Simon Magus
Simon Magus was a sorcerer in Samaria who had amazed the people with his magic and was called 'the great power of God' until Philip's preaching led him to profess belief and be baptized. When he saw the apostles bestow the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands, he tried to buy that power with money - an act Peter sharply rebuked, telling him his heart was not right and calling him to repent. His name gave rise to the term 'simony' for trafficking in sacred things.
Biography
- Occupation
- Sorcerer
- Era
- New Testament (Acts)
- Nationality
- Samaritan
Did You Know?
Simon Magus tried to buy the power to bestow the Holy Spirit with money (Acts 8:18-19), and his name gave the English language the word 'simony' - the sin of trafficking in sacred offices.
Before his conversion the people of Samaria hailed him as 'the great power of God' (Acts 8:10), showing the celebrity status magicians could achieve in the first-century world.
Peter's stern rebuke - 'thy money perish with thee' (Acts 8:20) - and Simon's frightened plea for prayer make him the New Testament's cautionary tale about mistaking spiritual gifts for a commodity.
Key Chapters
Key Passages
Simon Offers Money for Power
Acts 8:18-24
Peter rebukes Simon for thinking the gift of God could be purchased, calling him to repent of his wickedness.
18nd when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostlesโ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,