The Acts Church and Discernment
In Acts 8:8 we read about great joy coming to the city of Samaria as Philip preached about the Messiah.
However, in the next verse we read about Simon. He had made a name for himself through sorcery, which is witchcraft. When he saw what was happening, it says he believed and was baptised. It is not enough to just go through the motions, there needs to be a change of heart. When Simon saw Peter’s anointing, he was more interested in its power, and his heart was revealed. Peter, by the gift of discernment, exposed the spirit of sorcery or witchcraft and its’ root of bitterness.
