Author: Gary Witcher

Characters Five

Have you ever known someone who wants to run everything?  In Acts chapter eight we read about just such a man, named Simon.  As the Gospel spreads from Jerusalem to other areas, Philip travels to the city of Samaria to proclaim Jesus.  While in Samaria, Philip meets Simon.  
	"Now there was a certain man named Simon," Acts 8:9-24 records, "who formerly was practicing magic in the city, and astonishing the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great; and they all, from smallest to greatest, were giving attention to him, saying, 'This man is what is called the Great Power of God.'  And they were giving him attention because he had for a long time astonished them with his magic arts.  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.  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.  Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit.  For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.  Then they {began} laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit.  Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money, saying, 'Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.'  But Peter said to him, 'May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!   You have no part or portion in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.  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.'" 
From verse nine we learn that this Simon claims to be someone great.  We also note that he has been taught the way of magic.  In the next verse we find that he in turn speaks and teaches inaccurately about God. And verse 11 shows that he is fervent in falsehood, dishonesty, trickery and cheating.
But in verse13 we learn that Simon believes what Philip is teaching and as a result is baptized to become a Christian.
	Due to the good response in Samaria, the Apostles in Jerusalem send two of their number, Peter and John, to give miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit to some of the people there. Simon’s reaction to the mission of these Apostles gives us more insight into his character.
In verse 19 we notice that he still wants to take advantage of others.  So Peter rebukes him, as recorded in verse 20.  Peter's statement in verse 23 makes it clear that Simon, by his actions, is proclaiming as his master Satan, the king of iniquity.   Finally, Simon tries to pass his burden off on someone else by asking Peter and John to do his praying for him.
By the way, these verses give us clear insight on miraculous powers of the Holy Spirit.  It is obvious that this power can be transmitted only by the Apostles.   In fact, verse 18 states this.  Even Philip does not have the authority to transmit this power. Otherwise, it would not have been necessary to send Peter and John from Jerusalem.  What Simon is trying to buy is not the power to do miracles, but rather the authority to transmit this power to others.  This would make others dependent upon him.
	But, getting back to our discussion, in Simon we have a person who claims to be someone great, who has been taught the way of magic, who speaks and teaches inaccurately about God and who is fervent in falsehood, dishonesty, trickery and cheating.  After his conversion, he wants to take advantage of others, is rebuked by Peter, displays by his actions that Satan is the king of iniquity and tries to pass his burden off on someone else.
Let’s go on to another New Testament character by the name of Apollos.  We meet Apollos in Acts 18:24-28.
Verse 24 informs us that he is powerful in the Scriptures.  In the following verse we learn that he has been taught the way of the Lord, he is fervent in spirit, and he speaks and teaches accurately the things he has learned about Jesus from the teaching of John the Baptist.  Obviously, Apollos is still a Jew who is teaching about the Messiah.  But in verse 26 we find that Priscilla and Aquila take him aside and explain to him the way of God more accurately.  After this he helps those who have believed (verse 27), powerfully refutes the Jews and demonstrates by the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ (verse 28).  It is obvious that Apollos is a man who carries his own load.
Contrasting Simon and Apollos, we find one who claims to be someone great and one who is powerful in the Scriptures; one who has been taught the way of magic and one who has been taught the way of the Lord; one who speaks and teaches inaccurately the way about God and one who speaks and teaches accurately the things concerning Jesus; one who is fervent in falsehood, dishonesty, trickery and cheating, and one who is fervent in spirit.  After their conversions we have one who wants to take advantage of others and one who helps those who have believed; one who is rebuked by Peter and one who powerfully refutes the Jews; one who displays by his actions that Satan is the king if iniquity and one who demonstrates by the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ; one who tries to pass his burden off on someone else and one who carries his own load.
In Simon we find a little student who always wants to teach others, while in Apollos we uncover a great teacher who can be taught by others, an orator who can listen to tentmakers.
Are you following the example of one of these two in your life?  Which one is it?   Are you so set in your beliefs that you are not willing to open the Bible and compare what you find there with what you are practicing, or, like Apollos, are you open to instruction from the Word of God?  
	If what you practice is in agreement with the New Testament, that's great!  If these two are not in agreement, doesn't it bother you just a little bit?
Simon and Apollos are different in their reactions to instruction.  There is little, if any, change in the life of Simon.  But Apollos is open to instruction, even if it comes from people of more humble circumstances.
This attitude is not new.  Even Solomon, the wisest and one of the richest men who ever lived, acknowledges the importance of listening to instruction.
"To know wisdom and instruction,” Solomon says in Proverbs 1:2-7, "to discern the sayings of understanding, to receive instruction in wise behavior, righteousness, justice and equity; to give prudence to the naive, to the youth knowledge and discretion, a wise man will hear and increase in learning, and a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel, to understand a proverb and a figure, the words of the wise and their riddles.  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction."
"He who corrects a scoffer gets dishonor for himself," the wise man notes in Proverbs 9:7-12, "and he who reproves a wicked man gets insults for himself.  Do not reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you, reprove a wise man, and he will love you.  Give instruction to a wise man, and he will get wiser, teach a righteous man, and he will increase his learning.  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For by me your days will be multiplied, and years of life will be added to you.  If you are wise, you are wise for yourself, and if you scoff, you alone will bear it."
	''He whose ear listens to the life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise,” Solomon explains in Proverbs 15:31-33.  "He who neglects discipline despises himself, but he who listens to reproof acquires understanding.  The fear of the Lord is the instruction for wisdom, and before honor comes humility."
The book of Ecclesiastes records the search of someone called "the preacher” for wisdom and happiness.  Of course, this is really Solomon.  After trying everything under the sun, the preacher reaches his conclusion in the last chapter.  
"Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth,” he says in the opening verse, "before the evil days come and the years draw near when you will say ‘I have no delight in them.'"  
"Vanity of vanities," he says in verse eight regarding earthly pursuits, "all is vanity."  
"The conclusion, when all has been heard," he states in the closing verses, "is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person.  Because God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil."
It’s up to you to evaluate your own situation.  Do you stand with Simon or with Apollos?  Are you open to instruction?  Are you listening to what God has to say?  
	"These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God," 1 John 5:13 points out, "in order that you may know that you have eternal life."
This verse says that you can learn about obtaining eternal life by reading what has been written in the Bible.  Know the truth, and it will make you free.

Unless otherwise noted, "Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE(R), (C) Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977. Used by permission."