religious figure who confronted Peter
Factsheet
Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Simon_Magus
Simon Magus - Wikipedia
June 16, 2026 - Also, Hippolytus demonstrates acquaintance with the folk tradition on Simon which depicts him rather as a magician than Gnostic, and in constant conflict with Peter (also present in the apocrypha and Pseudo-Clementine literature). Reduced to despair by the curse laid upon him by Peter in the Acts, ...
Encyclopedia Britannica
britannica.com › philosophy & religion › religious figures & scholars
Simon Magus | Samarian Magician, Gnostic Heresies | Britannica
May 28, 2026 - Simon Magus was a practitioner of magical arts who probably came from Gitta, a village in biblical Samaria. Simon, according to the New Testament account in Acts of the Apostles 8:9–24, after becoming a Christian, offered to purchase from ...
Why is Simon Magus connected to Christianity in history?
Simon Magus is connected to Christianity because, according to the New Testament, he was a Samaritan sorcerer who, after becoming a Christian, tried to buy the power to transmit the Holy Spirit from the Apostles Peter and John. This act led to the term simony, which refers to the buying or selling of sacred things or church offices. Some early Christian writings identify him as the founder of Gnosticism and the archetypal heretic of the Christian Church.
Later legends depict Simon in confrontations with St. Peter in Rome, challenging him before Emperor Nero. Simon's teachings presented himself as the "Great Power of God," appearing differently to Jews, Samaritans, and pagans. A Simonian sect arose in the 2nd century, viewing Simon Magus as the first God.
britannica.com
britannica.com › philosophy & religion › religious figures & scholars
Simon Magus | Samarian Magician, Gnostic Heresies | Britannica
How did stories about Simon Magus influence early Christian beliefs?
Simon Magus was a 1st-century Samaritan magician who, according to the New Testament, tried to buy the power of transmitting the Holy Spirit from the Apostles Peter and John, giving rise to the term simony.
Later Christian writings identified him as the founder of Gnosticism and the archetypal heretic. By the 2nd century, a Simonian sect arose that viewed Simon as the first God and worshipped him as the incarnation of Zeus. Simon's teachings included a quasi-Trinitarian Gnostic view where he appeared as the "Son of God" to Jews, "Father" to Samaritans, and "Holy Spirit" to pagans.
britannica.com
britannica.com › philosophy & religion › religious figures & scholars
Simon Magus | Samarian Magician, Gnostic Heresies | Britannica
What was Simon Magus known for doing?
Simon Magus, who lived in the 1st century AD, was known for his practice of magical arts in Samaria. After witnessing the Apostles Peter and John transmit the Holy Spirit, he offered to buy this power from them, an act that led to the term simony, which refers to the buying or selling of sacred things or ecclesiastical offices. Some early Christian writings identify him as the founder of Gnosticism and the archetypal heretic of the Christian Church.
Legends also portray Simon as having confrontations with St. Peter in Rome, where he attempted to demonstrate his ability to fly but fell to his death. Some of his followers revered him as the first God and worshiped him as the incarnation of Zeus.
britannica.com
britannica.com › philosophy & religion › religious figures & scholars
Simon Magus | Samarian Magician, Gnostic Heresies | Britannica
GotQuestions
gotquestions.org › Simon-the-Sorcerer.html
Who was Simon the Sorcerer? | GotQuestions.org
January 30, 2011 - In the book of Acts it is stated that he “amazed all the people of Samaria” (Acts 8:9), but the account does not identify him as a Samaritan himself. Christian apologist Justin Martyr is believed to have propagated the idea that Simon was a Samaritan from the city of Gitta, and this has been accepted in early church tradition and today by some church historians. The Jew called Simon who “pretended to be a magician” is referred to by the historian Josephus (Antiquities of the Jews, book 20, chapter 7), but this appears to be a different historical figure, as he was born in Cyprus.
The Orchard Church
theorchardchurch.org › blog › 2023 › 07 › 10 › acts-13-6-12-paul-and-elymas-the-magician
Acts 13:6-12: Paul and Elymas the Magician | The Orchard Church | Loganville & Walnut Grove GA – Modern Worship
July 10, 2023 - I guess he gets two names, just like John Mark (sometimes called John or Mark separately), Saul/Paul, and Barnabas/Joseph (Acts 4)—lots of people with two names in Luke, like reading Russian literature. Oddly enough, Elymas is Jewish. Jewish magicians were considered powerful and highly sought ...
Podbean
windowwalker.podbean.com › e › acts-89-24-simon-the-magician
Acts 8:9-24 - Simon the Magician | Thinking on Scripture with Dr. Steven R. Cook
July 12, 2023 - As Luke continues to recount Philip’s evangelistic ministry, he focuses on a particular person named Simon, saying, “Now there was a man named Simon, who formerly was practicing magic in the city and astonishing the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great; and they all, from smallest to greatest, were giving attention to him, saying, ‘This man is what is called the Great Power of God’” (Acts 8:9-10).
Mission Bible Class
missionbibleclass.org › home › new testament › acts and epistles › acts- beyond jerusalem (7 lessons) › simon the sorcerer
Simon the Sorcerer - Mission Bible Class
March 31, 2026 - Scripture Reference: Acts 8:5-25 · Suggested Theme: Magic tricks are just “tricks,” but miracles are by the power of God. Memory Verse: “You are the God who did miracles. You showed people your power.” Psalm 77:14, ICB · Philip was ...
Desiring God
desiringgod.org › messages › simons-perversion-of-signs-and-wonders
Simon's Perversion of Signs and Wonders | Desiring God
May 12, 1991 - But the problem is he never sees the bird. The whole point of the sign is missed. That is what happened to Simon the magician here in Acts 8. He saw the signs that Philip was doing.
Gentle Reformation
gentlereformation.com › 2020 › 01 › 17 › three-lessons-from-simon-the-magician
Three Lessons from Simon the Magician
January 20, 2020 - Last Lord’s Day in our congregation we were confronted by the unsettling figure of Simon the Magician in our series in the book of Acts (8.9-24). Luke seems to include his story in his treatment of the Samaritan church for the same kind of ...
Heaven On Wheels
heavenonwheels.org › heaven on wheels › a study of acts: simon the magician; peter and john travel to samaria
A Study of Acts: Simon the Magician; Peter and John Travel to Samaria
September 26, 2024 - For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity.” But Simon answered and said, “Pray to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.” · Acts 8:9-24 NASB1995 · The people of Samaria had been paying heed to a magician named Simon for a period of time, who awed them with amazing works of magic, so much so that they said he had the Great Power of God.
Reading Acts
readingacts.com › home › acts 8 – simon the magician
Acts 8 - Simon the Magician - Reading Acts
February 3, 2025 - Both amaze the Samaritans, Simon with magic (8:9, 11) and Philip with miracles (8:13). Simon, however, attempts to make himself something great. At the same time, Philip acts only “in the name of Jesus” (8:12,16).
BiblicalTraining
biblicaltraining.org › library › simon-magus
Simon Magus - Search results provided by BiblicalTraining
It has been suggested that the heresiarch mentioned by the Fathers and Simon of Acts 8 are two different people, the former living in the second century. SIMON MAGUS sī’ mən mā’ gəs (Σίμων ὁ μάγος). The magician encountered ...
YouVersion
bible.com › bible › compare › ACT.8.9-13
Acts 8:9-13 - Compare All Versions - Bible App
Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, and all the people, both high and low, gave him their But there was a man named Simon, who had ...
Simply Bible
simplybible.com › f78n-acts-c8-v1-25.htm
Acts 8:1-25 verse by verse - Simon the Sorcerer in Samaria
He'd amazed the people of Samaria, ... great power of God.” They listened to him because he'd long amazed them with his sorceries." (Acts 8:9-11). Simon the magician....
Thirdmill
thirdmill.org › answers › answer.asp › file › 39730
Q&A: Simon the Magician
Simon Magus (a.k.a. Simon the Magician) is a very interesting character. The Bible records his encounter with Peter in Acts 8, and several early Christian writings tell of things that later happened with Simon Magus.
Liberty University
libguides.liberty.edu › c.php
Simon the Magician - BIBL 364 - Acts - Research Guides at Liberty University
August 21, 2025 - Relation of the 7 in Acts 6 to the Office of Deacon · Acts 4:12 · Simon the Magician · Speaking in Tongues in Acts · William Coberly · Email Me · Book a Meeting · Contact: 434-582-8739 · Subjects: Philosophy, Religion · Brakke, David. “Simon Magus: The First Gnostic?” Catholic ...
BibleRef.com
bibleref.com › Acts › 8 › Acts-8-24.html
What does Acts 8:24 mean? | BibleRef.com
Simon is a magician in the city of Samaria. He witnessed his neighbors receiving the Holy Spirit by the hands of Peter and John. It's unclear if Simon performed magic through the power of demons, or if he was a complete fraud.
Logos Bible Software
logos.com › home › behind the magic: peter, simon, and an episode in samaria
Behind the Magic: Peter, Simon, and an Episode in Samaria
November 21, 2025 - The book of Acts is a favorite of preachers, so you are likely familiar with the showdown in Acts 8:9–24 between Peter and Simon the Magician. Luke tells us that Simon had practiced his magic in a city in Samaria where he had been hailed as ...
ESV Bible
esv.org › Acts+8:9–25
Acts 8:9–25; Acts 13:6–12; Acts 16:16–18; Acts 19:13–19
Acts 13:6–12 · 6 · When · they · had · gone · through · the · whole · island · as · far · as · Paphos · , they · came · upon · a · certain · z · magician · , a · a · Jewish · false · prophet · named · Bar-Jesus · ...
Reddit
reddit.com › r/protestantism › simon the magician in the bible
r/Protestantism on Reddit: Simon the Magician in the Bible
November 15, 2025 -
In Acts 8, Simon the magician was said to be a sinner who believed in Christ and was baptised, but only in the name of Jesus and not the name of the Holy Spirit. He came to peter, who was giving the people the Holy Spirit (since they didn’t receive it yet, being only baptised of the name of Jesus and not the Holy Spirit), and offered him money to try buying this power of laying on of hands. But Peter said, your money perish with you and says repent so that you may be forgiven.
Does this say a believer can lose his salvation and perish? And that you have to be forgiven off of your sins even after you believe in Christ?