY COME UPON ME."

One of the most sobering truths in all of Scripture is that people can be deceived into believing they are saved. They can be religious all their lives and not go to heaven when they die. One might think they are on the narrow way of saving truth when in reality they are involved in empty religion that will lead them to certain destruction. (Matthew 7:13-14 NASB) "Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. {14} "For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it". The person who has just adopted a religion without trusting in Christ will one day hear Him say, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness" (Matt. 7:23).

Whenever and wherever the gospel is preached, it will always produce both genuine saving faith and false faith as it did in Philip's day. This truth is illustrated in various ways in the Bible. The seed of the Word of God, the Gospel, will fall on both good and bad soil. There will be branches who abide in the vine, and those that are cut off and burned. There will be those with working faith and those with demonic faith. There will be those to whom Jesus reveals Himself and the truths of the Gospel, and those to whom He does not. There are those who "have faith to the preserving of the soul" and those who "shrink back to destruction" (Heb. 10:39). There has always and will always be a mix of tares and wheat in the visible church. The question is, which are you? One may be helped to discover the truth about himself by considering the four things that were wrong with Simon's "Christianity".

First he had a wrong view of himself. This is proven by the whole of the story. Simon was not stricken with grief for his sins. He saw nothing wrong with himself. He was not repentant, he had not need of a Savior. His religion was not about sin and righteousness and the judgment to come. Rather, it had to do with power and profit. He was disturbed that the people are following the apostles instead of him. He believed that if he participated in this religion that he would become profitable again. So, he joined the movement by giving himself to baptism. This, of course, brought no change to Simon's heart. He was the same man after his baptism that he was before. You see Baptism does not save and is no part of salvation. It is commanded by Christ and should, therefore, be submitted to, but it does not and cannot save. Simon's baptism was nothing more or less than the dipping a hell bound sinner in water. Before a person can become a Christian he must first know himself as a vile hopeless sinner in need of the cleansing blood of Jesus. Simon was not saved because he had a wrong view of himself.

Second he had a wrong view of the Spirit. When he saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money. He said, "Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit." He was ready to negotiate the price to buy the secret of their power. He believed there was something he could and must do to obtain the Holy Spirit and the power of Christianity. This is where the term "simony" comes from. The word refers to the buying and selling of church offices, priest hoods and the like. Simon thought there was something he could do to acquire the Holy Spirit.

The problem is nothing God has is for sale, certainly not the Holy Spirit! In Isaiah 55:1 we find these wonderful words, "Ho! Every one who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost." God the Holy Spirit is freely given to all broken hearted sinners who flee in faith to Christ for forgiveness of sins. Simon was not convicted of his sin, he was not seeking forgiveness, and he believed he could purchase the power of God. Therefore he was not saved.

Peter's response was immediate. "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money"! The literal meaning of the Greek text is revealed in J. B. Phillips's translation which says, "To hell with you and your money!" This is shocking language but it is true nonetheless. Anyone who tries to earn or buy salvation with works or monetary contributions will perish in hell forever. Simon the sorcerer was not saved.

The fourth problem has already been touched on. Simon had a wrong view of sin. Peter advised, "Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity." But Simon answered and said, "Pray to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me." (8:22-24)

Peter attempts to put Simon on the right track. He calls him to repentance, to turn from his deadly view of himself and of God the Holy Spirit. But to no avail. Simon was not even willing to cry out to God for forgiveness. He said, "Pray to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.". Although shaken and afraid, he refused to ask the Lord for forgiveness. He was no doubt concerned about Peter's prediction of punishment in Hell but he was nevertheless unmoved. He had a demonic faith which caused him to be afraid but it did not move him to repentance. It would be fine and even appreciated if Peter would pray for him. But he was not interested in praying for himself. Simon was sorry this had not worked out but he was not sorry for his sin. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 7:9-10, "I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, in order that you might not suffer loss in anything through us. For THE SORROW THAT IS ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD PRODUCES A REPENTANCE WITHOUT REGRET, LEADING TO SALVATION; BUT THE SORROW OF THE WORLD PRODUCES DEATH". Simon was sorry but that did not make him a Christian.

Simon the sorcerer was not saved because he had no awareness of or sorrow for his sin. Simon was not saved because he thought the power of God could be bought. Simon was not saved because he would not bow his proud heart before God to ask for forgiveness through faith in Christ.

Salvation, ladies and gentlemen, has nothing to do with how much money you put in the offering. It has nothing to do with whether you are good or bad relative to another humans behavior. It has nothing to do with baptism or membership in the local church. It has to do with you personally trusting in Christ alone for the forgiveness or your sins. I cannot go to Christ for you. Simon ask Peter to seek forgiveness for him. But no man can do that for another. You must go to Christ personally. You must cry out for mercy. You and no one but you can believe for the salvation of your soul and therefore be set free form the bonds of iniquity. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved".