耶稣曾应许说，当圣灵降临在门徒身上，他们将得着能力，他们将在耶路撒冷，犹太全地，撒玛利亚，直到地极做祂的见证（徒 1:8）。当扫罗和其他人开始迫害教会，我们看到一个明显的运动：即教会从以耶路撒冷为中心，开始向撒玛利亚传播。尽管耶稣的信徒遭到迫害，神的教会仍在增长。
在第六章，有七位新的领袖被选出来，其中的腓利在撒玛利亚开始了传道、教导和医治的事工。许多人相信并受了洗，包括一个叫西门的曾行过邪术的人。彼得和约翰去那里观看神所做的事，当他们按手为刚信主的人祷告时，他们就领受了圣灵。
然而，西门拿出钱，说他想要买能给人圣灵的能力。他在恩典中受到教训。彼得指示他要悔改，祈求主的饶恕。神的能力是不能买来的，恩典也不是能买卖的。
西门很惊奇他在腓利、彼得和约翰身上看到的能力。但跟随神重要的不是获得能力。西门的心需要被更新。彼得看出西门在苦胆之中，除非去除这苦胆，否则他不能开始主的事工。
神啊，你有丰盛、奇妙的恩典，求你洁净和更新我们的心，洗去我们一切的罪。靠着基督的大能，阿们。
使徒行传 8:1b-25
1从这日起，耶路撒冷的教会大遭逼迫。除了使徒以外，门徒都分散在犹太和撒马利亚各处。
2有虔诚的人把司提反埋葬了，为他捶胸大哭。
3扫罗却残害教会，进各人的家，拉着男女下在监里。
4那些分散的人往各处去传道。
5腓利下撒马利亚城去宣讲基督。
6众人听见了，又看见腓利所行的神迹，就同心合意地听从他的话。
7因为有许多人被污鬼附着，那些鬼大声呼叫，从他们身上出来；还有许多瘫痪的、瘸腿的，都得了医治。
8在那城里就大有欢喜。
9有一个人名叫西门，向来在那城里行邪术，妄自尊大，使撒马利亚的百姓惊奇。
10无论大小都听从他，说：“这人就是那称为神的大能者。”
11他们听从他，因他久用邪术使他们惊奇。
12及至他们信了腓利所传神国的福音和耶稣基督的名，连男带女就受了洗。
13西门自己也信了，既受了洗，就常与腓利在一处，看见他所行的神迹和大异能，就甚惊奇。
14使徒在耶路撒冷听见撒马利亚人领受了神的道，就打发彼得、约翰往他们那里去。
15两个人到了，就为他们祷告，要叫他们受圣灵，
16因为圣灵还没有降在他们一个人身上，他们只奉主耶稣的名受了洗。
17于是使徒按手在他们头上，他们就受了圣灵。
18西门看见使徒按手便有圣灵赐下，就拿钱给使徒，
19说：“把这权柄也给我，叫我手按着谁，谁就可以受圣灵。”
20彼得说：“你的银子和你一同灭亡吧！因你想神的恩赐是可以用钱买的。
21你在这道上无份无关，因为在神面前你的心不正。
22你当懊悔你这罪恶，祈求主，或者你心里的意念可得赦免。
23我看出你正在苦胆之中，被罪恶捆绑。”
24西门说：“愿你们为我求主，叫你们所说的，没有一样临到我身上！”
25使徒既证明主道而且传讲，就回耶路撒冷去，一路在撒马利亚好些村庄传扬福音。
“On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.” — Acts 8:1
Jesus promised that his disciples would receive power when the Holy Spirit came on them, and he said they would be witnesses for him in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and across the earth (Acts 1:8). As Saul and many others begin persecuting the church, we see a clear movement of the church from being centered in Jerusalem to spreading out to Samaria. But even though believers in Jesus are suffering persecution, God’s church continues to grow.
Philip, one of the seven new leaders chosen in Acts 6, begins a ministry of preaching, teaching, and healing in Samaria. Many people believe and are baptized, including a man named Simon who had practiced sorcery. Peter and John visit to see what God is doing there, and as they pray and lay hands on the new believers, they receive the Holy Spirit.
Simon, however, offers money, saying he wants to buy the ability to give people the Holy Spirit. And he receives a lesson in grace. Peter instructs him to repent and pray for forgiveness. God’s power cannot be bought. Grace is not for sale.
Simon was impressed with the power he saw in Philip, Peter, and John. But following God is not about gaining power. Simon needed a heart change. Peter saw bitterness lurking in Simon’s heart, and until that was gone, he could not be part of the Lord’s ministry.
God of abundant, amazing grace, cleanse and renew our hearts, washing away all our sins. By Christ’s power, Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
