Acts 8:18-23

Freely given, freely give! Faith is a gift and through faith in Christ Jesus we are offered salvation and given the Holy Spirit to guide and educate us. The Father expects us to extend the knowledge of His grace and mercy and the power of the Holy Spirit to others that we encounter so that they too can be saved. 

The text does not indicate what exactly Simon saw. The gift of tongues was a sign to the nation of Israel, so it is likely that the same sign was present at each step of the opening of the gospel—at Jerusalem, at Samaria, and at the home of Cornelius. 

Verse 13 indicates that Simon was a believer. However, he confused the work of God with his previous magical practices. Because others had paid him for the secrets of his magic, he may have simply thought that this was the best way to approach Peter. He soon learned the error of his ways.

Acts 8:18-23

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.” 

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. 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.”