Furthermore, it was understood that only such men as possessed the necessary delegated authority from God might presume to confer the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands. It is recorded in the history of the doings of the apostles that Philip, a deacon, went down to Samaria and preached the Gospel to the Samaritans. Many of the Samaritans believed, and were baptized by Philip, among them a certain man named Simon, "which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one." But Philip, apparently did not hold the necessary authority to confer the gift of the Holy Ghost, and he was too wise and righteous a man to attempt to do what he had no right to do. So, "when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard {140} 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: . . . . then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost." Naturally, Simon the sorcerer was very much interested in this wonderful ceremony. Such power he had never seen manifested before. He longed himself to possess such authority. Therefore, he offered money to the apostles, saying, "Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him. Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money." The lesson here is perfect. The authority to lay on hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost may not be merely assumed--not even by a man of such enduring faith as Philip's--neither may it be purchased with wordly goods. [Sidenote: The teaching and practice of the apostles derived from Jesus.] Of course, the apostles did nothing but what they had seen their Master do, or had been instructed by Him to do. In this they were wholly like Him; for He also declared, "The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do: for what things soever He doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise." There can be no question, then, that Jesus taught that the gift of the Holy Ghost should be conferred by the laying on of hands by men holding the proper authority. Jesus Himself practiced laying on of hands to confer blessings, to heal the sick, to ordain, to authorize, and for other purposes. And He taught very distinctly that God would not recognize any usurped authority. "Ye {141} have not chosen me," said Jesus to the apostles, "but I have chosen you and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, He may give you." [Sidenote: What is the gift of the Holy Ghost?]