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The Man of God, the Imitator, and the Outsider
The Man of God, the Imitator, and the Outsider
Acts 8 shows three people with three different responses to the gospel. Studying Acts 8 will help us examine whether we are resistant, self-seeking, or genuine in our response to the gospel.
Saul (Acts 8:1-3) — Resistant
In Acts 8 when Paul is still known as Saul he would have been seen as a man of God by many, especially considering his Jewish “resume” (which he lays out in Philippians 3:5-6). Acts 8 begins with Saul consenting to the death of Stephen and dragging Christian men and women into prison. Saul’s conversion in the next chapter takes someone who appeared to be a man of God and turned him into an actual man of God, showing that God can transform even the hardest of hearts. Maybe you have been so resistant to the gospel that you think you missed your chance. Perhaps you have accepted the gospel but there are people in your life who you think would never accept the gospel because they seem so actively opposed to it. Remember Saul. If someone who is actively putting Christians into prison can be transformed by God, then God can certainly transform any heart.
Simon the Sorcerer (Acts 8:9-24) — Self-Seeking
Simon is known for astonishing people with his magic, but when the gospel comes to Samaria he is one of many that believes and is baptized. He continues on with Philip and is amazed by the “miracles and signs which were done” (v 13). When Peter and John get to Samaria they start laying hands on people to receive the power of the Holy Spirit. When Simon sees this, he offers them money in exchange for this ability. Previously imitating “the great power of God” (v 10), Simon now sees the actual power of God and wants it for himself. Peter responds, “‘Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money’” (v 20). Simon seemed to have put away his life of amazing people with his imitated power, but now he wants to buy the power that only the apostles have. Be sure to examine your motivation for following Christ. If you are trying to impress people or gain personally from following Christ, then Peter has a stern warning for you. Even though Peter’s response is harsh, he still offers Simon the same power of God that we have today: the power of repentance. “Repent… and pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you” (Acts 8:22). If your motivation for following Christ is in the wrong place, pray to the Lord for repentance and forgiveness.
Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:26-39) — Genuine
Describing the Ethiopian as a eunuch emphasizes his outsider status. He is with the Queen of Ethiopia who went to Jerusalem to worship (v 27), but he would not have been allowed to enter the assembly as a eunuch (Deuteronomy 23:1). When Philip finds him he is reading what we would call Isaiah 53, and he wants to know who this prophecy is referring to. After Philip explains the Scriptures to him, he asks to be baptized and goes on his way rejoicing. The conversion of the Ethiopian involves a lot of divine help: an angel tells Philip to go to Gaza (v26), the Holy Spirit tells Philip to go near the chariot (v29), and then Philip preaches Jesus throughout the Scriptures (v35). Even with all of this help, the Ethiopian still had to make a decision for himself to be baptized. His genuine desire to know God is seen in his searching of the Scriptures, and his genuine faith is shown in his baptism. We all need God’s guidance, but if we have genuine faith it will be shown in our decisions.
However you have responded to the gospel in the past — resistant like the man of God, self-seeking like the imitator, or asking for guidance like the outsider — God will transform you when you genuinely seek Him. --William Speer
