Simon wanted the Holy Spirit on his terms. Once he observed the power of the Holy Spirit as Peter and John laid hands on the people, Simon offered to buy it. Acts 8: 18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given when the apostles laid their hands on people, he offered them money to buy this power. 19 “Let me have this power, too,” he exclaimed, “so that when I lay my hands on people, they will receive the Holy Spirit!” [1]
Scripture doesn’t specify what happened as the Holy Spirit came, but there must have been obvious signs that something changed. There may have been a visible sign, like tongues of fire, or an audible sign, like a rushing wind. The people may also have begun to speak in other languages, such as at Pentecost. Whatever it was, Simon wanted this same power.
Simony
The term “simony,” the buying or selling of a church office or other things considered religious or sacred, comes from this incident, where Simon sought to buy the power of the Spirit from the apostles.[2] The buying of church offices was a common practice in the Middle Ages. Yet, a form of this continues to this day.
Many people want to control God today. They have expectations of what God should do for them. These people desire the Spirit to act according to their preconceived ideas. They get upset when God doesn’t act or answer their prayers in the way they want. They want the promises of Jesus without total surrender of their lives to the One who said, I am the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).
The Spirit of the living God blows where and how He wants. Believers must take God on His terms, not their own. Our Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, is the creator, and we humans are the created. Thus, the Creator is Sovereign and works in the way He knows is best.
It’s Not Magic
Simon was a magician and was used to being the one in the spotlight and the one in control. He realized that the Apostles’ power was greater and would be a good “trick” to add to his magic. Perhaps He could win back some of the crowds if He could only learn how it was done.
No amount of money can buy salvation, forgiveness, or God’s power. We only receive these things as gifts as we humble ourselves before Jesus and repent of our sins. “The implication for us and for the people around us is that, just as it is possible to have belief in Christ as Lord and Savior and not be filled with His Spirit, it is also possible to want His Spirit’s power for our own self-controlled lives without repentance and total commitment to the Lord. Neither works.”[3]
Do you want the Holy Spirit on His terms or yours? If you have wanted God to come on your terms in the past, you can repent and humble yourself to receive God on His terms. He can do more than you can imagine and knows His plans for you.
To learn more, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/the-samaritan-pentecost
[1] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Ac 8:18–19). Tyndale House Publishers.
[2] Barton, B. B., & Osborne, G. R. (1999). Acts (p. 141). Tyndale House.
[3] Ogilvie, L. J., & Ogilvie, L. J. (1983). Acts (Vol. 28, p. 155). Thomas Nelson Inc.