Acts 8:18

θεασάμενος : the word would seem to point on (so ἰδών, see critical notes) to some outward manifestation of the inward grace of the Spirit, so Weiss, Wendt, Zöckler; so Felten, although he does not of course limit the reception of the Holy Spirit to such outward evidences of His Presence. The word may further give us an insight into Simon's character and belief the gift of the Spirit was valuable to him in its external manifestation, in so far, that is, as it presented itself to ocular demonstration as a higher power than his own magic. διὰ τῆς ἐπιθ. τῶς χ. τῶν ἀποστ., see above on Acts 8:17, cf. διά, “the laying on of hands” was the instrument by which the Holy Ghost was given in this instance: “Church,” Hastings' B.D., i., 426. προσήνεγκεν αὐτοῖς χρήματα : Simon was right in so far as he regarded the gift of the Spirit as an ἐξουσία to be bestowed, but entirely wrong in supposing that such a power could be obtained without an inward disposition of the heart, as anything might be bought for gold in external commerce. So De Wette, Apostelgeschichte, p. 124 (fourth edition), and he adds: “This is the fundamental error in ‘Simony,' which is closely connected with unbelief in the power and meaning of the Spirit, and with materialism” (see also Alford in loco). (See further on “Simony,” Luckock, Footprints of the Apostles as traced by St. Luke, i., 208.) Probably Simon, after the manner of the time, cf. Acts 19:19, may already have purchased secrets from other masters of the magical arts, and thought that a similar purchase could now be effected.