Simon the Sorcerer is a figure mentioned briefly in the Bible in Acts 8:9-24. Here is a summary of what we know about Simon from this passage:
Simon lived in the city of Samaria and practiced sorcery/magic arts (v.9). He had gained a large following among the Samaritans because he had amazed them for a long time with his magic (v.11). Simon claimed to be someone great and all the people revered him, saying, “This man is the power of God that is called Great” (v.10).
When Philip went to Samaria and preached Christ to them, both men and women believed Philip and were baptized (v.12). Even Simon himself believed and was baptized (v.13). Simon continued to follow Philip and was amazed by the signs and miracles Philip was performing (v.13).
When the apostles Peter and John came down to Samaria, they prayed for the new believers to receive the Holy Spirit. Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of hands by the apostles (v.18). Simon offered Peter and John money, asking them to give him the same authority to bestow the Holy Spirit on people (v.19). However, Peter sharply rebuked Simon, telling him his heart was not right before God and urging him to repent and pray for forgiveness (v.20-23). Peter perceived that Simon’s offer showed he was captive to bitterness and bound by iniquity (v.23).
This is the extent of what we know about Simon the Sorcerer from Scripture. A few key points emerge:
- Simon had been practicing sorcery/magic in Samaria for a long time and had won a large following due to his abilities.
- Simon came to faith in Christ under Philip’s preaching, was baptized, and continued to follow Philip.
- Simon wrongly thought he could obtain the apostles’ authority to confer the Holy Spirit by offering them money.
- Peter rebuked Simon sharply for his corrupt motive and exhorted him to repent.
Beyond this brief account, the rest of Scripture does not provide any additional information about Simon the Sorcerer. There was no follow-up recorded about whether Simon repented after Peter’s rebuke or what ultimately happened to him. Later traditions and legends from the early church expanded on Simon’s story, but the biblical text itself does not tell us anything more about him.
Some key lessons we can take away from Simon’s story in Acts:
- Divine gifts and power cannot be obtained through money or manipulated for personal gain.
- True conversion involves a change of heart and motive, not just outward actions.
- Repentance and contrition are necessary when sin and wrong motives are exposed.
- A previous lifestyle marked by sin or occult practices must be completely renounced in light of new life in Christ.
In summary, Simon the Sorcerer was a mysterious biblical figure who came to faith under Philip’s preaching but tried to use money to buy spiritual authority from the apostles. His wrong motive was rebuked and he was exhorted to repentance, but Scripture does not record the final outcome. His brief appearance highlights important spiritual lessons, but ultimately Simon remains an enigmatic character.
The account of Simon the Sorcerer can be found in Acts 8:9-24 (ESV):
But there was a man named Simon, who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was somebody great. They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the power of God that is called Great.” And they paid attention to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic. But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed.
Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.” And Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.”
So in summary, the brief account of Simon the Sorcerer in Acts provides intriguing glimpses into his background and interaction with the apostles but leaves many questions unanswered about his life and what became of him after his rebuke from Peter. The focus of the passage is on exposing the sinful motivation behind Simon’s attempt to buy spiritual authority, a problem that still challenges the church today. Simon serves both as a warning and a call to genuinely walk with God rather than pursue power or spiritual gifts for selfish reasons.
The Bible does not provide any additional information about Simon the Sorcerer beyond what is recorded in Acts 8:9-24. However, later traditions and writings offer various expanded stories and legends about Simon that circulated in the early church.
One prominent early tradition portrays Simon Magus (as he is sometimes called) as the founder of Gnosticism, a heretical sect that became influential in the 2nd century AD. Irenaeus, Justin Martyr, and other writers link Simon with early Gnostic teachers and claim he went to Rome and was worshipped there as a god. However, there is debate among scholars about whether there is any historical basis connecting the Simon of Acts with Gnosticism.
The apocryphal Acts of Peter gives a dramatized narrative about Simon Magus’ activity in Rome and his conflict with the apostle Peter. According to this account, Simon is able to levitate and fly through sorcery. In a public contest with Peter in Rome, Simon tries to fly but Peter’s prayers cause him to fall, resulting in his death.
The apocryphal Acts of Philip provides another embellished story about Simon’s visit to the city of Azotus, where he is able to leave his image floating in the air. Simon reportedly did this to be worshipped as a god. Again, Philip comes to the city, prays, and causes Simon to fall from the air.
Another anti-heretical work called the Refutation of All Heresies, written around the 3rd century AD, accused Simon Magus of originating Gnostic heresy through mixing Greek mythology and magic with Christian beliefs. The author claimed Simon was the source of all sects who denied that Jesus came in the flesh.
Later Christian writers such as Cyril of Jerusalem and Epiphanius also condemn Simon Magus as the source of many heresies and sects. However, modern scholars generally regard these later accounts of Simon as unreliable and historically dubious. The Simon Magus of early church legends likely became a convenient heresiarch figure on which various opponents and errors could be blamed.
While these later traditions are imaginative, they go far beyond what Scripture says about Simon. The biblical text does not connect Simon the Sorcerer with founding Gnosticism or other heretical movements. Nor does it recount later stories of his contests and encounters with Peter, Philip, and other apostles outside of Acts. Simon’s role in the Bible is limited to his brief appearance in the Acts 8 account.
The fanciful extra-biblical stories may have developed as early Christian writers sought to discredit Gnosticism and other unorthodox sects. By pinning their origins on Simon Magus, the “father of all heresies,” they could more easily dismiss these groups as dangerous and erroneous. However, attempting to trace Gnosticism back to Simon goes beyond the evidence from Scripture and remains historically doubtful.
In summary, while later traditions expand Simon the Sorcerer’s biography in dramatic ways, the biblical text gives no information about his life beyond what is recorded in Acts 8. The focus there is on Simon’s spiritual erring and need for repentance, not his becoming the founder of major heresies. Christians should rely fully on scriptural authority rather than legendary extra-biblical accounts when assessing Simon and his place in history.
Some key theological and practical lessons that can be drawn from the account of Simon the Sorcerer include:
- Divine gifts cannot be obtained through human means. Simon tried to buy the power of the Holy Spirit, but Peter rebukes him sharply, stating his heart was not right with God (Acts 8:20-21). True spiritual gifts come from God’s grace, not human schemes.
- Outward profession of faith alone is inadequate. Though Simon believed and was baptized, Peter saw that his heart was captive to sin and bitterness (Acts 8:13, 23). True repentance and conversion involves inner transformation by God’s Spirit.
- Seeking power and self-glorification displease God. Simon seemed focused on enhancing his own image and prestige through the Spirit’s gifts. But Peter discerns his selfish motivation and orders him to repent (Acts 8:9, 22-23).
- All sin and error originates in the heart. Though Simon’s attempt to buy God’s power seemed shocking, Peter traces it back to the “gall of bitterness” and “bond of iniquity” in Simon’s heart (Acts 8:23). Deceitful hearts lead to deceitful actions.
- Repentance requires humility and spiritual poverty. When rebuked, Simon asks for prayer, indicating some recognition of his wrong. True repentance involves rejecting self-sufficiency and requesting mercy as a sinner.
- Trusting God’s Word matters more than power or signs. Simon was impressed by Philip’s signs but clearly lacked submission to God’s Word. A heart right with God starts with humility toward Scripture, not seeking signs.
- Sin’s consequences are severe, but God’s grace is greater. Peter declares Simon’s money should perish with him and sees him captive to bitter sin. But there is still hope through repentance and prayer for God’s grace (Acts 8:22-24).
The account of Simon the Sorcerer serves as a warning against duplicity, greed, and using the things of God for selfish gain. It highlights ongoing tensions in the early church over spiritual pride and sin contaminating the gospel witness. But it also displays God’s mercy in disciplining those He loves through rebuke and call to repentance. Simon’s story reminds believers to examine their own hearts and motives in how they view and use spiritual gifts.
There are several historical and cultural details that provide helpful background information for better understanding the account of Simon the Sorcerer in Acts 8:
- Samaria – Simon’s hometown was the city of Samaria in the region of Samaria, located between Judea and Galilee. Samaritans were viewed as religious rivals of the Jews, which heightens the impact of Simon’s conversion and the gospel spreading to this area.
- Magic and sorcery – Simon had practiced “magic” (Greek: mageuo), which referred to occult arts like divination, astrology, spell-casting, and attempts to manipulate spiritual forces. Such practices were common in ancient cultures and viewed as ways to gain spiritual power.
- Claims of divinity – Simon was arrogantly claiming to be “the power of God that is called Great,” a title that apparently led some to worship him as a divine or semi-divine being. Blasphemous claims of divinity by figures like Simon were not uncommon in the Greco-Roman religious landscape.
- Philip’s ministry – The spread of the gospel to Samaria was spearheaded by Philip the evangelist, one of the Greek-speaking early church leaders (Acts 6:5). His preaching of the good news and healings gained a receptive response from the Samaritans.
- Apostolic oversight – Peter and John traveled from Jerusalem to follow up on Philip’s work in Samaria, praying new believers would receive the Spirit and providing oversight and discipleship for the fledgling community of Christ-followers there.
- Simony – Simon’s offer to buy spiritual power led to the later coining of the term “simony” to refer to the unbiblical practice of paying for ecclesiastical offices, positions, or authority.
Understanding details like these help modern readers grasp the setting for Simon’s story, which bridges the early church’s outreach to Samaritans and the challenge of syncretism as new converts retained unorthodox beliefs about spiritual power.
The account of Simon the Sorcerer provides a fascinating glimpse into the development of the early church beyond Jerusalem and Judea and some of the challenges faced as the faith encountered new cultures and religious worldviews. Though brief, Simon’s story illustrates important spiritual themes that are still very applicable today.
So in summary, Simon was an enigmatic figure who represented the collision of ancient folk magic, blasphemous self-exaltation, and spiritual hype with the true power and authentic gospel message brought by the apostles. His attempt to obtain divine gifts through money highlighted the fundamental difference between grace and greed.
Simon’s pride and ungodly motives were unmasked and reproved through apostolic correction and the Scriptures. His role reminds us of the need for continual spiritual discernment, rebuke, humility, and repentance within the church. Though details of his later life are uncertain, Simon stands as both a warning from and lesson for the early believers that continues to edify Christians today.