Acts 8:5-13 NIV
5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ[a]there.
6 When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said.
7 With shrieks, evil[b] spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed.
8 So there was great joy in that city.
Simon the Sorcerer
9 Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great,
10 and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, "This man is the divine power known as the Great Power."
11 They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his magic.
12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
13 Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.
Philip went to Samaria. I read somewhere where Philip was a deacon and he went to Samaria to teach them about Jesus. The people there were used to seeing Simon practice sorcery and they were always amazed at him and followed him. But when they heard the truth and all the miracles that they saw, they came to believe and got baptized. Just think seeing the evil spirits come out of people and the ones who were crippled and having many diseases being healed. That still can happen today...we can still be healed today. I know some people say that was back in biblical days but why wouldn't God want us healed today too? Yes we have the power - the power has been given to us! Thank you Lord for the power of the Holy Spirit!! People can still be healed and set free! Philip knew that if the Word was preached (which is the Truth), many would come into the Kingdom of God. The Truth came to Simon and he even believed and also got baptized. He was convinced that this was truly from God. He realized that what he was doing was false. I have read in different places that some people think that Simon faked his belief. My personal opinion is that Simon did truly believe but as you read down further in this Scripture, Simon was temped and fell into sin. I think that when we are saved, we have to continue with our faith and be obedient in what God tells us to do. But sometimes as true believers, we have done the same thing that Simon did. We got saved and then fell into sin. Some believers sin and fall away and just don't come back, others repent and come back to God. Whether this actually happened to Simon, at this point I don't know. I think what is important here are that the Scriptures are written to show us the correct way to live.
God had opened the door wide and the apostles prayed and let the Holy Spirit flow though them so they were outside the Temple and into the cities. If you read down to Verse 14, Peter and John came down to Samaria because they heard of the success of Philip's ministry. Philip taught that Jesus of Nazareth was the Christ and that He was the Son of God and the Savior of men. There was great joy in that city.
