Acts 8:4-25
What’s It For?

I. What Is This For?
1. You’ve been taught that the pointing gesture is for pointing to something beyond it your finger.
2. The early church has been to be witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the ends of the earth.
3. Now, “those who were scattered”, fleeing for their lives, “went about preaching the word.” (8:4)
II. Samaria (8:4-5)
1. Going to Samaria is crossing a major boundary; it’s a breakthrough to a different kind of people.
2. The Samaritans were outcasts; they were considered half-breeds and heretics, descendants of Gentiles.
3. Philip goes to these break-away Israelites and, proclaims to them that Jesus is “the Christ” (8:5).
III. Signs (8:6-8)
1. Signs are not for drawing attention to themselves. Signs are for pointing to something else.
2. Crowds gathered and were attentive to what Philip was saying because they saw the signs he was doing.
3. These healing weren’t intended to be just miraculous works of health care. They pointed to the eternal.
4. Signs point to the truth that Philip is preaching, that Jesus is the King of the Kingdom of God.
5. Because the gospel has come to Samaria, “there was much joy in that city” (8:8).
IV. Simon (8:9-13)
1. Simon was a magician, either charlatan who did illusions, or had demonic power.
2. The people thought he was somebody great. They gave him the title of Simon the Great.
3. It’s a power encounter between the God and Simon who’s been enthralling the people for years.
4. The signs point to the fact that Jesus is more powerful than Simon and whatever he was representing.
5. Many believe. The Kingdom of God comes through, and in, the name of Jesus.
6. Simon “believed”, in a way of speaking. He agreed, he said. He was even baptized.
7. What you think faith is about shows whether your faith is real or is about something else.
8. Simon the amazer is now amazed. He didn’t see what the signs pointed to.
V. Spirit (8:14-25)
A. The One Baptism in the Holy Spirit
1. The Samaritans “had received the Word of God”, all of it, even the parts about discipleship.
2. The unspiritual cannot accept. Everyone who truly believes needs the Holy Spirit to enable them.
3. The Holy Spirit had not“fallen on them”; they had “only” been “baptized” in water, not the Spirit.
4. After Pentecost now every believer is baptized in the Holy Spirit at conversion (1 Cor. 12:13).
5. Pentecostals say that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is a separate experience; there are two stages.
6. The Samaritans are break-away Israelites. They might be tempted to form a break-away church.
7. The local church is for being part of the true, universal church, not thinking we’re self-sufficient.
8. Peter and John lay hands on them, communicating by touch that together we’re the Body of Christ.
9. Being baptized in the Spirit is noticeable. “Receiving the Holy Spirit is experiential, not inferential.”
10. Many now think they can infer that they have the Holy Spirit by the fact that they believe.
11. Being baptized in the Holy Spirit was something that could be seen; it made an obvious difference.
12. If someone says they believe but they have no signs of the Spirit in their life, they may not be saved.
13. Some professed Christians are truly saved by seeking to be baptized (or filled) with the Holy Spirit.
B. What Money Can’t Buy
1. Simon thinks he’s a believer. The church thinks he’s a believer. But he shows he’s not.
2. Simon wants to buy the power. He doesn’t know that there are somethings that money can’t buy.
3. Money can’t buy the power of God, a new heart. It can’t convert your child or save your family.
4. The Spirit is for the power to make stone, dead hearts into soft, living ones; pointing us to Christ.
5. Peter says,‘rich guy, you can go to hell with your money’ (8:20). You can’t buy a whiff of the Spirit.
6. Peter says, to a baptized, professed believer, ‘You have no share in the Spirit’ (8:21). He’s not saved.
7. Peter says, “Repent, therefore,” because you’re going to hell, trusting in your money (8:22).
8. “If possible”; it may not be possible, “you are in the gall of bitterness” and a slave of sin.
9. Hard words are for creating soft people. Simon asks to be relieved of the consequences of his sin.
10. If you don’t have the Spirit, you’ll be bitter, self-serving, hard-hearted.
11. If you have the Spirit the Word of the Lord goes out. It’s believed. It changes your life.
VI. Invitation: Money can’t buy everything. It can’t buy the Spirit who can make you alive, and put a living heart in you. Before, without the Spirit, you were cold and dead inside, thinking life was for chasing dollars, or skirts, or whatever thrill, or title, like “The Great”, you could get. Now you have a new heart that loves the Lord with all you are, that loves His Word and His church, that unites you with all who truly believe with you. If you have true faith. If so, we’ll see it in what you’re for.