!!!!!!!First we have to set the stage...Philip was proclaiming Christ and unclean spirits coming out of them shouting with a loud voice and the paralyzed and lame were healed and there was much rejoicing.
That is interesting. Philip had the miraculous gifts fo the Spirit, and he preached the gospel to Simon, yet Simon did not ask him specifically for the gifts. Why ? Because he was not an apostle, and he saw that the apostles were the ones to bestow the gifts.
!!!!!!!v. 14-17 This seems like big news when the apostles sent in Peter and John to help out (I believe) with the peoples FAITH. Verse 15 is very important here Peter and John prayed for them that they would receive the Holy Spirit.
That's not what the text says. Faith is not mentioned there. In fact, it only says they would recieve the Holy Spirit. Implicit in this is that he means the miraculous measure of the Holy Spirit.
!!!!!!! Simon tried to buy something that can only be rceived through the HOLY SPIRIT and FAITH
No, he tried to buy something that can only be received by the laying on of the apostles hands. That's what the text says.
I believe a person can be baptized, study the bible, go to church everytime the doors are open and know scripture BUT untill they cross over to the likeness of a child in there belief of Jesus Christ and GOD IN FAITH they will never have the Holy Spirit.
With all due respect, that's not what Acts 2:38 says. Every baptized believer has the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
!!!!!!! v 22-24 Now we see that Simon can repent and his heart forgiven. Siomon Humbled himself and ask that the apostles to pray for him
Simon asking Peter to pray for him had nothing to do with receiving spiritual gifts, but simply a matter of forgiveness. This teaches us that we should pray for each other.
Thanks again for the mature nature of your post and looking forward to talking with you again.
That is interesting. Philip had the miraculous gifts fo the Spirit, and he preached the gospel to Simon, yet Simon did not ask him specifically for the gifts. Why ? Because he was not an apostle, and he saw that the apostles were the ones to bestow the gifts.
~~~~~~~~~I think he didn't ask because he didn't know at first. Read all of this before you descide.
All I can get from the scripture is that this was a time of persecution to the Christians v.1 and they were scattered and went about teaching. Phillip went to Samaria as best I can tell they did not know of Jesus Christ until Phillip arrived.
Now looking at the scriture I see nothing to make me think that Simon knew what an apostle was. In fact I see him a man who had built his life on magic. When Simon saw the miracles he had no concept of what he was seeing. He thought they were magic tricks of some sort. He had no concept of Jesus Christ or the Holy spirit.
9 Now there was a man named Simon, who formerly was practicing magic in the city and astonishing the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great;
10 and they all, from smallest to greatest, were giving attention to him, saying, "This man is what is called the Great Power of God."
11 And they were giving him attention because he had for a long time astonished them with his magic arts.
12 But when they believed
!!!!!!!Now this all ties in with your next stantment put all this together...That's not what the text says. Faith is not mentioned there. In fact, it only says they would recieve the Holy Spirit. Implicit in this is that he means the miraculous measure of the Holy Spirit.
Faith as the word is not mentioned but believed is.v. 12 But when they believed. At this point they had everything but the Holy Spirit then Peter and John came and first and prayed
v. 15 who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.
v.16 tells us the Holy Spirit had not fallen on them yet.
Why? I think that there belief maturity had not been reached or they just didn't know. Jesus gives all authority
Mathew 28:18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, " All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
19 " Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
The following verses almost makes your case except one question. Why did he ask them 'did you recieved the Holy Spirit when you believed' I think they didn't know just as they said. If you don't know you cannot have. You have not because you ask not.
2 He said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" And they said to him, "No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit."
3 And he said, "Into what then were you baptized?" And they said, "Into John's baptism."
4 Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus."
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying.
Now look at Acts 11 'the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as He did upon us at the beginning' and it is the same gift as given to the apostles..
15 "And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as He did upon us at the beginning.
16 "And I remembered the word of the Lord, how He used to say, 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'
17 "Therefore if God gave to them the same gift as He gave to us also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God's way?"
~~~~~~~~~No, he tried to buy something that can only be received by the laying on of the apostles hands. That's what the text says.
I can't see that give me your exact verse. v. 21 says 'your heart is not right before GOD' as the reason he did not recieve.
v.21 "You have no part or portion in this matter (Holy Spirt), for your heart is not right before God.
With all due respect, that's not what Acts 2:38 says. Every baptized believer has the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
I agree with you 100% now the question is what activates the Holy Spirit? A baptized BELIEVER (key word) not the laying on of hands, BELEIF is the answer.
~~~~~~~~I have a person in my life that ask me lots of question about GOD. At times it has been scary. I know this person very well.
Now they would catch me at an unperpared time sometimes in public (resturant) I have no bible to lean on etc. This is the truth their eyes will turn to a cold stare and there voice change, I would really be afraid.
I would look them back eye to eye and scripture would just flow out of my month to the point all I could do is stare back at those eyes and in my mind ,I would be saying to myself, "who said what just came out of my mouth"
It had to be the Holy Spirit because I cannot remember scripture. (does anyone have any helpfull hint for remembering scripture?)
~~~~~~~~~Simon asking Peter to pray for him had nothing to do with receiving spiritual gifts, but simply a matter of forgiveness. This teaches us that we should pray for each other.
This is true and I don't see that Simon acepted ANY gift from GOD. Simons wanted the Holy Spirit for his own worldly gain not to futher the kingdom of GOD and truley didn't understand what the gift was.
Even after the aspostles told him to pray for forgiveness he still told them to pray for him, he never prayed for himself. I question weather he even prayed for salvation. All we know is that he believed and was baptized. We all know the sinners prayer is part of true belief.
v. 9 he claimed to be someone great. I think Simon had a pride thing going on and could not over come it. Simon never even prayed for himself that we know of.
v.22 "Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you.
23 "For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity."
24 But Simon answered and said, "Pray to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me."
Simon is an interresting man to say the least. Lots of lession in a few verses.
Lots of Blessings YOUR way!
j