When You Aren’t The Big Name in Town

Scripture — Acts 8:9-13, 18-19 (NRSV)

Now a certain man named Simon had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he was someone great. All of them, from the least to the greatest, listened to him eagerly, saying, “This man is the power of God that is called Great.” And they listened eagerly to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic. But when they believed Philip, who was proclaiming the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Even Simon himself believed. After being baptized, he stayed constantly with Philip and was amazed when he saw the signs and great miracles that took place. . . .  Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, “Give me also this power so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

Devotion

In Acts 8:9-24, Luke shares an account from the early Christian church of a man named Simon who practiced magic in the city of Samaria. Some translations use the word “sorcery” to describe what Simon did. For many modern Christian readers, therefore, it might be easy to stop paying attention to the story right there with the interpretation that practicing sorcery is evil, and simultaneously that the story has little relevance to modern readers. Indeed, I approached the story this way for years. And to be sure, practices of sorcery and witchcraft are against the teachings of the Bible. Yet reading this story again recently, I realized that it may hold profound applications to the church today, especially to those in positions of leadership.

In the New Testament, the Greek root word translated as “magic” doesn’t necessarily have negative connotations. It can have a wealth of meanings (which go beyond the scope of this devotion.) In addition to Acts 8, the word is used in Acts 13:6-11 with obvious negative connotations to describe Bar-Jesus (also known as Elymas) who opposed Paul, Barnabas, and the proclamation of the Gospel. But it is also used in the Gospel of Matthew to describe the visitors from the east where it is often translated simply as magi—an English variant of the Greek understood by some to mean “wise men,” “astrologers,” or even “kings”; as a description of those who came to worship Jesus, the connotation is certainly not negative in that Matthew passage.

It is thus the rest of the description of Simon that caught my attention in my most recent reading. Simon was widely considered around the city of Samaria to be a great man. He amazed people with his magia (whatever that was). People, including the influential members of the community, eagerly listened to him. We might describe him as a local celebrity to whom folks paid attention. In short, he got a lot of respect.

And Luke makes an extended point of the fact that Simon was a big man in town. I think he does so for a reason. When I read that, it’s easy to imagine Simon viewed in a way that we view modern celebrities like athletes and actors. Simon could walk into the local coffee shop and find he didn’t have to pay for his drinks. I suspect he got some of his sense of identity from his importance. He likely also benefited financially. That would be a hard thing for anybody to let go of.

But then Philip comes to the city and begins to preach the Gospel. People believe the Gospel message and are baptized. God even does some great signs and miracles—which are associated with Philip. Even Simon himself believes the Gospel and is baptized, and Luke makes no suggestion that Simon’s baptism is insincere or that he in any way opposes the Gospel. Simon then proceeds to follow Philip around with amazement.

So Peter and John come to Samaria also, and those on whom they lay their hands receive the Holy Spirit. That’s when the story takes a turn. Philip, Peter, and John are now the big names in town, getting the attention and also the credit for the great signs. Simon doesn’t oppose them (the way Bar-Jesus does to the apostles in Cyprus in Acts 13). But he wants a share in the miracles. It isn’t enough for Simon that God is doing great things. Simon wants to be the leader through whom God is working. He wants to be back in the old spotlight that once shone on him.

Reading that passage and imagining the scene, it is easy for me to see how similar situations can arise in the church today or in other Christian organizations—and how it would be a temptation, especially for leaders. Even when we are well-intentioned and want to see God’s Holy Spirit at work, we might secretly (or not so secretly) want ourselves to be the leaders through whom God is at work. Rather than focusing on the goodness of what God is doing, it is tempting to focus on our own roles and authority. When we do that, we have lost sight of what is really important.

Find all Life for Leaders devotions here. Explore what the Bible has to say about work at the unique website of our partners, the Theology of Work Project. Reflection on today’s Life for Leaders theme can be found here: Work and Christian Identity (Acts 8-12).