Today, I am reading and commenting on Acts 7-8.

The first thing I want to look at is what Luke writes at the end of his account of the martyrdom of Stephen.  He writes that Saul approved of their killing Stephen.  I think this indicates that Saul (Paul) was Luke’s source for the account of what happened at Stephen’s trial.  Further I think it is Luke setting up Saul’s conversion story.  Luke tells us about Saul approving of Stephen’s killing and that Saul led the persecution of the Church in order to remind us how much an enemy of Christianity he was before his conversion.  My reading of this is that Luke is telling us that, before his conversion, Saul was the chief enemy of the Church.  The point of him telling us this was to show us how God will change even the most virulent enemy of Him into His loyal servant.  No matter how far from God someone we meet may seem, God will welcome them if they turn to Him, and a miraculous conversion story is not out of the question.

Next we have the account of Simon of Samaria (oftentimes known as Simon the sorcerer).  Simon had used his abilities to perform wonders to make people think that he was someone great.  It is not clear from the account whether or not Simon had supernatural powers, or if he was just someone with great powers of observation and the skills of a modern magician.  I suspect the latter.  In any case, when Philip arrived and preached the Gospel with signs and wonders, Simon became a Believer in Jesus and was baptized.  Then, when he saw Peter and John laying on hands so that people received the Holy Spirit, Simon’s desire to be someone special raised its head and he tried to buy that power.  Peter rebuked him for this and he appears to have accepted Peter’s rebuke and repented.  Simon wanted the recognition and authority which came from the power of “dispensing” the Holy Spirit by laying hands on people.  Peter’s rebuke indicates that God’s power is not given to us because we desire it.  In fact, the desire to have God’s power in order to elevate ourselves above others is sinful.  Simon wanted this power so that he could once again receive the accolades from others that he had received before he came to Christ.  Peter’s rebuke seems to suggest that Simon thought he could profit from such power.  Simon desired the power of God in order to advance himself.  Seeking the power of God so that we might be glorified is sin.  Seek the power of God so that God may be glorified.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

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