religious figure who confronted Peter
Wikipedia
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Simon Magus - Wikipedia
May 10, 2026 - Simon Magus (Greek Σίμων ὁ μάγος, Latin: Simon Magus), also known as Simon the Magician, was a religious figure whose confrontation with Peter is recorded in the Acts of the Apostles. The act of simony, or paying for position, is named after Simon, who tried to buy his way into ...
Encyclopedia Britannica
britannica.com › philosophy & religion › religious figures & scholars
Simon Magus | Samarian Magician, Gnostic Heresies | Britannica
2 weeks ago - 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 ...
Videos
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.
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
April 11, 2025 - 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.
Podbean
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Acts 8:9-24 - Simon the Magician | Thinking on Scripture with Dr. Steven R. Cook
July 12, 2023 - Luke continues, saying, “And they were giving him attention because he had for a long time astonished them with his magic arts” (Acts 8:11). Apparently Simon was performing his “magic arts” by means of demonic forces.
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 after in the Roman political world, which is also odd because practicing magic was forbidden by Scripture.
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.
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 ...
BiblicalTraining
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Simon Magus - Search results provided by BiblicalTraining
Philip encountered him in a town which was prob. the capital Sebaste, but may have been Gitta, Simon’s traditional home. The magician himself became a convert (episteusen, “believed,” is the normal term in Acts), was baptized with many others, and was amazed at the miracles of Philip which apparently surpassed his own.
YouVersion
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Acts 8:9-13 - Compare All Versions | YouVersion
Previous to Philip’s arrival, a certain Simon had practiced magic in the city, posing as a famous man and dazzling all the Samaritans with his wizardry. He had them all, from little children to old me But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: to whom they all gave heed, 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 But there was a man named Simon in that city.
Grace Evangelical Society
faithalone.org › blog › simon-the-magician-was-born-again
Simon the Magician Was Born Again - Acts 8:4-25 - Grace Evangelical Society
Philip had taken the message that God had become man in Jesus Christ to Samaria, where they already had their own incarnate deity, Simon the Magician, “God’s Great Power.” Incredibly, Luke records that the power of the gospel broke through ...
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.
Reading Acts
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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).
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.
ESV Bible
esv.org › Acts+8:9–25
Acts 8:9–25; Acts 13:6–12; Acts 16:16–18; Acts 19:13–19
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 l…
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 ...
Centered on Christ
centeredonchrist.substack.com › centered on christ › what does the bible say about magic?
What Does the Bible Say About Magic? - by Drew Suttles
April 4, 2025 - Like the Old Testament, the New Testament considers magic unacceptable for those who worship God: “Magic functions in the New Testament as a means of discrediting rival wonder-workers and their practices (Ricks). In Acts 8:18–24, Peter rebukes ...
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 ...