Simon was a magician in Samaria, and had become both rich and influential by the use of sorcery before the people, who were amazed or bewitched by his work. "To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries."
So, the corruption of the church by pagan mystery religions and false religious system began very early some say even at the time with Pentecost in 31 A.D. In Pauls epistles, he says that "the mystery of iniquity DOTH ALREADY WORK" (II Thess. 2:7 ). Paul wrote this in 50 or 51 AD The plot to supplant the truth had already begun. In the later epistles of Paul and in those of the other Apostles, we find it gaining considerable momentum. So were did these mystery religions come from and how did they find their way into the early church. Well we find it in Simon Magnus, as he was one of the perpetrators of these false beliefs that crept into the church.
We read in Acts the incident recorded by Luke, of the first encounter of the Apostles with Simon the Magus. The reason Luke describes the intentions of this man so thoroughly is the profound effect this man, and his followers, had on Gods Church. Actually, the time when Luke composed the book of Acts, he had caused the so much trouble and confusion that Luke had to show the people that he was not, as he claimed to be, a part of the Christian Church. All scholars realize that Luke tells about Simon's beginning because of his later notoriety and danger to the Church.
In this regard, notice the comment of Hasting's Dictionary of the Apostolic Church, Vol. 2, p. 496: "It seems beyond question that Luke knew the reputation which Simon acquired, and that he regarded the subsequent history of Simon as the natural result of what occurred in the beginning of his connection with the Christians."
If we assume that Luke recorded this encounter of the Apostles with Simon Magus simply to show that "simony" was wrong, we miss the point completely. There is a score of places in other parts of the Bible to show the error of buying ecclesiastical gifts. Lets take a look closer look at Simon the Sorcerer or Magician, in Latin Simon Magnus. He was a Samaritan magus or follower of Zoroaster, magi who claimed the ability to read the stars, and manipulate the fate that the stars foretold and a convert to Christianity.
Notice the points Luke gives us. Simon was a Samaritan, and used unknown powers to do miracles and wonders (Acts 8:9).
The whole population of Samaria (both small and great) gave heed to him in verse 10. He was looked on as the greatest prophet in Samaria, the people in Samaria saw him as a "Great One", a god. And divine, "This man is the great power of God." (Acts 8:10).
Luke is also careful to inform us that Simon had become firmly established in Samaria in this manner and had practiced his powers "long time he had bewitched them with sorceries." in verse 11.
Simon had professed to accept the gospel, and was a baptized convert of Philip's. He continued with Philip after his profession of religion. He had also heard Peter and John preach Christ. He had been a witness when the Holy Ghost fell upon the people. But Simon had a love of another power, which we see in the prior bewitching he had done among the people. So he coveted more of it and wanted to add to his own gifts the power of imparting the Holy Spirit to men, that he might thus increase his influence over the people, as well as add to his income and popularity. He would still be able to hold the people as bewitched as in former times, and because of the gospel would become a greater man in the eyes of the people.
Simon even recognized that Christ's power was greater than his but wanted to be associated with that great name. Then he seeing the potential of the Christian religion waited until the apostles, Peter and John, came to Samaria and then offered to pay them money to get the power the apostles had.
Acts 8:18-21
18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
It appears that after being cast out by the Apostles he came to Rome where he became influential and well known. He was a danger and if you read between the lines, Luke was clearly showing that Simon was not truly converted or a part of God's Church, even though in Rome, many people were being fooled that Simon was truly a Christian. Instead he begun a false religion which history says formed into Gnosticism, which did much to destroy the truth and faith among the early church.
So, the corruption of the church by pagan mystery religions and false religious system began very early some say even at the time with Pentecost in 31 A.D. In Pauls epistles, he says that "the mystery of iniquity DOTH ALREADY WORK" (II Thess. 2:7 ). Paul wrote this in 50 or 51 AD The plot to supplant the truth had already begun. In the later epistles of Paul and in those of the other Apostles, we find it gaining considerable momentum. So were did these mystery religions come from and how did they find their way into the early church. Well we find it in Simon Magnus, as he was one of the perpetrators of these false beliefs that crept into the church.
We read in Acts the incident recorded by Luke, of the first encounter of the Apostles with Simon the Magus. The reason Luke describes the intentions of this man so thoroughly is the profound effect this man, and his followers, had on Gods Church. Actually, the time when Luke composed the book of Acts, he had caused the so much trouble and confusion that Luke had to show the people that he was not, as he claimed to be, a part of the Christian Church. All scholars realize that Luke tells about Simon's beginning because of his later notoriety and danger to the Church.
In this regard, notice the comment of Hasting's Dictionary of the Apostolic Church, Vol. 2, p. 496: "It seems beyond question that Luke knew the reputation which Simon acquired, and that he regarded the subsequent history of Simon as the natural result of what occurred in the beginning of his connection with the Christians."
If we assume that Luke recorded this encounter of the Apostles with Simon Magus simply to show that "simony" was wrong, we miss the point completely. There is a score of places in other parts of the Bible to show the error of buying ecclesiastical gifts. Lets take a look closer look at Simon the Sorcerer or Magician, in Latin Simon Magnus. He was a Samaritan magus or follower of Zoroaster, magi who claimed the ability to read the stars, and manipulate the fate that the stars foretold and a convert to Christianity.
Notice the points Luke gives us. Simon was a Samaritan, and used unknown powers to do miracles and wonders (Acts 8:9).
The whole population of Samaria (both small and great) gave heed to him in verse 10. He was looked on as the greatest prophet in Samaria, the people in Samaria saw him as a "Great One", a god. And divine, "This man is the great power of God." (Acts 8:10).
Luke is also careful to inform us that Simon had become firmly established in Samaria in this manner and had practiced his powers "long time he had bewitched them with sorceries." in verse 11.
Simon had professed to accept the gospel, and was a baptized convert of Philip's. He continued with Philip after his profession of religion. He had also heard Peter and John preach Christ. He had been a witness when the Holy Ghost fell upon the people. But Simon had a love of another power, which we see in the prior bewitching he had done among the people. So he coveted more of it and wanted to add to his own gifts the power of imparting the Holy Spirit to men, that he might thus increase his influence over the people, as well as add to his income and popularity. He would still be able to hold the people as bewitched as in former times, and because of the gospel would become a greater man in the eyes of the people.
Simon even recognized that Christ's power was greater than his but wanted to be associated with that great name. Then he seeing the potential of the Christian religion waited until the apostles, Peter and John, came to Samaria and then offered to pay them money to get the power the apostles had.
Acts 8:18-21
18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
It appears that after being cast out by the Apostles he came to Rome where he became influential and well known. He was a danger and if you read between the lines, Luke was clearly showing that Simon was not truly converted or a part of God's Church, even though in Rome, many people were being fooled that Simon was truly a Christian. Instead he begun a false religion which history says formed into Gnosticism, which did much to destroy the truth and faith among the early church.
