When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money. - Acts 8:18As we enter this scene of the revival in Samaria we see many things happening. God called the Deacon Philip to go and preach the Good News to this region, and the result was amazing as God brought great conviction and change to many hearts who accepted the word of God and the Gospel. We also see Simon who used magic to captivate people for his gain. But even himself believed on the Lord and was baptized. Philip baptized all these new converts to the Lord and quickly sent for the Apostles to help with this large influx of believers. The Apostles laid hands on the believers, praying for them to receive the Holy Spirit. It was typical in the early Church for believers to be baptized in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Even in some cases oil was put on believers for casting out demons and healing. And lastly, prayer for the reception of the Holy Spirit. Though there are different examples of how believers received the Holy Spirit in most cases this was believed to occur during water Baptism. Paul the Apostle clearly teaches that we are Baptized into the Spirit and body of Christ through water Baptism (Corinthians 12:13). Also believe and confession of the Lord can be the reception of the Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14). In some cases individuals can receive the Spirit even before Baptism through belief of the Good News of Jesus (Acts 10:44).There was an authority the Lord does give to Apostles and spiritual leaders in the body of Christ. Baptism was very important also to early believers and Overseers or deacons were involved in administering it. Simon who was always seeking preeminence and recognition amongst the people wanted this power and authority the Apostles had. The evil of his heart was that he was "full of bitterness" (Acts 8:23) because he was envious of other leaders and wanted to have such a position himself. The even worse thing then that evil desire is that he tried to buy it with money, which is impossible because it is a calling from God. There are people in our day that seek to be leaders in the body of Christ when they are even not called of God. They perhaps were even hurt in the past under Church leadership and never again could submit to others, in the end being their own authority. What happened to the baptized Simon? He ended up being one of the major false teachers of the early Church era and a sect started after him called Simonians. It is even argued that many of the early heresies originated from his very deviancy. What was the root of the problem? He never submitted to the authority of the Apostles but rather wanted the authority of the apostles for himself. He could have been an early Church leader if he humbled himself and was under submission to the Apostles and deacon Philip. But he was in the end not willing to do so and sadly ended up causing great harm to the testimony of Christ.
_________________SI Moderator - Greg Gordon
He ended up being one of the major false teachers of the early Church era and a sect started after him called Simonians. It is even argued that many of the early heresies originated from his very deviancy. What was the root of the problem? He never submitted to the authority of the Apostles but rather wanted the authority of the apostles for himself. He could have been an early Church leader if he humbled himself and was under submission to the Apostles and deacon Philip. But he was in the end not willing to do so and sadly ended up causing great harm to the testimony of Christ.
_________________Sreeram