Simon was a man with power and someone who enjoyed the limelight (v9-11). Philip’s ministry took the focus away from Simon, as many in response to Philip’s teaching and miracles came to trust in Christ (v12). Simon himself came to profess faith (v13) and he was amazed at the miracles Philip did.

It is interesting here that these people who came to faith, did not receive the Holy Spirit immediately, but only when Peter and John came and laid hands on them (v14-17). This was something exceptional, as in the New Testament after Pentecost, receiving salvation normally mean receiving the Spirit (see Acts 10 v44; Romans 8 v9).

There was an important reason why this happened differently here. These new believers were Samaritans and it appears that it was God’s will for them only to receive the Spirit with the coming of the apostles from Jerusalem, so that there would be unity among believers and not separated Jewish and Samaritan churches.

Here we see once more the great passion of God that His people would be united (see John 17 v20-21). We need to be careful not to distance ourselves from true believers just because they come from a different background to us (see James 2 v1-5). Have you prejudice against some believers?