Bible Society of South Africa
Ds Hein Barnard

Forgiveness – Day 18

Philip, as well as Stephen who had been stoned to death, was one of the 7 men chosen to support the ministry of the apostles (Acts 6). Simon was a magician in Samaria and according to verse 13, believed and was baptised too. Magicians were influential people in their communities.

Se(di)ngolwa (t)sa Bibele

DIKETSO 8

9Monna e mong ya bitswang Simone, ya neng a se a ntse a le motseng oo e le senohe, a makatsa batho ba Samaria, a ipolela hore yena ke mangmang. 10Bohle ba ne ba mo mamela ka hloko, ho tloha ho e monyenyane ho isa ho e moholo, ba re: “Enwa ke Matla a Modimo a bitswang a maholo.” 11Ba ne ba mo mamela ka hloko kahobane e ne e se e le kgale a ba makatsa ka bonohe ba hae. 12Empa ha Filipi a se a ba bolelletse molaetsa o molemo wa tsa Mmuso wa Modimo le tsa lebitso la Jesu Kreste, ba dumela, mme ha kolobetswa banna le basadi. 13Simone le yena a dumela. Hoba a kolobetswe, a kgomarela Filipi, a bona mehlolo le diketso tse kgolo, tse matla, tse etsahalang, mme a hlollwa.

14Yare ha baapostola ba leng Jerusalema ba utlwa hore Samaria e amohetse lentswe la Modimo, ba roma Petrose le Johanne teng. 15Bona ha ba fihla, ba rapella Basamaria hore ba amohele Moya o Halalelang, 16hobane o ne o eso ka o theohela le ho ya mong wa bona, ba mpa ba kolobeditswe feela ka lebitso la Morena Jesu. 17Yaba Petrose le Johanne ba ba bea matsoho, mme ba amohela Moya o Halalelang.

18Ha Simone a bona hore Moya o Halalelang o newa ka peo ya matsoho a baapostola, a ba tlisetsa tjhelete, 19a re: “Le nna mpheng matla ana, hore mang le mang eo ke mmeang matsoho a tle a amohele Moya o Halalelang.”

20Empa Petrose a re ho yena: “Tsamo shwela kwana le tjhelete ya hao! O lekanya hore mpho ya Modimo e rekwa ka tjhelete! 21Ha o na kabelo leha e le seabo tabeng ena, hobane pelo ya hao ha e a loka mahlong a Modimo. 22Ka baka leo, bakela bokgopo bona ba hao, mme o rapele Morena hore mohlomong o tle o tshwarelwe mohopolo wa pelo ya hao; 23etswe ke bona hore o na le takatso e mpe, mme o ditlamong tsa bokgopo.”

24Simone a araba, a re: “Lona a le ke le nthapelle ho Morena, hore ke se ke ka hlahelwa ke letho la tseo le di boletseng.”

25Hoba ba pake, mme ba bolele lentswe la Morena, ba kgutlela Jerusalema, ba ntse ba phatlalatsa molaetsa o molemo metseng e mengata ya Basamaria.

DIKETSO 8:9-25SSO89SOBula ka mmadi wa Bibele

Serving God with the wrong motive

There are different views whether Simon had genuine saving faith when we read the whole reading.  His ability as a magician did not come from God and he thought that he could buy the power of the Holy Spirit to perform even greater miracles.

There is no possibility that salvation, forgiveness of sins or the power of God can be bought!  This is only possible through a contrite heart, a humbleness and willingness to confess and break with sins. 

Simon’s reaction to Peter’s words was to ask Peter to pray for him.

Bible Society of South Africav.4.26.9
RE FUMANE HO