"Neither Part Nor Lot In This Matter"
The eighth chapter of Acts is an account of the activities of Philip, Peter, and John among the Samaritans. Philip, along with the other members of the church at Jerusalem, when they were scattered by the persecution, went about preaching. The field first worked by Philip was Samaria. Great success attended this preaching in Samaria, "And the multitudes gave heed with one accord unto the things that were spoken by Philip, when they heard and saw the signs which he did." (Acts 8:6) "But when they believed Philip preaching good tidings concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized both men and women." (Acts 8:12)
One of these people who was baptized in response to this preaching of the word by Philip, "was a certain man Simon by name, who beforetime in the city used sorcery, and amazed the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one." (Acts 8:9) The account tells of the conversion of Simon. Note that, according to the Bible account, he did the same things that the others did: "And Simon also himself believed: and being baptized he continued with Philip; and beholding signs and great miracles wrought he was amazed." (Acts 8:13)
From the references given above, we collect these facts: (1) The Samaritans believed and were baptized, (2) Simon also himself believed and was baptized. That Simon was saved is admitted by all who believe what Jesus said when he with all authority in heaven and on earth pledged that, "he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." (Mark 16:16)
But although Simon continued with Philip and was amazed by the signs and great miracles which Philip performed in proof of the divine origin of the word which he preached, he yet succumbed to temptation. For when Peter and John came to Samaria and, by laying their hands on these new members of the church, imparted to them the Holy Spirit, Simon offered them money for this power to impart the Holy Spirit to others.
In what sense did the Samaritans receive the Holy Spirit through the laying on of the apostles' hands? Certainly not "the gift of the Holy Spirit" of Acts 2:38, for this was promised to all upon the same condition as was remission of sins, namely, faith, repentance, and baptism. These people, including Simon, had complied with the conditions of remission of sins and just as sure as their sins were remitted, they also received "the gift of the Holy Spirit." Another thing that needs to be taken into account is the fact that evidence of the reception of the Holy Spirit by the Samaritans was visible, for "when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money." The Holy Spirit was given, not in his capacity of comforting and refreshing, but in his capacity of confirming and in the case of some of those baptized, revealing. He confirmed the word as the word of God by these signs and through these signs confirmed that those who performed them were approved as acceptable to God. These signs followed — were in evidence — wherever people were made believers. The apostle Paul found some disciples at Ephesus, who had not received the Holy Spirit when they believed. His inquiry brought out the fact that they had not believed in Christ when they were baptized. He then taught them that they must believe on Christ. They responded to this teaching by being baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. The "gift of the Holy Spirit" referred to in Acts 2:38 was theirs upon their compliance with the condition of remission. So this was not what Paul imparted to them when he "had laid his hands upon them" and "the Holy Spirit came on them and they spake with tongues and prophesied." (Acts 19:6) This which the apostle here imparted was something which could be seen. This evidently was what Simon saw in Samaria. He "saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given."
Simon was not attempting to secure the power to speak in tongues, etc. The gifts or manifestations of the Spirit which are listed in 1 Cor. 12:7-11 and which include speaking in tongues were not what Simon sought. "He offered them money saying, give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay my hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit." (Acts 8:19) Simon had seen the manifestations of the Spirit and had observed that these gifts were given through the laying on of the apostles' hands. He wanted and sought to buy this apostolic power of imparting these gifts to others.
The reply which Peter made to Simon's proposal clearly bears out the teaching of the other passages on the point IF it is properly translated. Other teachings in the New Testament limit the power to impart these gifts of the Spirit to the apostles. Paul laid his hands on the baptized believers at Ephesus to impart the gift of tongues and prophecy. He wrote to the Roman believers, "I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift." But the way the passage is translated in the King James Version, American Revised Version, etc., makes it appear that the reason that Simon had neither part nor lot in that which he requested was the condition of his heart. Peter is represented as saying, "Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: FOR thy heart is not right before God." (Acts 8:21) The word which is here translated "for" should be translated "verily." When so translated, we have Peter making two statements in response to Simon's proposal: (1) "Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter;" (2) "Verily, thy heart is not right before God." In the first place, Simon not being an apostle of the Lord, had no part in the matter of imparting the Holy Spirit to others in the sense that it was imparted by the laying on of the apostles' hands. His sin was his attempt to obtain the gift, any gift, of God with money, Anytime anybody thinks to obtain any favor of God by purchasing it with money that person's heart is not right before God.
The point which gospel preachers have long made, that none but apostles of the Lord "had part and lot" in imparting spiritual gifts by the laying on of hands, stands firmly.