Acts 8: God's gifts are not for sale

When Simon [the former sorcerer] saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!  You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God.  Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart.  For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”

Acts 8:18-23

Context: Acts 8:4-25

As foretold by Jesus, the Gospel has now reached Samaria (you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8)). Previously looked-down upon by Jews, the gospel breaks through, bringing down social and spiritual boundaries with it - for the Apostles are delighted, sending Peter and John with their apostolic ministry or performing wonderous signs by the power of the Holy Spirit.

(Note: the wider passage seems confusing as it seems to suggest that the people did not receive the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, despite believing, until Peter and John arrived and lay hands on them.  However, most commentators seem to agree that this does not relate to the convicting and saving work of the Holy Spirit, but the miraculous signs and wonders that accompanied the birth of the church.  Some have suggested that it was necessary for a unified church to trace this back to apostolic authority in the new areas in which it sprung up).

There are many gifts given by the Spirit (see 1 Corinthians 12), many ministries into which we may be called.  But Simon desired gifts (specifically those of being an apostle) so that he could return to his social status of having power over people.  For when he practised sorcery: He boasted that he was someone great, and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is rightly called the Great Power of God.” (Acts 8:9-10).  Rather than being content with the role he had to play, he thought he could buy something different.  There is an arrogance here - that he, with his money, has the right to something more and the power to have it.

Simon started off believing, but he was like the seed falling among thorns (Matthew 13:7), trapped, distracted and choked by the things the world has to offer (Matthew 13:22).  Perhaps, as he started his new Christian life, he remembered the fame and power he had given up, and he missed it.  He was tempted to try to recreate that in his Christian life - wanting the gifts that would be impressive, those which, if used unwisely, would give him power and influence.

We can only hope that Simon's words to Peter after the latter had rebuked him ("Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.” (Acts 8:24)) were a sign of repentance - for we know that we will fail time and time again and must come to God with repentant hearts.  

Jesus says: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?"  (Matthew 16:24-26).  If we come to mission, to Christianity, simply wanting worldly renown or something better for ourselves, we are not coming to God, and we miss out on what he truly wants to give us.

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