Originally Posted by
Colonel
I noticed something peculiar when reading this passage today. In Acts 2 the Spirit comes upon people who already believe but this is the first passage that describes in detail how people who are non-believers respond to the gospel including the baptism in the Spirit.
Acts 8:5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. 6 And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. 8 And there was great joy in that city.
All kinds of signs are described in addition to people getting saved.
9 But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great, 10 to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, "This man is the great power of God." 11 And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time. 12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. 13 Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done.
Simon the sorceror also believed and was amazed at the miracles performed.
14 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, 15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16 For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
The funny thing about this is that noone had gotten baptized in the Spirit yet. I suppose Philip had preached the gospel concerning the resurrection of Jesus and then done what he previously had done as a disciple of Jesus during His earthly ministry, to cast out demons and heal the sick and baptize people in water. The baptism in the Spirit wasn't available back then so he wasn't used to that part yet. Or so it seems.
18 And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, 19 saying, "Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit."
Simon the sorceror watches all of this but what power does he want to pay them for ? The ability to cast out demons ? Nope. To heal the sick ? Nope. He wants the power to have the Holy Spirit come upon those he lays hands on.
Why does the former sorceror now not-so-repentant Christian pick that as the power to be desired the most ? Was it because people spoke in tongues ? I can't imagine that that would be more impressive than demons leaving people they had inhabited for years or the lame walking. Was it because people got emotional when the Spirit came upon them ? Again, that doesn't sound that impressive.
There must have been something far deeper that he sensed and then twisted in his mind. Was it perhaps the depth of the presence and glory of God that came upon them and saturated them ? Something we see little of today ?