In last week’s blog, we focused on Stephen’s hard-hitting message to the Council, and when he concluded, they began shouting and covered their ears and rushed at him, and when they had driven him out of Jerusalem, they began stoning him until he died. But, if you recall, that’s not all that Luke records:

“…and the witnesses laide aside their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul” (Acts 7:58).

And then, in the next chapter of Acts, Luke points out that:

“Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death. And on that day, a great persecution arose against the church in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles…But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house; and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison (Acts 8:1-3).

 Before Luke turns to Paul’s conversion in the next chapter in the Book of Acts, he included a chapter describing how one of the apostles, Philip, traveled northward to the city of Samaria (the old capitol of the Northern Kingdom), proclaiming Christ to them, all of them being Samaritans. And amazingly,

“Multitudes with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip, as they heard and saw the signs he was performing “(Acts 8:6).

One of those who heard Philip sharing the Gospel was a man named Simon (a man who formerly practiced magic arts and claiming to be someone great), and after believing Philip’s words, he was baptized along with many others who turned to Christ. Upon hearing what was happening in Samaria, the apostles in Jerusalem sent Peter and John to these believers that they might put their hands on them and receive the Holy Spirit. But when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostle’s hands, he offered them money so that he, too, could bestow the Holy Spirit on those who believed. But Peter responded,

“May your silver perish with you because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money. You have no part or portion in this matter, for your heart is not right before God (Acts 8:20-21).

At this point, Peter recognized a problem with Simon. He wasn’t saying that Simon didn’t sincerely believe and respond to the Gospel prior to Peter and John’s arrival, but that in the following days after his conversion, his heart had become insensitive toward God, desiring power and recognition in dispensing the Holy Spirit through the laying on of HIS hands. And then, Peter told him how he could make things right with God:

“Therefore, repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you for I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity” (Acts 8:22-23).

What would Simon do now? Would he lash out at Peter, denying that there was anything wrong with his heart, and asking how he (Peter) could read or understand someone else’s heart? No! Simon responded:

“Pray to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me” (Acts 8:24).

Being a new follower of Christ, Simon looked to Peter and John and their authority to pray for him. Of course, Simon still needed to repent over his misplaced desire for power and authority. The prayers of Peter and John for Simon certainly touched the heart of God as they asked Him to give Simon a heart of genuine repentance and change. In reality, we just don’t know if Simon ever really “got things right with God,” but if he genuinely had the Holy Spirit living in him, I firmly believe that such conviction came in response to the prayers of Peter and John.

This passage calls upon each of us to ask ourselves if things are not quite “right with God” in our own hearts. Are we, like Simon, harboring pride resulting in our misplaced quest for power or prestige? If so, we need to repent, just as Peter challenged Simon to do. Simply put, if we ever want God to bless us and use us to bless others, we need to get right with God!

Furthermore, if you are a follower of Christ, we can certainly pray for others, that God would soften their hearts, convicting them of arrogance and pride, and to receive Christ as Savior and Lord. Prayer for others is a powerful means by which God can soften the hearts of those who have become hardened to the Gospel.  

And so, this week, let’s search our own hearts, and then pray for others who need Jesus. May the Lord bless and encourage you this week.