Verse 10: “To whom all, from the small unto the great, were paying attention and they were saying about him (Simon), ‘This one is the great power of God.’”

This one is the great power of God: Simon had deceived them by saying he was someone great. Simon did this pretending to have the very power of God.

Verse 11: “They were paying attention to him, because for a long time, with his magic, he was amazing them.”

Amazing them: They could not figure out, and were shocked by, what Simon was able to do. They attributed it to God. This is satanic in origin. satan, created by God, did not want to worship God, but wanted to exalt himself over God. This is very similar to what Simon’s thought process was.

Verse 12; “When they believed Philip, for he was evangelising concerning the Kingdom of God, and the name of Messiah Yeshua, they were baptised; both men and also women.”

The Kingdom of God: When we hear this term, we need to think of ‘change’. This Kingdom is very different from the kingdom of this world. When we receive the gospel, we need to realise that a change is coming in our lives. The preaching of the Kingdom and the name (character) of Messiah Yeshua go together.

Baptised: Signifies a desire to serve and a change in status/transformation.

Verse 13: “Simon, also himself, believed and was baptised. Continuing with Philip, perceiving also the power and the signs that were being done, he was amazed.”

Continuing with: In a very devoted and committed way.

Verse 14: “In Jerusalem, the Apostles heard that Samaria had received the Word of God; they sent to them Peter and John.”

In Jerusalem: There is an emphasis upon Jerusalem, the capital of the kingdom. Just as Jerusalem was an important place for the Old Covenant people so too does it hold an important place for the New Covenant people.

Word of God: God’s blueprint, revealing His plans and purposes.

Them: Those people in Samaria who received the Word of God.

Peter and John: We see in the book of Acts a transfer of authority. In AD70 the temple was destroyed so there was no more authoritative priesthood. We see a new authority, and that authority was upon the apostles.

Verse 15: “Who, having come down from Jerusalem, prayed on behalf of them so that they would receive the Holy Spirit.”

There is a relationship between receiving the Word of God (the gospel) and receiving the Holy Spirit.

Verse 16: “For as of yet He had not fallen upon any of them. For only they had been baptized in the name of the L-rd Yeshua.”

He: Referring to the Holy Spirit.

Baptized in the name of the L-rd Yeshua: Messiah Yeshua was known to them, but they did not have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Verse 17: “Then they set their hands upon them and they received the Holy Spirit.”

They: The Apostles

Set (their hands) upon: This verb is written in the Greek imperfect tense. The imperfect tense speaks about an action that began in the past and will continue to have relevance up to a certain time (usually to the present) and then it ends. The Apostles were doing this but were not going to continue to do this. This passage is emphasising the Apostolic authority of these leaders. They laid their hands upon these individuals because this was the first time the Holy Spirit was given in this geographical area.