Priscilla and Aquila were a husband and wife team who taught Apollos about Jesus Christ (Acts 18). Pilate, regrettably, released Barabbas and sent the Lord to the crucified. To his surprise the crowd, manipulated by those who hatred Jesus, demanded Barabbas be freed and the Lord crucified. He therefore allowed the people of Jerusalem to decide whether Christ or Barabbas would die in the likely hope Jesus would be freed. While he did not want, unilaterally, to condemn Christ, he also wanted to appease the Jews.
Pilate rightfully suspected that Jesus' arrest by the Jews centered far more on religious disagreements rather than a state crime deserving the death penalty. He (and his wife) believed Jesus was undeserving of death. He was Rome's authority in Judea from 26 to 36 A.D. He had practiced Satan-magic…but even he was able to see that there was a difference between God-miracles and Satan-magic.Pontius Pilate was Roman Prefect (governor) of Judea during the time of Jesus' public ministry and crucifixion. In an amazing turn-around, verse 13 says: And even Simon himself believed (Philip’s message of Christ) and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip and as he observed signs and great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed. Do their words and works point to Jesus and His Deity and greatness or do they point to their own greatness and power? 4:1) Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is why the apostle John exhorts us (1 Jn. These are our clues to the many “spirits” in our day who contest for our allegiance. That matches the results of their respective ministries: in the case of Philip, people were converted to Christ-followers whereas people were amazed at Simon’s magic and became his followers. 6) in contrast to Simon who boasted and welcomed self-acclaim for his acts of power. Philip proclaimed Christ, and his powerful signs affirmed his message (v. Both were given attention by the people of Samaria. Both performed miracles however, Philip’s were by divine power – Simon’s by demonic power. It is instructive to compare and contrast the “ministries” of Philip (vv.
Popular television hosts still promote New Age practitioners from time to time. One of the more recent manifestations is the New Age movement which we do not hear about much anymore, but sadly is alive and well. Spiritual counterfeits of this sort have been with us all through history. Simon obviously welcomed the fame and gain he received as a result of his demonic powers. He was described as boastful – claiming to be someone great – and as popular among all the people with the nickname: The Great Power of God (v. He was not what we would refer to as an illusionist, but a sorcerer, meaning someone capable of exercising control over nature and people by means of demonic or Satanic power. In fact, the early church fathers referred to this individual as Simon Magus (Simon the magician). According to verse 9, Simon practiced magic or sorcery in the city. Philip’s ministry in Samaria in Acts 8 included an encounter with a man named Simon.
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