Acts 8:9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: 10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest".... 11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries. 13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
This passage of scripture teaches the principle of giving others the benefit of the doubt, even when known facts to the contrary may prod us to draw foregone conclusions. As human beings, we cannot read the thoughts or motives of other people, for this is God's domain alone, and therefore if someone seems to be doing what is right, we should not attach an ulterior motive without confirmed evidences, and even then, we should hope and pray for the best. In this instance it was Simon Magus who was a well-known magician in his native country, who had gained the respect of the people in high and low places.
After having worked Voo-Doo, and having mixed magical potions for many years, he heard the preaching of the gospel, and came to be baptized like anyone else, and from what we have read in the passage in Acts, The Holy Spirit did not see fit at this time to expose his insincerity, until after he was baptized, which raises the question of whether he should have been granted the opportunity to join the new believers, given his history and the depths to which he had sunk in the diabolical service of satan. Were the disciples right in giving him the benefit of the doubt, or should they have raised their valid concerns, after knowing what this magician had been doing for so many years?
Now, even though the facts in the matter do teach us in our day, that great care must be taken when baptizing new members into the church, yet there is a great spiritual lesson to be drawn from the experience, for if they had followed their premonition, he might have been prevented from having the opportunity to be saved in God's kingdom. And this would then be the exact opposite of what Christ came to offer, because the gospel is likened unto a net which is cast into the sea, which brings in both good and bad. And furthermore, Christ has made a solemn promise to every member of the human family, that anyone who comes to Him, will not be cast out. Let's read:
John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
In our own experiences, we may sometimes fall into the snare of not giving a person the benefit of the doubt, when confirmed facts about the person have been made known. In such cases we should first go to God in prayer, asking Him for wisdom, guidance, and discretion, so that we do not draw preconceived conclusions about anyone, whether those conclusions may be real or imaginary. When it was time for Saul to become Paul, Ananias remonstrated gently against Christ's command to anoint him with holy oil, because the fact that he was known to be hunting down Christians and consenting to their execution, seemed to preclude any idea that the same person must now be welcomed with open arms into the church.
And if Ananias and the other Christians back then were not willing to give Paul the benefit of the doubt, very much of the new testament might never have been written, and the prominent evangelist that he turned out to be might never have occurred. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which cautions us against judging the motives and actions of others, for what goes around comes around, and as Christians we should always set our gaze on the brighter side of a person's experience, instead of dwelling on the real or apparent negatives that often cause us to draw wrong conclusions. Let's read:
Matthew 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
May God add His blessing to the study and practice of His word. "Good night" and God bless!