Act 8:4

Therefore they that were scattered abroad  went every where preaching the word.

The word « scattered aboad » is the word used three times in acts meaning the believers were « sown or seeded all around »  THey were driven by persecution, but they continues to plant the seed of the word of God where ever they went. You could not stop the movement of Gods word.

It was also used in Acts 11. The word of the Gospel had been given to the Italian Gentiles in the household of Cornelius in Acts 10. This was an world shaking event for the Jews to overcome their myoptic vision limited by their misunderstanding and national pride.

Even in Acts they still were preaching to only Jews in all the foriegn lands. Jesus in Acts 1 :8 told them to go to all the uttremost parts of the earth.  But they stayed in Jerusalem until they were chased out.  Now the seed of the word had to go to the uttermost parts of the earth and do its work.

Preaching the word. The early Christians preached the word of God (Acts 8:14) which is to say the preached the gospel of Jesus. If they had preached the old covenant law, they would not have been persecuted by the religious leaders.

Act 8:5

Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.

Here Philip was heralding and broadcasting Christ. Not the law but Christ. Preaching and telling the good news of the Word of God was the same as heralding and preaching Christ, because all of Gods word was in Christ our risen savior!

Act 8:6

And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

And just as Jesus told the disciples that those who preached for Him would have miracles to establish their words.  Philip saw the might power of God because he preached!

Mar 16:20

And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

When people are healed then there is great Joy

Act 8:7

For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.

The word of God spread and was sown with power, healing and demonstration of the Holy Spirit

Act 8:8

And there was great joy in that city.

Samaria had great joy becaue they were set free from the devils work, demons and sickness left!

 Act 8:9

But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:

Here is an example of a man using another source of spirit power, He was using demons and not the power of God! This is called « sorcery » and He « bewitched people »

WHen GOd works the glory is always given to God our Father, but when miracles are performed by sorcery and people are hypnotized, the worship goes to some man instead of God and Jesus, the only Man.

The word for bewitched is existemi and it means to be « knocked off your feet » « Amazed » « shocked » even « drive on out of their normal mind »   Like hypnotism. It was the way Issac felt when he « trembled » at realizing Jacob tricked him for the birthright. OR how Eli the prophet in 1 Samuel felt when he two sons were killed.  Or when Jesus performed miracles and healed people were hypnotized,  dumbfounded or shocked

But here it there was a nother power at work stealing the glory from God and placing it on a man, named Simon. He was hypnotizing people for his own gain though « magic »

This word sorcery means magic. In the Greek sorcery was « Mageia » and it was only used here in Acts 8 as a unique usage.  It is the work or action of « Magos » which were a class of Egyptian, then Babylonian and then Persian « wise men » who really were only fools that misled and gained self glory by facinating the people with their occult knowlegde and power given by Satan.

We remember that they could not compare their tricks with the power of God when Moses stood them down in Egypt. Also in the time of Daniel the power of God in Daniel put them in a bad light.

Dan 1:20

And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians H2748 and astrologers that were in all his realm.

Today it is technology and the wonders of science and medicine that get the glory. Now Covid has been bewitching the population into a global hypnotism and  men like Fauci are getting the glory.  The power of the Holy spirit is so much greater.

Dan 5:7

The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And the king spake, and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and shew me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.

This magic or sorcery was the occult fools wisdom that empowered systems like Babylon, until Gods servant came to town!

Dan 5:11

There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him;

When Daniel discerned the dreams and was able to give interpretation he did not take the glory but gave it back to God! HE was not looking for anything, because Daniel knew His God gave him all he needed.

Dan 5:17

Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation.

This is the difference of the two powers. Both God and the devil are spiritual powers. But God always wins. The dream was interpreted by the servant of God Daniel and the astrologer, soothsayers, magicians could do nothing. Why? Because they depended on demons for their power and in God’s presence they had to shut up.

So it was here in Acts as Philip as a son of God with the full power of Christ could show down any magician or sorcer

And what is so great about God, is that He is love and can even change the heart of men who were deeply involved with all of Satans tricks and false signs.

Act 8:10

To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.

Simon was controling and profiting from all these fools that thought he was the great power of God. He must have used some powerful signs to do that. Yet the greater power of God and Love won even Simon!

Act 8:11  And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.

I am sure it took much humility for Simon to admit he was wrong and then even  lose his coveted position. But he believed! He had to listen to the point he trusted the Gospel and then was forever changed by the inward change of being sealed.

However when any person first believes he is saved. At least he has eternal life dwelling within. But that doesnt mean his old habits and his mind change. It begins a journey of growth in grace and salvation of his mind and body.  God begins on the inside not the outside to save us.

Act 8:13

Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

Acts 8:13

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.

• Simon himself believed. The man who operated in counterfeit signs and wonders marvelled when he saw the real thing. He believed Philip’s message and was water baptized, but he was not filled with the Holy Spirit (see Acts 8:16) and his subsequent actions show he did not have a good grasp of the grace of God (see Acts 8:18). He received the holy spirit when he trusted the Gospel and was sealed. Eph 1 :13 but and he was Baptised in the name of Jesus. It was not necessary that he was baptised in water. That is an outward ritual still. He may have or may have not been dunked in a tub. But his soul was cleaned by his trust and Christ entered to clean house.

     Yet Jesus had a lot of work to do inside his attic and Simon was begining on the road to be conformed to Christ. 

    We can see that there are two words and two ways we receive Christ’s spirit

First we dechomai or receive it passively as Simon did but did not immediatle show results. The seed of eternal life is planted but it needs different amounts of time to grow through the old mans concrete. It will but it takes time and when it is showing we call this the second kind of receiving «Lambano » which is active receiving so it is shown in the outward action. This is when it is demostrated or manifest.  Simon was in a bad way and it took time.