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This week's question:

When Jesus performed many of the miracles upon this earth, the Jewish leaders tried to convince others it was either by hoax or by the power of Satan. When He healed the man that was born blind on the Sabbath and they stated, "'This man is not from God, because he does not keep the Sabbath.' While others were saying, 'How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?' and there was a division among them." (John 9:16). Then they questioned his parents concerning his condition at birth, "The Jews did not believe it of him, that he had been blind and had received sight, until they called the parents of the very one who had received his sight, and questioned them saying, 'Is this your son, who you say was born blind? Then how does he now see?' His parents answered them and said, 'We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but how he now sees, we do not know. Ask him; he is of age, he will speak for himself.' His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone confessed Him to be the Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue." (John 9:18-22). When He cast out demons they charged that He did it by the power of Beelzebub (Luke 11:14-26). But the healings were no "magic trick", because the man born blind did see, the demons were cast out, the withered hands were restored (Mark 3:1-5), the paralytic got up and walked (Mark 2:3), and the dead were raised (Mark 5:21-43 &John 11:1-46).

That brings us back to our question, "Who practiced 'magic' in a city of Samaria?". When Saul ravaged the church and drug both men and women off to prison, many were scattered and Philip went to Samaria to proclaim Christ to them (Acts 8:1-5). There was one who practiced magic there who ".. claimed to be someone great; and they all, from the smallest to the greatest, were giving attention to him saying, 'This man is what is called the great power of God.' And they were giving him attention because he had for a long time astonished them with his magic arts." (Acts 8:9-11). Philip was a man of "good reputation" and was able to perform many miracles as he was one who had the hands of the apostles laid upon him for the power of the Holy Spirit to work through him (1 Corinthians 12:1-11 & Acts 8:17)., and many were healed, "For in the case of many who had unclean spirits, they were coming out of them shouting with a loud voice; and many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed. So there was much rejoicing in that city." (Acts 8:7-8). Even the magician saw the amazing things performed through Philip and he even believed along with many of the people and all were baptized and were being constantly amazed (Acts 8:12-13). When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that the truth was being proclaimed in Samaria, they sent Peter and John who prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, as He had not yet fallen on any of them and then they began imparting the Holy Spirit upon the people (Acts 8:14-17). When the magician saw that they could bestow the Holy Spirit by the "laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money, saying, 'Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.'" (Acts 8:18-19).

And Peter rebuked him by saying, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! You have no part or portion in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray for the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity. But Simon answered and said, "Pray to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what your have said may come upon me." (Acts 8:20-23).

So there we have our answer as the magician is none other than "Simon", sometimes called "Simon the sorcerer"!

When the truth came to the people at Ephesus, many gave up on practicing the magic arts and brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all so that the price of the books that were burned counted up to "fifty thousand pieces of silver" (Acts 19:19). Those who practiced magic and were honest enough to admit the truth of the word, just as Simon, turned from tricking the people from thinking they were something great and carried some great power of God and turned to the real great power of God for life everlasting through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Let us lay aside any magic for the claim of someone other than what we truly are, one of God's creation that needs His help for that last day and not be deceived as are, "..they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved." (1 Thessalonians 2:9-10). Doing magic tricks to entertain the people, as long they are told it is for entertainment, can be enjoyable, but let us remember to let the people know that it is only a 'magic trick'!

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