Was pondering in my studies in the book of Acts today, the story concerning Simon, the man whom the Bible identifies as a sorcerer (vs.9). The question is - was he really genuinely saved, or not? Bible scholars and commentaries even disagree on this answer. The reason for the question is as follows:
Verse 12-13 clearly state:
"But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed."
The Bible doesn't qualify verse 13 at all - it simply Simon believed and was baptized by Phillip. If Simon didn't get saved here and this was a 'fake' experience - why would Phillip, a man led by the Holy Spirit, baptize someone who hadn't shown true evidence of being a true believer? The word 'believed' would also appear that it was a belief unto salvation.
Then verses 18-24 happen:
"Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, "Give me this power also, so that anyone 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 neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.
When Peter said "May your money perish with you" - that was basically saying 'perish in hell'.
It appears the "matter" that he had no "part" nor "lot" in was the baptism of the Holy Spirit, since his heart was wrong (crooked, twisted).
But the correction gets even stronger in Verse 22 and following:
22 Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that,if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity." 24 And Simon answered,"Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me."
I realize that it is possible in the Greek language, that Peter meant that Simon was 'headed' for the gall of bitterness and bond of iniquity - which would indicate that he wasn't quite there yet, but well on his way. Nonetheless - strong words indeed for someone who was supposedly saved just few verses before - so could these words be true of someone who had been truly regenerated by the Holy Spirit unto salvation? Was Phillip 'fooled' by Simon? Did he baptize someone who really wasn't genuinely interested in surrendering to Christ? Or was Peter strongly correcting a new believer who allowed some terrible thinking to overwhelm him?
There's no 'gotcha' here or anything like that. Just a genuine question that I would love to hear some input on!
I tend toward the "strongly correcting a new believer" side of things, but don't have any particular beef with the view that might hold Simon to be someone who was only seeking selfish power from the beginning.
ReplyDeleteThat's partly based on the text, but I admit it's also influenced by my subjective experiences. I've done things of the same type as what Simon did there - Not as dramatic, but definitely of the same type. Had Peter been there with me, he could have laid the exact same charge against me. I probably would have responded in a similar way as Simon too - "You pray for me, I can't even begin to pray right now."
They baptized people freely upon their confession of belief, so don't see much problem with Philip being 'fooled'.
I tend to agree with you J. It seems to me that Luke would have qualified Simon's confession of faith in verse 13 if it hadn't been genuine.
ReplyDeleteMaybe Simon was just confused about all of it. Not fully understanding the power of the Holy Spirit and thinking it wasn't something he could have without paying for it. Maybe his heart was in the right place but without full understanding. I don't know. I'm only someone whose heart has been in the right place but without full understanding so I can see that side of it.
ReplyDeleteRemember, Simon was a SORCERER. As many pagans, New Agers and even some Christians these days, he was used to getting paid for a reading, conference, prophecy or whatever, and expected to have to pay the apostles for an 'impartation'. He needed to see that the love of money had no place in the Kingdom of God and had to be strongly corrected...
ReplyDeleteI think you are on the right track. It is textually obvious that Simon was saved yet severely warned by Peter that he had a long way to go. Simon was a raw, new convert that was in the kingdom yet still needed some serious consecration and discipleship.
ReplyDeleteDid you ever read the Message translation of the "perish with you" statement? Surprisingly it is the most literal I've seen.
lol...you mean the 'gospel according to Eugene'? ;^)
ReplyDelete