"And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me. And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans."
Today's quote verifies what was determined in the preceding lessons in this chapter. That being that the Samarians weren't actually saved until Peter had preached the ways of God "more perfectly". The quote confirms that at least one of those who "believed" Philip when he preached the name of Jesus Christ did not believe to the point of having received eternal salvation and thereby the Holy Ghost. That assumption is evident seeing that Simon the sorcerer immediately, after witnessing the Samarians receiving the Holy Ghost, tried to pay the apostles for that awesome power, not understanding that the power came with total acceptance of Jesus Christ as Savior. We know that Simon, like Cornelius, would have automatically received the power of the Holy Ghost had he actually put his absolute faith in Jesus Christ.
After Simon had demonstrated that he was only trying to use the gospel of Christ and the power of the Holy Ghost for his own gain, Peter warned him to repent his actions and pray for God's forgiveness.
Sadly, there are far too many today, who like Simon the sorcerer, are only in the business of preaching, for the money.~
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