Scripture Daily

Context No. 4276 of 4322 · Acts

Context · Reflection

Acts 8:9-13: in context

9But there was a certain man, Simon by name, who used to practice sorcery in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, making himself out to be some great one, 10to whom they all listened, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is that great power of God.” 11They listened to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his sorceries. 12But when they believed Philip preaching good news concerning God’s Kingdom and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13Simon himself also believed. Being baptized, he continued with Philip. Seeing signs and great miracles occurring, he was amazed.

Before the gospel came to Samaria, a man named Simon had held the people spellbound with sorcery, and he encouraged their awe: he made himself out to be someone great, and the people said of him, this man is the great power of God. His religion centered on himself, on his own amazing displays, drawing the people's wonder to himself. But when Philip preached the good news of Jesus Christ, the people believed and were baptized, turning from the sorcerer's spell to the Savior.

What stands out is the contrast between Simon and the gospel. Simon used his displays to make himself the center, someone great, the object of the people's amazement. The gospel Philip preached did the opposite: it drew people not to Philip but to Christ, not to human spectacle but to the name of Jesus. One pointed to a man; the other pointed to the Savior.

It is possible, like Simon, to make our service about ourselves, to draw others' admiration to us, to want to be thought someone great. But true ministry, like Philip's, points away from itself to Christ. The measure of our service is whether it draws people to us or to the Savior. To make ourselves the center is Simon's way; to point people to Christ is the way of the gospel.

In whatever I do among God's people, am I, like Simon, subtly drawing others' admiration to myself and wanting to be thought someone great, or, like Philip, pointing people away from myself to Christ the Savior?

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