Scattered
Day 494, Thursday, Dec. 18
Acts 8:4-25
The persecution that follows Stephen’s martyrdom has exactly the opposite effect of what its perpetrators intend. Yes, many of the believers flee the city because of the persecution, but they take the good news with them. “Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.”
One of those we see spreading the word is Philip, who goes to a city in Samaria and proclaims the Messiah there. Philip, you might remember, was, like Stephen, one of the members of the church who was chosen to help in the distribution of the food.
More than just taking some of the administrative burden off the apostles, Philip becomes an effective evangelist, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God and baptizing people.
One of the people who believes and is baptized is a well known sorcerer by the name of Simon.
The apostles in Jerusalem hear of the work in Samaria and send Peter and John there. “When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.”
Simon, seeing this, offers them money if he can receive the ability to convey the Holy Spirit like they do.
Peter rebukes him and calls on him to repent. The Bible does not indicate if Simon repents or not.
The crime of paying a bribe to gain a position in the church is still referred to as “simony” in reference to Simon’s sin.

-Rev. Mark Fleming

Thursday meditation

Psalms 44:17-26
All this came upon us, though we had not forgotten you; we had not been false to your covenant. Our hearts had not turned back; our feet had not strayed from your path. But you crushed us and made us a haunt for jackals; you covered us over with deep darkness.
If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread out our hands to a foreign god, would not God have discovered it, since he knows the secrets of the heart? Yet for your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.
Awake, Lord! Why do you sleep? Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever. Why do you hide your face and forget our misery and oppression?
We are brought down to the dust; our bodies cling to the ground. Rise up and help us; rescue us because of your unfailing love.

Prayer focus
Fill us with your Holy Spirit that we may be effective and powerful in proclaiming your gospel.