![]() One claims that he told people to bury him in a grave and that he would rise after three days. Origen and the other early writers previously mentioned regarded Simon as the founder of Gnosticism.Īs for the sorcerer’s death, several traditions exist. Origen wrote that they mistakenly called Simon the Power of God. Members of this small gnostic sect combined elements of paganism, Judaism and Christianity in their misguided beliefs. Irenaeus said that Simon the Sorcerer had purchased a prostitute named Helena and that, through her, “he conceived the thought of making the angels and archangels” (ibid.).įollowers of Simon the Sorcerer were called Simonians. The final piece of information recorded in the Bible regarding Simon the Sorcerer is that, instead of actually repenting of his sin, he just asked Peter to pray for him that “none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me” (verse 24). For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity” (Acts 8:20-23). Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. Realizing that his motive was wrong, Peter strongly corrected Simon the Sorcerer, saying, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. It was common for magicians to purchase tricks from one another, so Simon may have viewed the apostles as religious “magicians” or hucksters and was trying to purchase their “trick.” Perhaps he saw this as an opportunity to make more money or enhance his own reputation. Sadly, Simon’s request was based upon impure motives. Historically, this is the origin of the word “simony”-the buying or selling of a church office or an ecclesiastical power. Seeing that people received the Holy Spirit through “the laying on of the apostles’ hands,” Simon offered them money if they would give him power to give people the Holy Spirit (verses 17-19). Since the people Philip baptized had not yet had hands laid on them for the receiving of the Holy Spirit, Peter and John came from Jerusalem to perform this important part of baptism (verses 14-16). For all who do these things are an abomination to the LORD” (Deuteronomy 18:10-12). “There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament, commentary on Acts 8:10). “They believed Simon was an impersonated power of God” (M.R. ![]() ![]() “This ‘power’ was considered a spark of God himself” in the New Testament, commentary on Acts 8:10). The people of that city mistakenly assumed that he was “the great power of God” (verse 10). Simon the Sorcerer had “bewitched” (Acts 8:9, 11, King James Version) the people of Samaria “with his sorceries for a long time” (verse 11). 13 16:13-16 19:20).Įvelyn Leilou Writer, Artist, Founder of Chapter 13 Poet Society The Simon mentioned in Acts 8:9-24 is commonly called Simon the Sorcerer or Simon Magus. All who forsook God and sought help from these demons were to be destroyed (Lev. 1:20 2:2,10 4:7 5:7-15)Īll the above practices were and still are carried on in connection with demons, called familiar spirits. ✿ Astrology and star gazing-divination by stars (Isa. ✿ Magic-any pretended supernatural art or practice (Gen. ![]() ✿ Divination-the art of mystic insight or fortunetelling (Num. 5:13).Ĭlaiming to be God, son and Holy Spirit. Greek: existemi (G1839), (bewitched - Acts: 8:9) to drive out of one's senses to be amazed beyond measure (cp. Sorcery-same as witchcraft and it biblically forbidden (Ex. Greek: mageuo (G3096), practice of the rites or sciences of the magi, the worshippers of fire among the Persians a magician (Acts: 8:9 Mt. ► Simon followed the following forbidden pagan rituals: Singapore Moses Messenger of God, CEO in IT industry, Astronaut, Scientist Ancient ecclesiastical writers say that Simon claimed he was the ALMIGHTY GOD, Himself who gave the law to Moses that he came in the reign of Tiberias as the Son that he descended upon the disciples at Pentecost in flames of fire that he was the Messiah, the Paraclete, and Jupiter and that the woman who accompanied him called Helena was Minerva, or the first intelligence. ![]()
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