It appears that, based on what she had heard or seen, she had been moved to make changes in her life and came to appreciate and love Jesus for what he had done for her. She doubtless had heard Jesus speak and may even have witnessed his miracles. Uninvited persons would have had access to the courtyard, and it was customary for people to go to homes where rabbis had been invited in order to learn from them.Ī woman in the city who had the reputation of being a sinner, possibly a prostitute, heard the news that Jesus was eating in the Pharisee’s home. The account does not say whether those in Simon’s home were eating in the courtyard or in a room adjacent thereto. Supporting themselves on the left arm, those eating would partake of the food with their right hand. While reclining on the couches, the host and the guests would not be wearing their sandals. (Luke 7:36)Īccording to the arrangement for serving meals at that time, couches would have been positioned around three sides of a table, with the remaining side providing access for servants to bring in the food. As on other occasions, Jesus would primarily have been concerned about the spiritual well-being of those with whom he chose to associate. Possibly because of having heard or witnessed Jesus’ miracles, Simon’s curiosity about this “rabbi” of Galilee had been aroused and he wanted an opportunity to interact with him personally. 5, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1980), 168.Jesus accepted an invitation to share a meal in the home of Simon, a Pharisee. Howard Marshall, Acts: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. Bock, Acts, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2007), 333. Did he ever repent? Luke seems to leave this open to the reader. Instead, he asks Peter to intercede for him. Phillips translates verse 20, “To hell with you and your money!” Simon doesn’t listen to Peter’s advice to pray for himself. With Simon, Peter gives a warning of judgment, and he calls him to repentance. Note that Peter’s reaction here is far different from his reaction in Acts 5, where Ananias and Sapphira merely drop dead. Since Peter couldn’t see Simon’s heart, he wasn’t sure if he was going to face judgment, but he warned this as a distinct possibility. In fact, this is the only use of the present optative in the NT. The mood of the verb is in the optative, which is the very rare mood of possibility. Option #2: Peter’s threat was not actual-but uncertain This would explain why he wasn’t sealed with eternal security. The text never says that they laid their hands on Simon so, it’s quite possible that he hadn’t received the Holy Spirit yet. However, this text is admittedly an odd case because Peter and John were laying their hands on the Samaritans to receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:14-15). We might assume that he did, because this occurs at regeneration (Eph. Most importantly, this view should not be used as a case study for eternal security, because it isn’t clear if Simon received the Holy Spirit. It doesn’t say, “He believed in Christ,” but simply, “He believed.” Could Simon have believed in an abstract sense, without having true, saving faith? Some commentators note that there is a conspicuous lack of an object for Simon’s faith. The text doesn’t say that Simon professed belief in Christ, but simply that he believed. In other words, while Simon professed belief (and even believed on some level), this wasn’t true saving faith.Ĭritics of this view note that Simon’s faith is indistinguishable from the Samaritans who came to faith around him. Simon was filled with jealousy and bitterness that he didn’t have this ability (v.23). Peter clearly discerns that something is wrong with Simon when he wants to pay for the ability to give out the Holy Spirit to others. Yet Luke might include this story as an example of a false conversion. Luke records that Simon “believed” (v.13), and he was even baptized. RESPONSE: There are two ways of understanding this passage: Option #1: Simon never received salvation 23 For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity” (Acts 8:20-23). 22 Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you. But when he tried to gain the power of giving out the Holy Spirit, Peter tells him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! 21 You have no part or portion in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. (Acts 8:20-24) Did Simon lose his salvation?ĬLAIM: Luke records that Simon believed in Christ-along with the rest of the people in Samaria.
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