Simon is impressed by his message, related in both word and deed Simon converts to Christian faith, is baptized, and becomes a disciple of Philip (v. And we’re only given the most general of explanations why: he’s impressed by the bold, powerful, and energetic message of the apostles, in this case, Philip the Evangelist. The figure of the “wandering holy man/miracle worker” was quite common in the ancient Greco-Roman world.īut as I said earlier, Simon converts.

And yet, he almost certainly did them for profit. He did not do these things by the grace and power of the Holy Spirit. Whatever magical acts, whatever signs and wonders, he was performing were not of a divine origin. Simon was a practitioner of the occult, maybe divination, maybe “slight-of-hand” illusions we’re not told specifically what sort of “magic” he performed. Stated another way: no person is beyond salvation. First, and most importantly, he’s an interesting character because he teaches us that no person, regardless of occupation or present belief system or past history, is impervious to the gospel of Jesus Christ crucified and resurrected. He’s an interesting character for a number of reasons. Have you ever met someone so vehemently opposed to the gospel of Jesus Christ that you thought, “Wow… if they ever became a Christian, it’d be a miracle…”? Well, today we meet one of those people! His name is Simon, Simon Magus traditionally, literally, “Simon the Sorcerer,” or “Simon the Magician” (v. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.įor as yet He had fallen upon none of them. Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, Then Simon himself also believed and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done. To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the great power of God.”Īnd they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time.īut when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them.Īnd the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.įor unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed.īut there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great, The Scripture reading for Apis Acts 8:5-17 (Epistle) and can be found here.

Simon the sorcerer holy spirit