Chapter VI.—CONVERSION OF SAUL.
The deacon Philip, having left Jerusalem in consequence of the persecution after the martyrdom of Stephen, "went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. And there was great joy in that city."
There was, however, in Samaria at that time, a man named Simon Magus, who pretended himself to be the expected Messiah. The Scripture says of him, that he used sorcery and bewitched the people. We know that before the coming of the Lord Jesus, evil spirits had a power which He took from them, of getting possession of the bodies of men: and as has been said before, it seems that bad men had sometimes dealings with evil spirits, by whose help they did things which otherwise they could not have done. But any one who did seek to have dealings with evil spirits, was guilty of a very great sin: such unlawful deeds were strictly forbidden by the Law; those who were guilty of them, were called magicians, sorcerers, wizards, witches, &c., and were, by the command of God, to be put to death. Simon had for some time deceived the people of Samaria by his arts; but when Philip preached to them of Jesus Christ and His kingdom, they believed his words, and "were baptized, both men and women." Simon himself also believed that Jesus of Nazareth was the true Messiah, and he likewise was baptized in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, though he was still far from understanding the true nature of the religion taught by Philip. "When he was baptized, he continued with Philip," and "wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done." The account of all that had been done by Philip at Samaria, soon reached Jerusalem; and the Apostles sent Peter and John to finish the work so well begun, for although Philip had taught and baptized the people, he had no power like the Apostles, to bestow the gift of the Holy Spirit.
When Peter and John were come down, they prayed for the converts "that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (for as yet he was fallen upon none of them; only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus). Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost."
Simon now showed how little he understood of the things of God; for when he "saw that through laying on of the Apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost."
Peter reproved Simon very severely for having thought it possible that the gifts of God could be bought with money; and told him, that although he had received the outward form of Baptism, it was quite plain that he was no true believer in Jesus Christ, but was still in bondage to Satan. He then called upon him to repent truly of all his wickedness, and especially of the fearful sin of which he was now guilty, and pray to God, Who could alone forgive the thought of his heart.
Peter's words alarmed Simon, who now besought Peter's help, "and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me."
When Peter and John had testified to the truth of all that Philip had taught, they returned to Jerusalem; and as they went, they "preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans."
After these things had passed, Philip was directed by God to go into a desert part of Judæa, lying between Joppa and Gaza, to meet an officer belonging to Candace, the queen of a country called Ethiopia. This man, who held the important office of treasurer, had become a Jew, and was a sincere worshipper of God as far as his knowledge went. He had taken a long journey in order to worship God in the temple, after the manner of the Jews: and now returning homewards, he was sitting in his chariot studying the Scriptures. "Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot." Philip obeyed, and heard him read that part of the prophecy of Isaiah which saith, "He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: in his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth." Philip asked him, "Understandest thou what thou readest? And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me?"