Acts 8:17-23 [The Gift of God Cannot Be Purchased with Money]

 

 

[Things to Meditate On]

1. The man named “Simon” above was a man who practiced sorcery. At that time, he amazed the people of Samaria and claimed that he himself was some great one (Acts 8:9). Because Simon’s power was great, the people at that time even thought of Simon’s power as the great power of God (Acts 8:10). This man saw that Philip, one of the seven deacons, preached concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, and that people believed and were baptized. He himself also believed and was baptized by him. Not only that, but he continued with Philip and was amazed as he saw the miracles and great signs that appeared through him (Acts 8:12-13). After this, when the apostles who were in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had also received the word of God, they sent Peter and John there. Through the laying on of their hands, the people received the Holy Ghost (Acts 8:14-17). There Simon saw that people received the Holy Ghost through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, and as recorded above, he tried to buy that power with money (verses 18-19). From the fact that Simon tried to give money to the apostles and buy that power, it seems that Simon probably thought the power came from the apostles. But did that power truly come from the apostles?

(We must know this so that we do not rely on people.)

 

Acts 3:1-10 “1Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. 2And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; 3Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. 4And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. 5And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. 6Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. 7And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. 9And all the people saw him walking and praising God: 10And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.”

 

From this passage, we can know that the man who had been lame from birth was able to walk and leap not because Peter took him by the hand and lifted him up (verse 7), but because of the name of Jesus Christ (verse 6). However, the people at that time thought that Peter had healed the lame man, and they looked intently at Peter.

 

Acts 3:11 “And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering.”

 

But because Peter had not healed him by his own power, he did not think it was good that the people of Israel were looking intently at him. So he spoke as follows to those who were looking at him.

 

Acts 3:12-16 “12And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?... 16And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.”

 

Through this word, we can know that the power did not come from Peter because he was a disciple of Jesus. Rather, Peter gave the name of Jesus to the lame man, and because he believed in the name of Jesus, power was manifested “through that name.” In the same context, Peter also spoke as follows concerning “receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

 

Acts 2:38 “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

 

Thus, one does not receive forgiveness of sins and the Holy Ghost simply because Peter gives baptism. Rather, each person must be baptized “in the name of Jesus Christ” in order to receive forgiveness of sins and receive the Holy Ghost as a gift. This also is because forgiveness of sins is not in Peter, but in the name of Jesus (Luke 24:47, 1 John 2:12).

 

Acts 10:43-45 “43To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. 44While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 45And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

 

Therefore, like Simon above, seeking to receive power by asking people for it and trying to buy power with money can only be an ignorant action that comes from not knowing this truth. This is because, as the passage above shows, the Holy Ghost is not given by man, but “comes down from above” (Acts 10:44). So although the man Simon had already been baptized by Philip (Acts 8:13), since the One who gives the Holy Ghost is not Philip but Jesus, we can know through Simon’s action of trying to buy power with money that even though he had received baptism from Philip, he had not received the Holy Ghost.

Therefore, we must no longer have a heart that relies on people in order to obtain spiritual things, or tries to solve spiritual matters with money, that is, with the things of this world. What matters is how much we ourselves believe and rely on the name of Jesus. This is because our salvation is in the name of Jesus (Acts 4:7-12), and the power by which we receive forgiveness of sins and the Holy Ghost as a gift is also in the name of Jesus.

 

2. Then what is the purpose for which the Holy Ghost is given to us? Simon saw the Holy Ghost coming upon people and thought it strange and amazing (Acts 8:13). But surely the work of the Holy Ghost is not given merely to make us feel wonder and amazement.

 

John 16:13-15 “13Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. 15All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.”

 

As this passage says, the Holy Ghost is “the Spirit of truth.” Therefore, when the Holy Ghost comes upon us, the Spirit of truth will guide us into all truth (John 17:17, the word of God, that is, John 1:14, Jesus). For this reason, although there are diversities of gifts of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:4), all the gifts of the Holy Ghost must be gifts that guide us into the truth (John 16:13, 1 Corinthians 12:20, 27). Through these various gifts of the Holy Ghost, He causes us to firmly believe the word of God (Mark 16:20), causes us to be “born again” through those words (John 3:5), and now causes us to live as those who “glorify Jesus” (John 16:14, Isaiah 49:3). This is the purpose for which the Holy Ghost comes upon us.

 

3. Therefore, the Holy Ghost is not a Spirit who works to fulfill man’s desire. Nevertheless, Simon tried to use the Holy Ghost for himself (verse 19). But we must remember that the Holy Ghost is the Spirit who glorifies Jesus, not a Spirit who works according to man’s desires or needs. Otherwise, we too may seek the Holy Ghost “for ourselves” like Simon, and repeat the same error as the children of Israel in the past, who came to the prophets to inquire “for themselves.”

 

Ezekiel 14:7-8 “7For every one of the house of Israel, or of the stranger that sojourneth in Israel, which separateth himself from me, and setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to a prophet to enquire of him concerning me; I the LORD will answer him by myself: 8And I will set my face against that man, and will make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of my people; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.”

 

[Decision and Application]

Simon’s heart was not right before God. Therefore, just as he had to repent of his wickedness (verse 22), if such a heart is also found in us, we too must repent. As we have seen above, the Holy Ghost is not a Spirit who works according to our wishes. Therefore, we must not seek the gifts of the Holy Ghost for ourselves as Simon did. For example, some people seek the gift of tongues simply so that they may speak in tongues. However, if they do not know from the Scriptures what tongues are, when tongues should or should not be spoken, and why tongues should be spoken, then they may end up speaking something that is not truly tongues, speaking in tongues indiscriminately at any time, and even boasting in speaking in tongues. In some cases, people may even mislead others, as if those who cannot speak in tongues have not received the Holy Ghost.

 

Therefore, when we desire the gifts of the Holy Ghost, we must first clearly know from the Scriptures why those gifts of the Holy Ghost are necessary for us, and what their reason and purpose are. As we have seen above, all the gifts of the Holy Ghost are gifts needed to guide us into the truth—that is, to the word of God, and to Jesus. Therefore, in Philip’s case also, when he preached concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 8:12), the Holy Ghost came upon him and, according to what was needed (1 Corinthians 12:11), manifested various gifts of the Holy Ghost through him (Acts 8:13) in order to confirm the word he preached (Mark 16:20). Therefore, if we also have a pure heart that seeks to preach only the name of Jesus, the Holy Ghost will work in us according to His will, through various gifts of the Holy Ghost, for the sake of the name of Jesus.

 

Therefore, these gifts of the Holy Ghost are certainly not things we can buy with money (verse 20). This is because the gifts of the Holy Ghost cannot become the possession of any particular person. As mentioned earlier, the apostles did not possess that power; rather, because of the name of Jesus, the Holy Ghost came down from above. Therefore, if we do not seek ourselves, but only desire to fear the name of Jesus, then even without trying to buy it with money, God will freely give us the treasure of heaven hidden in perfect wisdom, that is, in Jesus (Matthew 19:21, Colossians 2:2-3).

 

Micah 6:8-9 “8He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? 9The LORD’s voice crieth unto the city, and the man of wisdom shall see thy name...”

Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

Isaiah 55:1-3 “1Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. 3Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.”

 

Amen.