Simon the Sorcerer

Seeking to Purchase the Gift from God

Simon was a man in Samaria who practiced magic to astonish the people, through which he claimed to be someone great (Acts 8:9). The people, great and small, all paid attention to him, saying that what he was doing was the great inherent ability of God (Acts 8:10). A sorcerer (μαγεύω) is one who practices magic (μαγεία). This is the same type of magic that street performers use today to amaze people and gain financially from them, as they seek to be well-known for their skills. Simon was not the only one using magic to obtain notoriety recorded in Scripture. Elymas, a false prophet who was known as a sorcerer, stood against Saul and Barnabas, preventing them from speaking the Word of God to the proconsul of Paphos and seeking to turn Sergius Paulus from the faith (Acts 13:6-8). These men used magic to persuade the people that their power was from God to procure a position of high regard for themselves, giving them access to substantial wealth.

When Philip the evangelist came to Samaria proclaiming the gospel of the resurrected Christ, Simon the sorcerer was among those who believed. The signs and wonders that Philip performed intrigued him, so he continued with Philip after being immersed (Acts 8:13). Although the Samaritans believed in the facts of the Gospel, they had not yet received the Holy Spirit because God was using this as an opportunity to show the Jews that He was accepting the Samaritans into the Church. Therefore, it was not until the Apostles sent Peter and John—who laid their hands on those who believed Philip’s message—that they received the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:16).

The gospel for salvation, as outlined in 1 Corinthians 15:1-5, first went to the Jews and then to the Gentiles (Romans 1:16). Today, the Holy Spirit immediately immerses and indwells all who believe the Gospel, as the sign of speaking in tongues through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit is no longer being shown to the Jews due to their rejection of the resurrected Messiah (1 Corinthians 13:8).

Although Scripture does not explicitly state that the Samaritans spoke in tongues, this was the sign to the Jews that God had been using since the upper room to show evidence that He was at work in what they were witnessing. Therefore, the Holy Spirit was poured out on them in the same manner as in the upper room, as a sign to the Jews. This is likely how Simon the sorcerer was able to recognize that, when Peter or John laid hands on a Samaritan who believed, they received the Holy Spirit.

Simon was witnessing real power, not the sleight of hand he had mastered to trick people into considering him to be someone great. Still operating from the mindset of seeking to astonish others to maintain a position of esteem, Simon sought to purchase this ability from the Apostles. This request prompted a rebuke from Peter because it was evident that Simon was poisoned by bitterness and unrighteousness. Peter then instructed Simon to cry out to God for help to change his mind from this wrong way of thinking so that it is sent away from him, lest he perish with his money (Acts 8:22).

“Repent,” means, “to change the mind.” It does not inherently include sin in its meaning; rather, the context determines what the mind is changing from. Thus, when Peter instructed Simon to repent, he was not referring to sin, as Simon had not yet sinned. Instead, his request was wrong, revealing an unrighteous mindset. Peter is telling him to change his mind from this incorrect way of thinking. He then directs Simon to supplicate (seek help from) to the Lord so that this wrong might be sent away from him.

“Forgive (ἀφίημι)” means “to send away.” It is often used regarding sin, as through Christ's blood, our sins have been forgiven—that is, sent away. However, it is also used in other contexts: for divorce (sending away the woman) in 1 Corinthians 7:12, God not leaving Himself without a witness to all humans (Acts 14:17), Christ leaving peace with the disciples (John 14:27), and even the Church leaving her first love (Revelation 2:4). Therefore, the context must determine whether ἀφίημι (aphiemi) should be translated as “forgive,” “send away,” or “leave”.

In this case, Simon has not sinned; however, his mindset is unrighteous, and therefore, his request lacks in character. Since he was caught in a trespass, Peter, with objectivity of mind, sought to mend him (Galatians 6:1). Thus, Peter is instructing Simon to seek help from God to send away this mindset, not forgive him of a sin.

Simon the sorcerer’s story reveals a powerful contrast between the deceit of men and the genuine, inherent ability of God. Simon used sleight of hand and sorcery to amaze the Samaritans for the purpose of elevating himself by claiming a greatness that others falsely attributed to divine power. However, the authentic signs and wonders performed by Philip—and the subsequent outpouring of the Holy Spirit through the Apostles—unveiled the reality of God’s work, demonstrating an actual power Simon had never seen before.

Though Simon believed and was baptized, his desire to buy the ability to impart the Holy Spirit exposed an unrighteous mindset rooted in self-exaltation. Peter’s rebuke and call for Simon to change his mind emphasizes the importance of aligning one’s thinking with God’s truth and seeking His help to overcome unrighteous tendencies. Simon’s encounter underscores the importance of laying aside the corrupt nature, which is deceived by its desires, and embracing the renewal that comes through God’s truth.