The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-08-25

cause friends were converted. 4. Because per-
sons they loved were restored to health. o.
Because their city was made better.
z. Suggestions.
/. Preach Christ.
2. Heed preaching.
g. Seek Christianity as q remedy for all
moral and physical disorders.
a. Go down to plaees-aet as missionaries
go every where and declare the good news of
salvation.
5. Christians can have great joy" (V.5)
II. The BAPrrsM OF SIMON.
/. Data.
Acts, g.: 9-i3 (nclusive).
g. References.
v. 9. sorcery. 1875; 10: 1918; 10: Is. 10;
Elk. Z: IL, %; 8: Is, 10; 9: IL; %: 10; Lev,
20:6; Deu., 10: 1912 Is, 8: 10; a.: %; AZ:
913; GAL, 81; 2 IT,. g, g.; Rev.. -: IL, IA.
Self-ssme great one 8 So; st. John, z: IS;
IT,. "a; Pet, 2: Is, 10.
Pet, 2:2 Least TO greatest. Jer., 6: ID; 9:
10; 81: "a; Jonah, 3: 3. Great power of God.
Ro. l.: Is; Cor, 1 1a, "a.
v IL. Philip preaching. 35-37. Believed.
13; 81; IL: 81; Is: 81; 20: 81; st. Matt, %:
10; st. Mark, 16: 15 16; Ro., 10: 10. King
dom of God. %; 20: 25; %: 81; St Like, 9:
2. Co. Both men and women. S: II; 9:2;
IA. Is, 49, l Pet, 3: 81. Miracles. v. 6.
v -. Wondered. 3: 10; ID: a.; Hab, lis;
ST. John, $50; 1921.
3. Simon.
Not much is known of this man. Justin
states a few particulars /; to wit, he was born at
Gittha, in Samaria; was for time at Rome
practicing magical arts; was honored there by
the erection of statue on Tiber Island in
scribed, ITO the Divine Simon; woman
named Helena from Tyre co.operated with
Simon; both were incarnations of Divinity.
There Is a Samaritan village, Git or Karjet-
Git. about three miles southwest of Sanaris.
There are traces of sect known as Simo.lians.
They were unfriendly to Christianity. The
tenets of Simonism were very mongrel. (See
lengthy article in Cyclopedia Britannica on
Simon Magus.} Simon is known as pseudo
Messiah. the father of heresies, the head of the
Samaritan magi the founder of the Simonians.
He is called Simon Magus. Compare verse 81
From Simon,s attempt to make money out OF
religious gifts we have the word simony.
a seSe d. S0rcery
The Latin word for lot is sors. The determi-
nation of any event by lot is sorcery. The
word sorcerer, however, includes conjurers,
encliaBters, magicians. Sorcery covers witch
cry power over evil spirits for divination,
tricks, sleight-of-hand performances. It is
said, in verse g. Simon's acts bewitched the
II.
Simon: "He belonged to class that ab0unded
in that skeptical age, an age Of skepticism al
ways being characterized by gross supersti-
tions. These 'sorcerers' were generally Jews
adopts in the physical science of their time, and
they employed their clever arts in conjuring
demons, telling fortunes, cnring the SICK. and
the like. Their superior religious knowledge
would give interruptions Jews great advan.
tagcs IN this style OF imposture."
5. analysis
l. Data Acts, 1913.
g. Time. A. d. 30 (?).
3. Place. Sychar.
4. Baptizer Philip.
5. Candidate. Simon.
q. Sorcerer. 8.
b. Assumed Messiah. 8. Great one.
C. Called I" the great power of God" 10.
d. Successful. 10.
e. Popular. IL.
6. Indictments to baptism.
a. 1t was popular.
b. Wanted to be on popular side.
C. Curiosity to investigate Philips mira
cles.
Z. LESSONS.
Notes on analysis.
/. Believed ". 49, Most commentators
think Simon was mere pretender, acting
simply from secular motives. 1t is clear Simon
was convinced that Philip ontdid him in per-
70: ming wonderful deeds. Barnes says Simon
was not a believer in anv sense accepted by
the Church. Verses 2i-23 are denunciatory to
such degree We can hardly think Simon little
before sincere believer in the sense of fulfill
ing condition of salvation. Verse 12 is, how
ever quite clear statement Of q valid CONVEX
sion. Yet some think we are to understand
Simon simply made a profession OF belief and
WAS counted temporarily by st. Philip as be-
lever. The deacon must have thought him
- h. Lnrx ~oHs ii 70 honf
him. We notice that what things seemed
specially to interest Simon were the miracles.
". 49, He could not keep his eyes of from
them. Calvin said: " For the Lord determined
to lead in triumph him whom the Samaritans
held as demigod which took place when,
casting off his vain boasting he is constrained
to give glory to the true miracles"
g Der Veil explains that from the least to
the greatest does not mean different ages. older
and younger persons; but those of high and
low degree" See Deut, L: II; Ps. us: Ii.
3. 1t is plain Simon had been very apt at his
sorcery. The people were bewitched. So CAL
vim remarked, that the whole people seemed
to be shut up against the gospel by this delu-
sion. So the power of the truth is all the more
glorious in winning its way against all Odds"
a. Deacons in early Church preached and
baptized. This has been inferred from the Ak
ample of st. Philip.
/. The burden OF preaching should be Christ.
Every minister should present themes relating
to Jesus and the matters connecting with the
Kingdom Christ is establishing. (V. 12.) Such
preaching is convincing Sorcerers cannot
gansay it.
2 Believe the preaching of Christ's ministers.
Have faith in the doctrine when Jesus is pre-
sented az Savior. By st. Philips preaching and
miracles even the successful Simon was out
done Christianity is convincing above every
other system. Your faith should be trusting
faith Magus had a kind of faith, and so far
as it went it was like genuine faith. Insofar
many sinners resemble saints
B. Seek baptism. ". 12)
4. Women should become Christians (V.
IL; 5:14) We see they as Christians suffered
in early persecution. t9:2.)
III. LAYING ON OF HANDS.
Verses IA to II (inciusive) give the account.
Generally great religious movement is heard
of abroad. The news flies. Such an unusual
circumstance as that in special at Samaria
would be sure to be told of everywhere. How
did the Apostles hear of it? The distance was
not far from 40 miles. There were no tele-
graph, telephone, nor mail facilities. Such
peculiar state of things would soon gain pub
LEFTY. 1t is possible st. Philip sent for the
Apostles to come.
When known at Jerusalem two of the Apos-
ties, SITS. Peter and John, were delegated to 60
at once to the scene. j. c. Wolf, in Kings
and Apostles" says "These two of the Apos-
ties seem to have had peculiar affection for
each other. Such an affection was very natu-