Death of Simon the Magician in Acts 8
The biblical account of Simon the Magician in Acts 8 describes a sorcerer who initially impressed the people of Samaria with his magical practices, "making himself out to be some great one" [1]. This Simon is distinct from other biblical figures named Simon, such as Simon, the brother of Jesus, or Simon Maccabeus [2]. The narrative in Acts 8 details Simon's encounter with Philip the deacon, his apparent conversion, and his subsequent attempt to purchase the power of the Holy Spirit from Peter and John.
The passage begins by introducing Simon as a man who "used to practice sorcery in the city, and amazed the people of Samaria" [1]. His influence was significant, leading the Samaritans to believe he possessed "the power of God that is called Great" (Acts 8:10). When Philip arrived in Samaria, preaching the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, many believed and were baptized, including Simon himself (Acts 8:12-13). Philip's ministry was accompanied by numerous miracles, such as casting out unclean spirits and healing the paralyzed, which brought "great joy in that city" [7]. Simon, witnessing these signs and wonders, was also amazed and followed Philip closely (Acts 8:13).
Later, when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John. Upon their arrival, they prayed for the new believers that they might receive the Holy Spirit, as the Spirit had not yet fallen on any of them, though they had been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus (Acts 8:14-16). Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:17).
It is at this point that Simon's true character is revealed. Seeing that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, Simon offered them money, saying, "Give me also this power, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit" (Acts 8:18-19). Peter sharply rebuked him, declaring, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God" (Acts 8:20-21). Peter urged Simon to repent and pray for forgiveness, to which Simon responded by asking Peter and John to pray for him so that none of the things they had spoken would come upon him (Acts 8:22-24).
While the biblical account in Acts 8 does not describe Simon's death, later patristic traditions and apocryphal texts provide various accounts of his demise. These extra-biblical sources often depict Simon as a persistent antagonist of the apostles, particularly Peter. For instance, the Acts of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul describes a dramatic confrontation in Rome where Simon attempts to fly in the presence of Emperor Nero [3]. According to this account, Simon, "crowned with laurels," stretched forth his hands and began to fly, leading Nero to believe in his power [3]. Peter, however, prayed to God, and Simon fell headlong, breaking his feet, hands, and ankle-bones [4]. Other patristic writings, such as those cited by Adam Clarke, describe Simon as claiming to be the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and associating with a woman named Helena, whom he called Minerva [9]. These traditions portray Simon as a magician who continued to deceive multitudes and malign Peter, calling him a "magician and a juggler and a murderer" [6, 8].
The death of Simon the Magician, as depicted in these later traditions, serves to emphasize the triumph of divine power over sorcery and false claims of divinity. While the canonical book of Acts leaves Simon's ultimate fate open, the subsequent narratives underscore the early Christian community's struggle against heresy and the perceived threats posed by figures like Simon, who sought to corrupt the nascent church with worldly ambitions and magical practices [5].
Sources
- Acts “But there was a certain man, Simon by name, who used to practice sorcery in the city, and amazed the people of Samaria, making himself out to be some great one, -- Acts 8:9”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Simon — (contracted form of Simeon, a hearing). + Son of Mattathias. [[1145]Maccabees] + Son of Onias the high priest, whose eulogy closes the "praise of famous men" in the book of Ecclesiasticus, ch. 4. (B.C. 302-293.) + A "governor of the temple" in the time of Seleucus Philopator, whose information as to the treasures of the temple led to the sacrilegious attach of Heliordorus. 2 Macc. 3:4, etc. (B.C. 175.) + Simon the brother of Jesus. The only undoubted notice of this Simon occurs in (Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3) He has been identified by some writers with Simon the ”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 8: Twelve Patriarchs, Excerpts, Epistles, Apocrypha, Decretals — ACTS OF THE HOLY APOSTLES PETER AND (part 18): sayest. Then Simon went up upon the tower in the face of all, and, crowned with laurels, he stretched forth his hands, and began to fly. And when Nero saw him flying, he said to Peter: This Simon is true; hut thou and Paul are deceivers. To whom Peter said: Immediately shalt thou know that we are true disciples of Christ; but that he is not Christ, but a magician, and a malefactor. Nero said: Do you still persist? Behold, you see him going up into heaven. Then Peter, looking ”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 7: Lactantius, Venantius, Asterius, Victorinus, Dionysius — HOW SIMON, DESIRING TO FLY BY SOME MAGICAL ARTS, FELL DOWN HEADLONG FROM ON HIGH AT THE PRAYERS OF PETER, AND BRAKE HIS FEET, AND HANDS, AND ANKLE-BONES.: IX. Now when he was in Rome, he mightily disturbed the Church, and subverted many, and brought them over to himself, and astonished the Gentiles with his skill in magic, insomuch that once, in the middle of the day, he went into their theatre, and commanded the people that they should bring me also by force into the theatre, and promised he would fly in the air; and when all”
- Acts (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Acts 8 (introduction): A general persecution is raised against the Church, Act 8:1. Stephen's burial, Act 8:2. Saul greatly oppresses the followers of Christ, Act 8:3, Act 8:4. Philip the deacon goes to Samaria, preaches, works many miracles, converts many persons, and baptizes Simon the sorcerer, Act 8:5-13. Peter and John are sent by the apostles to Samaria; they confirm the disciples, and by prayer and imposition of hands they confer the Holy Spirit, Act 8:14-17. Simon the sorcerer, seeing this, offers them money, to enable him to confer the Holy Spirit, Act 8:18, Act 8:19. H”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 8: Twelve Patriarchs, Excerpts, Epistles, Apocrypha, Decretals — CHAP. XIII.. -- THE FLIGHT OF SIMON. (part 1): While Peter was thus talking, there entered one of those who had gone before to Antioch, and who, coming back from Antioch, said to Peter: "I wish you to know, my lord, that Simon, by doing many miracles publicly in Antioch, and calling you a magician and a juggler and a murderer, (2) has worked them up to such hatred against you, that every man is eager to taste your very flesh if you should sojourn there. (3) Wherefore we who went before, along with our brethren who were in”
- Acts (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Acts 8:8: And there was great joy in that city. Both on a spiritual account, for the good of their souls, through the preaching of Christ and his Gospel to them; and on a temporal account; for the good of their bodies, or their friends, being dispossessed of devils, and healed of their diseases. And there was great joy in that city. Both on a spiritual account, for the good of their souls, through the preaching of Christ and his Gospel to them; and on a temporal account; for the good of their bodies, or their friends, being dispossessed of devils, and healed of their diseases. A”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 8: Twelve Patriarchs, Excerpts, Epistles, Apocrypha, Decretals — CHAP. LXXIII.--TIDINGS OF SIMON.: But in those days a letter was received from the brethren who had gone before, in which were detailed the crimes of Simon, how going from city to city he was deceiving multitudes, and everywhere maligning Peter, so that, when he should come, no one might afford him a hearing. For he asserted that Peter was a magician, a godless man, injurious, cunning, ignorant, and professing impossible things. "For," says he, "he asserts that the dead shall rise again, which is impossible. But if any on”
- Acts (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Acts 8:9: A certain man called Simon - In ancient ecclesiastical writers, we have the strangest account of this man; they say that he pretended to be the Father, who gave the law to Moses; that he came in the reign of Tiberius in the person of the Son; that he descended on the apostles on the day of pentecost, in flames of fire, in quality of the Holy Spirit; that he was the Messiah, the Paraclete, and Jupiter; that the woman who accompanied him, called Helena, was Minerva, or the first intelligence; with many other extravagancies which probably never had an existence. All that ”