Luke the physician wrote, “when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John. Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost. (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him, Your money perish with you, because you have thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. You have neither part nor lot in this matter: for your heart is not right in the sight of God”, and in chapter eight and verse twenty-two of the book of Acts Luke shared how Peter told Simon, “repent therefore of this your wickedness” where we read:
Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God,
if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.
The verse begins, “Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God, ...” Luke began with the words, “repent therefore” which means “change your mind and amend with abhorrence then, wherefore, on this account and consequently” “of this your wickedness” or “from your, Simon's, malignity, malice, ill-will, depravity and desire to injure”, “and pray God” which means “and beseech, desire and long for the Heavenly Father God”. Luke shared how “Peter” told “Simon” to “amend his ways and change his mind” while he “made supplication” to the Heavenly Father God.
The verse goes on to say, “... if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.”. Luke continued with the words, “if perhaps the thought of your heart” which means “whether therefore and haply the purpose and attention of your, Simon's, mind and soul” “may be forgiven you” or “might be disregarded, expired, omitted, abandoned and left destitute in Simon”. Luke shared how “Peter” told “Simon” that God might “forgive” him for his wicked “thinking and purpose”.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Peter” gave “Simon” instructions as to how he might be “forgiven” for his “wicked thinking”. “Simon” was to “change his thoughts and ways” and “pray” to God so his “sin” would be “expunged”. God is willing to forgive the sins of every person who puts their faith and trust in His Son Jesus, and when they recognize their error and come to Him, He will remove their sins and put them on a righteous path. Let all who read these words carefully examine the error of “Simon” and ask the Lord Jesus to help them not to think like him.
Next time Luke shares how Peter told Simon, “I perceive that you are in the gall of bitterness”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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