1.     There are many unusual characters in the Bible, and one of them is Simon the sorcerer (Acts 8:9-11).

2.     Simon is often referred to as Simon Magus.  Magus means “worker of magic.”  He was a Samaritan, a half-breed people who were descended from both Jews and heathen.

3.     From Simon the sorcerer we get the word simony, which means to buy a religious office with money (Acts 8:18-20).

4.     Over the years there have been many things written about Simon the sorcerer, but all we know for certain is what is written in Acts 8.

5.     Simon the sorcerer has been credited with being the founder of Gnosticism.  Gnosticism was a heretical cult very popular in the early days of Christianity.  It is refuted often in the NT epistles.

6.     Several Church Fathers, such as Irenaeus, Hippolytus, Justin Martyr, and Tertullian refer to Simon as a notorious Gnostic leader.  FF Bruce wrote, “What relation the Simon of legend bears to the Simon of Acts is not clear; it may be that the heresiarch Simon, the founder of the Gnostic sect of the Simonians, was a different person from the Simon of Acts, but that they became confused in later tradition” (The Book of Acts). 

I. HIS OCCULTIC BACKGROUND

II. HIS PROFESSION OF FAITH

III. HIS CONFUSION REGARDING THE HOLY SPIRIT

IV. HIS REBUKE BY THE APOSTLE PETER

I. HIS OCCULTIC BACKGROUND (8:9-11).

1.     Sorcery was very popular in Samaria at that time and Simon the sorcerer was considered “some great one” (8:9) and “the great power of God” (8:10). 

2.     Scholars tell us that Simon the sorcerer claimed to be the “Grand Vizier of the supreme God” (Bruce, Acts).   In other words, apparently he was a popish figure with a large following.

3.     Verse 11 says, “that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.”

4.     Of course, sorcery is still popular today and is on the rise here in America as people get further away from the Bible.

5.     Revelation 21:8 tells us that “sorcerers and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

6.  Sorcery today would include the new age movement, astrology, charms, spells, magic potions, voodoo, Santeria, crystal balls, tarot cards, ouija boards, horoscopes, reincarnation, transcendental meditation, yoga, witchcraft, etc.

7.  Most eastern religions, such as Hinduism and Buddhism are occultic, and there are strange new cults starting all the time.

8.  Sorcery has even infiltrated many churches.  Many churches today are a wretched mixture of Christianity and occultism.  This was the basis of the Samaritan religion, and this was the religious background of Simon the sorcerer.

II. HIS PROFESSION OF FAITH (8:12, 13).

1.     I intentionally said, “his profession of faith,” rather than “his conversion to Christ,” because I am not sure if he was genuinely saved.  In fact, it seems unlikely.

2.     I realize that Acts 8:13 says, “Then Simon himself believed also…” But a man can believe certain facts about Jesus and still be a lost sinner.

3.     James 2:19 says, “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.”  When I was in Bible college, I was out soulwinning with a fellow student.  A worldly lady told us she believed in Jesus.  My soulwinning partner then quoted James 2:19.

4.     The lady then got very angry and said, “Are you calling me a devil?”  (Actually she was rather devilish.)

5.     There is some question about Simon’s conversion.  I realize Acts 8:13 says, “Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized…”   Unfortunately sometimes a lost sinner manages to get baptized.  In fact, it happens all the time.

6.     I remember years ago we had a lady in our church that professed to be saved but I had my doubts.  She requested baptism but I refused because she was living with a man out of wedlock.

7.     She eventually married the man and our Spanish pastor baptized her.  She soon disappeared and a few years later she sent me a letter telling me she joined the JW’s.   

8.     My suspicions were confirmed.  She was never born again (cf. I John 2:19; Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43).

9.     Sometimes, unsaved people do get baptized and join the church.  And sometimes they even “continue” for a while (Acts 8:13).

10. None of the apostles realized that Judas Iscariot was a traitor.  Our Lord said in John 13:21, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.  Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake” (13:22).

11. Before moving on, let me add that Simon was interested in Christianity on the basis of miracles and signs (Acts 8:6, 7, 13).

12. There is a big emphasis on the miraculous in some circles.  But there is a danger in coming to Christ on the basis of miracles.  When you study the life of Christ you see many people gathering around Him because of His mighty miracles.  But soon they would drift away (cf. John 2:23-25).

13. I once knew a woman who belonged to a church that put great emphasis on healing.  She had a friend stricken with AIDS.  She brought her friend to her church and the members laid hands on the man, and assured him that he was healed.  But soon he died and this woman stopped going to church.  The last I heard she gave up her faith.

III. HIS CONFUSION REGARDING THE HOLY SPIRIT

1.     We notice in Acts 8:13 that Simon “wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.”  This should not surprise us considering his background in the occult.

2.     Many Bible expositors teach that Simon was a deceiver from the very beginning.  They say that he deceived Philip and the other Christians in Samaria. 

3.     They teach that it was Simon’s plan to use his affiliation with the Christian church (which was growing rapidly at that time – cf. Acts 8:5-8, 25) to promote himself and make money.

4.     The great Scottish preacher and author, Alexander Whyte, calls Simon the sorcerer “the Samaritan mountebank “ and an “arch-imposter.”

5.     This could all be true, considering the strong rebuke from Peter (8:21-23).  Certainly there are people who come to church with the wrong motives.

6.     There are people that come to church looking to make business contacts.  They are looking for customers.  They are selling insurance or are involved in direct marketing.  They have no real interest in the Gospel.

7.     We cannot say for sure why Simon was baptized and joined the church.    Acts 8:13 says, he “believed.”  I think he was sincere but he was confused.

8.     Simon was certainly confused about the ministry of the Holy Spirit.  He thought the power of the Holy Spirit could be purchased with money (8:18, 19).

9.     The power of the Holy Spirit is a gift from God.  Salvation is a gift from God.  Anyone who thinks that he can obtain salvation or receive the power of the Holy Spirit by money is badly confused.

10. Peter said, “But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money” (8:20).

11. It was this same Peter who, preaching on the day of Pentecost, said, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38).

12. Peter also refers to “the gift of the Holy Ghost” in Acts 10:45 and 11:17.

13. The prophet Isaiah said, “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price” (Isa. 55:1).

14. Ephesians 2:8 says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.”

15. Romans 6:23 says, “the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

16. The woman at the well (in Samaria) was confused about the free gift of salvation.  That is why our Lord said to her, “If thou knewest the gift of God…” (John 4:10).