Remember Jesus' words to the disciples at the beginning of Acts, just before his ascension: "You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (1:8). In this chapter we see the first big expansion beyond Jerusalem into Samaria. The Spirit is slowly teaching the early Christians a very important truth---that he "builds one church, united in one Lord, one faith, one baptism. This church includes believers of every time, place, race, and language" (QA 37).

Luke clearly ties the growth of the church to persecution. In this case, it's the persecution that breaks out after Stephen's death under the leadership of the church's archenemy, Saul of Tarsus. Far from destroying the church, Saul's deadly persecution fuels its growth by spreading it out, first in Samaria: "Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went" (8:4).

Samaria, while not many miles away from Jerusalem, was religiously distinct. Its population was partially made up of people who had been transported to that location by the Assyrians centuries before. They had cobbled together a brand of Judaism which was abhorrent to the leaders in Jerusalem, and thus were a despised people.

Philip, another one of the deacons from chapter 6, along with Stephen, began to preach in a Samaritan town. As often happens in Acts, the proclamation of the gospel brings with it what Jesus "began to do and to teach" (1:1), especially an assault on the kingdom of demons and healing of the sick.

The whole thing was so successful that when the apostles back in Jerusalem heard about it, they sent a delegation to make sure everything was all right. Peter and John were deeply impressed with what the Holy Spirit was doing among the Samaritans; they laid hands on them, and there was a "Samaritan Pentecost."

Simon is a Sorcerer---the Latin word is magus, the same word used for those magi who travelled from the east to see the infant Lord. A sorcerer is a person who makes use of various occult practices (spells and fortune-telling and perhaps astrology). He was good at what he did, and was called "Great Power of God." Undoubtedly, Simon made a good living at what he did.

Simon became a believer and was baptized (a tribute to the power of Philip's preaching). But he was also deeply attracted to the signs and miracles Philip performed, which were vastly superior to his petty acts of sorcery. What really impressed him was the outpouring of the Holy Spirit when Peter and John laid hands on the believers. It seemed like pure spiritual power, and Simon wanted it too.

Used to the close association of spiritual power and money in his own sorcery, Simon offered to pay the apostles handsomely if they would teach him their secrets. Shocked, the apostles cursed Simon and his money. The very idea that God's gift can be bought was abhorrent to them. But they also invited Simon to pray in repentance. Simon felt so helpless in their denunciation that he asked the apostles to pray on his behalf, which they undoubtedly did.

The upshot is that the gospel spread like wildfire. Every effort to put the fire out, even the attempt to co-opt it through money and power, only fed the flames.