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According to Acts, Simon was a Samaritan magus or religious figure of the 1st century AD and a convert to Christianity, baptised by Philip the Evangelist. Simon later clashed with Peter. Accounts of Simon by writers of the second century exist, but are not considered verifiable.
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 the Apostles Peter and John the supernatural power of.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Jan 4, 2022 · Simon the Sorcerer, sometimes referred to as Simon Magus or Simon of Gitta, is mentioned by Luke in Acts 8:9–24. He appeared in the wake of the newly established church in Samaria.
Despite the appearance of conversion, was Simon of Samaria really a closet heretic with corrupt motives that he kept concealed until after his dramatic interchange with Peter in Acts 8:18–24? The historical facts strongly support that conclusion.
The earliest post-Biblical evidence is that of Justin Martyr, who says (Apol. i. 26, 56) that a certain Simon from Gitta in Samaria during the reign of the Emperor Claudius practiced magic in both Samaria and Rome, and was given divine honors.
ACTS 8:9-11 9 But 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, 10 to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the great power of God.” 11 And they heeded him because he had astonished them with ...
May 18, 2018 · Simon Magus (ca. 67 C.E.) Founder of the heterodox sect of Simonites, often identified with the sorcerer mentioned in the New Testament (Acts 8) who was said to have bewitched the people of Samaria and made them believe that he was possessed of divine power.
