Reading for April 26th

Read Acts 8.4-25
In 8.4-25: The mission in Samaria.
In verse 5: Philip like Stephen, is a Hellenist, appointed to wait on tables (6.1-6), but immediately makes a public witness.
The mission in Samaria is significant to moving beyond Jerusalem, as Samaria was significant to Jesus' journey toward Jerusalem (Lk 9.51-56; 10.29-37).
The message remains focused on Jesus as messiah (see 2.36; 3.18; 4.26-27; 17.3).
In verse 6: The response of the crowd is comparable to that of the people in Jerusalem (2.43; 4.32-33).
In verse 7: This summary of healings recalls Jesus' ministry in Lk.21-22.
Loud shrieks were characteristic of manifestations of demons (Lk 4.33, 41; 8.28; 9.39).
In verses 9-10 Simon, known in Christian stories as "Simon Magus" or "Simon the Magician," was infamous as a Samaritan heretic.
Simon's claim that he was someone great and his acclamation as the power of God that is called Great are both blasphemy (Acts 12.22-23).
In verse 11: Luke consistently links magic, widely practiced through rituals, books amulets, and spells, with demonic forces (Acts 33.10; 19.13-20).
In verses 12-13: Believing the good news Philip proclaimed and being baptized was a turning away of repentance or conversion from the practice of Simon.
Signs and great miracles were thus displays of God's power (Acts 2.43; 5.12; 6.8), not the magician's art.
In verse 14: The arrival of the apostles (8.1) signals the authorization of the office of the word of God that was entrusted to the twelve (see 6.2).
In verse 15-20: The confirming sign of receiving the Holy Spirit is given through the apostle's hands, but not finally controlled by the twelve (6.6; 11.18, 22; 19.1-7).
Because of the story, buying a spiritual office with money became known as "simony."
may your silver perish with you is a prophetic warning calling for repentance, not a final verdict.
In verses 21-22: the part or share is divinely given (1.26).
The repentance of the heart is marked with remorse (2.37), not scheming for personal advantage.
In verse 25: Peter and John bring the mission of the apostles to the Samaritans, confirming the work of the Hellenists.
Comments or Questions..