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Thread: Acts 8 and the Holy Spirit

  1. #11
    Senior Member Colonel's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Cardinal TT View Post
    Making people roar with laughter would be something people would pay to receive
    There is no mention in the passage of any kinds of emotional reactions among those who received the Holy Spirit. That doesn't exclude that that is one of the things that people experienced but it does suggest that there was something much deeper than that going on.

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    Senior Member Ezekiel 33's Avatar
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    More than likely Simon had received the baptism of the HS and then wanted to give others that experience. At that point I believe it was the old ugly man showing up, who wanted people to think he was somebody. The good news that we often seem to overlook is that he repented after Peter's sharp rebuke.

  3. #13
    Senior Member Colonel's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ezekiel 33 View Post
    More than likely Simon had received the baptism of the HS and then wanted to give others that experience. At that point I believe it was the old ugly man showing up, who wanted people to think he was somebody. The good news that we often seem to overlook is that he repented after Peter's sharp rebuke.
    Acts 8:18 And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money,

    The verse doesn't refer to an experience that Simon had had but rather to his seeing that others received the baptism in the Holy Spirit.

    19 saying, “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
    20 But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money!
    21 You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God.

    What was it that Simon had no part or portion in ? It wasn't the power to transfer the HS to others, that was a misconception. There is no gift called "the power to transfer the HS". The apostles preached the Word concerning the HS baptism and layed hands on them and then they received by faith but any believer could have done that. So that can only refer to the HS baptism itself, that Simon hadn't received it and couldn't receive it because of his sin.

    22 Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.
    23 For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.”
    24 Then Simon answered and said, “Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me.”

    Did he genuinely repent ? Accounts outside of the Bible claim that he went on to become the founder of Gnosticism.

  4. #14
    Administrator fuego's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Colonel View Post
    Acts 8:18 And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money,

    The verse doesn't refer to an experience that Simon had had but rather to his seeing that others received the baptism in the Holy Spirit.
    I think it can be read either way. He 'saw' because he was one of them, and experienced it himself like Zeke said. Why wouldn't he have been one also to receive at the same time? I think it's what Zeke said.

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    Quote Originally Posted by fuego View Post
    I think it can be read either way. He 'saw' because he was one of them, and experienced it himself like Zeke said. Why wouldn't he have been one also to receive at the same time? I think it's what Zeke said.
    Because Peter told him that he had no part or portion in that matter. What matter was he talking about ?

  7. #16
    Senior Member Ezekiel 33's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Colonel View Post
    Because Peter told him that he had no part or portion in that matter. What matter was he talking about ?
    He wasn't talking about salvation.
    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 was saved, but as many others have done, he let the old man rise up. Part of him still wanted people thinking he was something special.

  8. #17
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ezekiel 33 View Post
    He wasn't talking about salvation.

    Simon was saved, but as many others have done, he let the old man rise up. Part of him still wanted people thinking he was something special.
    But what matter was Peter talking about that Simon the sorceror had no part or portion in ?

  9. #18
    Quote Originally Posted by Colonel View Post
    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 ?


    Yes, he wanted that power to "astonish" people for the purpose of getting their money, something we do see a lot of today.



    JLB

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  11. #19
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    Quote Originally Posted by JLB View Post
    Yes, he wanted that power to "astonish" people for the purpose of getting their money, something we do see a lot of today.
    JLB
    Examples ?

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