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NASB | Acts 8:13 Even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed signs and great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Acts 8:13 Even Simon believed [Philip's message of salvation]; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he watched the attesting signs and great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed. |
Bible Question:
What does Peter mean when he says to Simon (the Sorcerer): "May your silver perish with you"? In Acts 8:13, Simon had believed and been baptized: Acts 8:13 Even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed signs and great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed. But later, after trying to buy the power of the Holy Spirit from Peter and John in Acts 8:20, Peter rebukes him: Acts 8:20 But Peter said to him, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!" Simon's salvation was already eternally secure, right? So how could he perish? Does the word "perish" here mean eternal separation from God? If so, would that not mean Simon had "lost" his salvation? Also -- what was the gift of God? I always thought that meant salvation through Christ. I thought Simon had already done that which was necessary (believed and been baptized) and had therefore already received the gift of God. For those of us who believe that our salvation can not be lost, how do we inerpret this verse? |
Bible Answer: cwade, in compliance with your request, herewith is my answer to your question about Simon the practitioner of magic, quackery, and various kinds of sorcery. Reading the entire passage, from Acts 8:4-25, gives just cause to ask, "Was Simon really saved?" Yes, the record says he believed, but as events unfold it would appear more than likely that Simon's belief was merely intellectual assent to the claims of Christ that the apostles were teaching. He may himself have made messianic claims (v.9,10). And, yes, he was baptized along with others, but baptism does not save and is not necessarily indicative of a profound, salvific experience of faith in the Person and work of the risen Lord. Simon believed (v.13), but Peter's denunciation (vv.20-23) indicates that Simon's faith was not unto salvation. (See James 2:14-20) Simon thought he could buy the gift of God (v.20). When Peter urged him to repent, Simon replied "Pray for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me." (v.24) This is tantamount to saying, "Pray for me that I may escape punishment." Obviously, Simon was still thinking in terms dictated by his trade, i.e., of dependence upon magical powers to save him rather than repentence of heart. The indictment Peter applied to Simon as exemplified in the phrases "gall of bitterness" and "bondage of iniquity" are not terms Peter would have used to describe the status of a newly regenerated believer. Terms of this stripe more nearly fit the condition of an apostate or an idolater. (See Deut. 29:18). --Hank |