But when they believed Philip announcing the glad tidings concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptised, both men and women.
Philip preaches in a Samaritan city, and the people believe him and are baptized. That raises two questions: what did Philip preach, and why does Luke record who was baptized?
Philip matched his message to the people in front of him. The Samaritans already shared part of Israel's hope.
The Samaritans, though a foreign race, had for centuries taken Jewish ground. They had their temple on Mount Gerizim, and they had the Jewish Scriptures. They spoke of "our father Jacob." They took the Jewish hope as their own — the coming of the Messiah (John 4:12, 25). Philip therefore took them on their own ground, and announced the Christ to them.
A sorcerer named Simon had the city under his influence. Two things Philip preached broke his hold.
Simon's sorcery and lies did great damage, and they led to his own blasphemous claims. We are told here that he misled everyone around him, small and great. What use are rank or education to guard from error? All of it vanished like smoke before the light of the gospel. "The kingdom of God" and "the name of Jesus" wiped out the empty trickery and shameless frauds of the Samaritan.
One writer argued that believing "the name of Jesus Christ" is less than believing in Jesus Himself. That argument fails.
The same strange confusion runs through this writer's remarks on Acts 8:12: "What did they believe? The things concerning the kingdom and the name of Jesus Christ. They were then baptized, and so brought into the kingdom and to the name of Jesus Christ. But whether they truly believed in Him is another thing." Did he not know that "the name" is used for the person? (John 1:12; 1 John 5:13.)
The words "kingdom of God" appear less often in Acts than readers expect. Philip's preaching in Samaria stands almost alone.
Philip preached the things concerning the kingdom of God in Samaria (Acts 8:12), as Paul did at Ephesus until everyone living in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus (Acts 19:8)… Apart from Paul, in fact, the kingdom forms no part of the recorded testimony of anyone in Acts, except Philip at Samaria. This does not mean it was not established in the most real way. But the great subject of everyone's testimony, as they went from province to province and city to city, was Christ — His death, resurrection and ascension. The power of the Holy Spirit gave that testimony effect in souls and brought them to confess His name, and so the kingdom was formed and spread.
Philip did miracles. But the verse marks their believing as the turning point, and that order repeats.
When the Lord would start the work in Samaria, Philip went down and preached Christ to them (8:5). He worked miracles as well (6, 7). But we read, "when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women" (8:12). So at Damascus (9); at Antioch in Syria (11:19-24)… it is the word of God, and not the display of power, that first caught the attention of both Jews and Gentiles. And it converted those who listened to it.
Baptism followed faith, and it carried a public meaning.
Verses 12 and 16 show us that the baptized person professes an entrance into the kingdom of God. He also professes to take on himself the name of the Lord Jesus, as his new Master. This is just as Israel of old were baptized to Moses — see 1 Corinthians 10:2.
The words "both men and women" mark a change from the sign God gave Israel earlier.
Only the males among the Jews were circumcised; disciples, both men and women, were baptized (Acts 8:12).
The next verse adds Simon to the baptized. His case is the warning attached to this passage.
He was amazed when he saw the great miracles. But more than that, he also believed, was baptized, and then stayed with Philip. But his faith was not through the word of God. God's word alone can produce faith in man, for faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Simon was captivated by the miracles he had seen. Philip was deceived by him, but not Peter, who uncovered his wickedness.
- Word. What broke Simon's hold on Samaria was a message believed, not a greater display of power. The word converted them, not the wonders.
- Name. "The name of Jesus Christ" is not a lesser thing to believe than the Person. The name stands for Him.
- Kingdom. Philip's preaching of the kingdom of God is one of the few such records in Acts. Elsewhere the kingdom spread as people came to confess Christ's name.
- Baptism. Believing came first, then baptism. Baptism professes entry into the kingdom and taking the Lord Jesus as new Master. Unlike circumcision, it was given to women as well as men.
- Reality. The same baptism that marked real converts also covered Simon. His faith rested on miracles. Profession is one thing; a work of God in the heart is another.
And Simon also himself believed; and, having been baptised, continued constantly with Philip; and, beholding the signs and great works of power which took place, was astonished.
Simon had held all Samaria under his spell. Now he is the one amazed. He believes, Philip baptizes him, and he stays close. But what was that belief worth? Peter later tells this same man that his heart is not right before God.
Before this verse can be weighed, the scale of what happened in Samaria has to be seen. The preaching of Christ ended the sorcerer's career as the man everyone called great.
This man's spell was broken by the coming of Philip with the gospel of Christ. There is indeed nothing else that can deliver men from the grip of Satan, whatever form that grip may take.
Verse 12 and verse 13 do not use the same words, and the difference is not flattering to Simon. The men and women simply believed and were baptized; of Simon alone we read that he stayed near Philip and was amazed at what he saw.
This was what carried him away — not the love of God, not the truth of Christ, nor the grace of the gospel even to such a guilty, deceitful wretch as himself, but the astonishing power at work before his eyes… Others had their eyes drawn to the kingdom and its holy glories; others in spirit fell down and clasped the feet of their unseen Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ, lost in wonder, love, and praise. Simon was in ecstasy as he watched the signs and great deeds of power… Not a word suggests self-judgment before God, not a word of any gracious work on his heart.
It was the miracles that had this influence over his spirit, not the seed of God, the divine word entering his heart. Believing because of miracles alone is not the faith that works by the Holy Spirit. God may indeed work miracles and signs to confirm His word. The end of John 2 shows that Jesus did not trust those who had believed in this way. When the Spirit of God works, He produces needs in the soul that Jesus alone can satisfy.
This kind of faith can be perfectly honest and still be empty.
It may not be in the least insincere, and those who believe this way may be the readiest to fight for their creed if it seems necessary. But there is no life, as there is no repentance, no link with Christ formed by the Holy Spirit through receiving the word.
Philip baptized Simon along with the rest of Samaria. So what can baptism do, and what can it not?
The gift of the Spirit, a few verses later, is what exposed the difference.
When the Holy Spirit was given, the line was drawn between what was real and what was not. Not all who are baptized prove to be real, but the Spirit is given only to those who are… Simon submitted to all this; nevertheless, when the test came, reality was not found in him.
Philip took Simon at his word.
Simon confessed the Lord, and Philip baptized him. I have no doubt Philip thought he had caught a great fish, and would have brought him into the assembly of believers. But the Lord had His eye on His assembly, on His dear servant, and on this daring sinner. So through Peter He brings out Simon's real state.
Simon Magus is like a buoy fixed by the hand of God over a sunken rock, to keep passing ships away from it. He is a solemn warning to all false professors. Learn this lesson: neither baptism nor making a profession of Christ can save you. He was baptized, he professed to follow Christ, and he sought entrance into God's assembly. He was clearly not saved then, and whether he ever was saved is doubtful. Nothing will do but real possession of Christ.
- Amazed, not changed — the signs held Simon; God's word never entered his heart.
- Evidence, not faith — believing because you saw a miracle is not the faith that works by the Holy Spirit.
- Sign without substance — baptism is an excellent sign where there is life and faith. Without them it only deepens guilt, with a Saviour in plain sight.
- The Spirit draws the line — not everyone baptized proves real. The gift of the Spirit exposed what Philip could not see.
- A buoy over a rock — Simon warns every passer-by: neither baptism nor profession saves. Only having Christ does.