Lesson 3633

 (Lesson 3633)(12-15-21) Acts 8:9-12

    “But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries. But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.”

    Today’s quote introduces Simon the sorcerer. The rest of his story will be told later in tomorrow’s lesson. Today’s quote also contains a lesson that won’t be found by the vast majority of those who “study” the bible.

    We should make note that the author said Philip was “preaching” the name of Jesus Christ. (“But WHEN THEY BELIEVED PHILIP PREACHING the things concerning the kingdom of God, and THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, they were baptized, both men and women.”)

By doing so, the author established that “the name of Jesus Christ” is a message within itself and is something that is capable of being “preached”, or taught.

    This demonstrates that the usage of the word “baptized”, as it is appears in today’s quote, is NOT a reference to water baptism. Rather, the usage is a reference to the baptism of the Holy Ghost which those people received when they BELIEVED in “the name of Jesus Christ.~