Was Simon a True Believer?

Tom: This is our Understanding the Scriptures segment, and we are in the Book of Acts 8. Dave, last week we read through 24, and we could start with 25, but I want to just back up a second. The last two verses, 23 and 24: “For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.” This is Peter speaking to Simon, who was into the occult, into sorcery, into false signs and wonders.

Dave: And deceived these people in Samaria.

Tom: Right, and he was a man of reputation for just those things. Verse 24 says, “Then answered Simon, and said, “Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.” You know, Dave, I think this is interesting from the standpoint that it looks like Simon had become a believer. Verse 13 says, “Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.” But when you look at his actions here, you see that his whole interest in believing and responding to what Peter had said was all about self, all about what he wanted, what he could get out of it.

Dave: Yeah, Tom, it’s difficult to say. There are people on both sides. See, he offered Peter money so that he would be able to buy this talent and be able to cause people to receive the Holy Spirit by laying his hands on them. And in verse 20, Peter said, “Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.” Now, he’s talking about perishing! Then he said, “Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.” Now, what that means: you wouldn’t be able to lay hands on people and have these miracles happen, or whether it means he is not even a Christian, but yet he seems to repent, and he says, “Pray to the Lord that none of these things will come upon me.”

Tom: But it’s still a self-serving kind of thing - not that we don’t pray that way sometimes.

Dave: Well, yes. But, Tom, it’s possible for a true Christian to be self-centered - that’s the problem. So he could be a false believer like we have in John 2 where it says, “When Jesus was in Jerusalem to peace day, seeing and hearing the miracles he did, many believed in His name. But Jesus did not commit Himself to them.” He knew all men, He knew what was in them, because no man had to tell Him what was in their hearts. So apparently, although it says they believed on His name, that they were not real Christians. 

And you get the same thing in John:8:30As he spake these words, many believed on him.
See All...: “As He spake these words, many believed on Him.” In verse 31: “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If you continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed, And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” 

And we know the story: they began to argue. They said, “Oh, we’ve never been in bondage to anybody.” Well, they’re under the heel of Rome. They don’t seem to recognize that. And finally, verse 59, the last verse in the chapter, these people of whom it said they believed on Him, they take up stones to stone Jesus. In fact [in v. 44]: “Jesus said, You are of your father the devil, and the works of your father you will do.” 

So obviously, every time the Bible says someone believed on Him it doesn’t mean that they believed the truth, they believed the saving faith - it could indicate a false belief, a false profession. 

So which was true of Simon? It’s hard to say, because Peter says, “You have no lot nor part in this matter.” But Simon is repenting, and he asked him to pray. “I don’t want that to happen to me.” So he’s not arguing, but he is repenting. So I think Simon probably turned out well in the end. We hope so, but it’s a lesson to all of us. See, what he wanted to do was he wanted to use the gifts of God to his own ends. Maybe he was going to charge for doing this.

Tom: Or become a man of reputation just as he was prior to coming to the Lord, if indeed he did.

Dave: But, Tom, there are plenty of people on TV, plenty of people in pulpits - pastors even - who, I’m afraid, use the gospel, use God’s Word to feather their own nests, to get something for themselves. Now, are they saved or are they not saved? Only the Lord knows. But this is a warning and a good example.

Tom: Verse 25: “And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.” Dave, this was an act of obedience, and we know, early in Acts, they aren’t going out to the Gentiles, out to the other nations, but this seems to be a first indication that the least of the Gentiles, those who the Jews traditionally had rejected, but now these believers were open to.

Dave: Well, of course, Jesus had brought the gospel to the Samaritans, the woman at the well, and so forth. So I suppose that wasn’t such a big step, because these people were sort of looked upon as half-Jews or whatever - kind of a mixed race. But when you get up to chapter 10 and Peter goes into the house of Cornelius, the Gentile, wow! Then the sparks fly with the other apostles. But they, at least, are beginning to do that. Jesus had said, “Go into all the world.” They don’t understand that, and yet it is all through the Old Testament. For example, go way back to Genesis:12:3And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
See All...: “In thee and in thy seed shall all nations of the earth be blessed.” Well, there it is. 

If you went to Psalm 22, it’s talking about the crucifixion of Christ: “They pierced my hands and my feet,” and [v. 27] says, “All the world will remember. They will turn to the Lord.” In other words, there will be a remembrance of this crucifixion throughout all of the world. 

Or if you went to Malachi:1:11For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts.
See All..., it says, “From the rising of the sun, even to the going down of the same, God says, My name will be great among the Gentiles.” 

So all through the Old Testament you have the indication that the Messiah will redeem the whole world. The Messiah will not exclusively be for the Jews. And Jesus Himself had said, “Go into all the world, preach the gospel to every creature.” But I’m getting ahead of us here, Tom. They didn’t understand that at all. 

Acts:8:26And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.
See All...: “And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.”

Tom: Now, Dave, is that territory that the Scripture is referring to - is it similar, or is it the same as the Gaza we’ve just addressed, and which the Jews are being removed, as we speak?

Dave: Well, Gaza was one of five cities of the Philistines. Gath, you remember, that’s where Goliath came from and he had four brothers. So Gaza then - somehow that region took on that name, and I would say, “Yes, that would be the same area.”

Tom: “And he arose and went: and behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, Was returning and sitting in his chariot read Isaiah the prophet the prophet.”

Dave: Well, Tom, God knows this man’s heart. He knew Simon’s heart and He knows this man’s heart. He knows this man is going to open his heart to Christ, and so He brings Philip right there. I have that happen - you’ve had that happen - so often that the Lord sits me next to someone on an airplane. Now, it’s not that He transports me there miraculously, or he causes the other person to get on a different plane - although sometimes the plane I’m on won’t fly and I have to get on another one, you know. So that does happen, but this is God bringing two people together. And you know, I’ve said it many times, Tom, I sometimes say to the person I’m sitting next to, “I can prove the existence of God by who He sits me next to on airplanes, and the very fact that you are sitting next to me is part of that proof, because how many people on this plane are really interested in what we are talking about and would really open their hearts?” 

So next week we’ll have to get into this story, remarkable situation, because right at that moment the Ethiopian is reading about Christ, reading about the One who is going to die for the sins of the world. And this is when Philip appears, comes right along there, and he asks him a good question, but we’ll get into that.

Tom: And it’s a great encouragement knowing that all you need to be is open and willing, and God will provide the answers for you.

Dave: Amen.