In the U.S., “crossing the border” brings to mind illegal immigrants. Here in Acts 8:4-25, author Luke writes, not about the U.S. border with Mexico or the borders between Europe and the Middle East, but the border between Judea and Samaria. He tells us what happened the first time the Gospel spread beyond Jerusalem and Judea. We’ll see, not only its triumphant advance, but a contemporary concern that confronts us all.
God Uses Persecution-Scattering to Spread the Gospel
Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went (Acts 8:4).
Persecution was severe. It started with Stephen’s martyrdom (Acts 7:54-60). It stayed as “Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, [dragging] off men and women and [committing] them to prison” (Acts 8:3). But God used it to “kick” the believers out of Jerusalem and Judea into Samaria, just as Jesus said (Acts 1:8).
I’m reminded what Joseph told his brothers who had sold him to slave-traders. ” . . . you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good” (Genesis 50:20). And I think of refugees fleeing terrorized countries for Europe. Is God using that suffering to bring people to lands where they can hear the Gospel?
Samaria Rejoices at the Miracle-Working Gospel of Christ
Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed Christ there. When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said. With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many; paralytics and cripples were healed. So there was great joy in that city (Acts 8:5-8). 
Samaria lay just north of Judea, but was culturally and religiously sharply different. Samaritans were unwanted Jews left behind when Assyria conquered Jerusalem and repopulated it with foreigners in 722 B.C. Thus culturally and religiously Samaritans became a mix of Judaism and pagan idolaters.
Philip, one of the seven chosen to distribute food to the needy Grecian Jewish widows (Acts 6:5), was one of those scattered to Samaria. Based on Deuteronomy 18:18 (I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him”), Samaritans looked forward to one they called “the restorer”. When Philip preached Christ, they rightly believed “the restorer” was Christ. Signs and wonders confirmed the Gospel and the city celebrated with great joy.
Two lessons emerge. One, it may help our witness to use what unbelievers think or want to direct them to Jesus. Example: “I hear you saying you want a better world. Could I tell you how Jesus promised that?”
Two, perhaps we should pray desperately for signs and wonders to gain us a hearing with unbelievers. Maybe we don’t see them because we don’t pray for them or because we’ve replaced his power with our church productions.
Philip and a Man Who Wants the Spirit without Repentance
Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is the divine power known as the Great Power.” They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his magic. But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw. When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. When Simon 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. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.” Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.” When they had testified and proclaimed the word of the Lord, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages (Acts 8:9-25).
Simon is an interesting character. Justin Martyr, a second century defender of the faith, held that Simon (called Simon Magnus) continued to use his magic to attract followers in Rome as well as Samaria and was a long-time opponent of Peter. Whether true or not, Luke tells us Simon “believed and was baptized” when he heard the good news of God’s kingdom. But when he tries to buy the power to give others the Holy Spirit, Peter rebukes him and claims Simon’s “heart is not right before God” and that he is “full of bitterness and captive to sin”. Was Simon’s initial faith genuine? Or did he only want the power he saw evidenced before him? Perhaps the latter. We’re never told Simon did repent, only that he asked that he might escape God’s wrath.
What’s important for us is the reminder that repentance is required in coming to Christ. The Gospel doesn’t offer us power to add Jesus onto our lives so we can accomplish our agenda. The Gospel offers us power to surrender to and follow Jesus as our King and Lord.
Whether “the Simon legend” is true matters little. What matters is that we not repeat “the Simon sin” and assume we’re okay. By (fallen) nature we believe we should have power to determine our destiny and satisfy our desires. Jesus demands we turn away from that belief and bow to his power in our lives. Repentance is the border we must cross. For his glory and our good.
Lord, keep me from being a 21st century Simon.
Holy Spirit, come and work your saving, sanctifying power in me
for the sake of the Lord Jesus and for the sake of my soul.
Amen.
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