Simon’s Example
A man named Simon had been a sorcerer there for many years, amazing the people of Samaria and claiming to be someone great. Everyone, from the least to the greatest, often spoke of him as “the Great One—the Power of God.” They listened closely to him because for a long time he had astounded them with his magic. But now the people believed Philip’s message of Good News concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. As a result, many men and women were baptized. Then Simon himself believed and was baptized. He began following Philip wherever he went, and he was amazed by the signs and great miracles Philip performed. When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had accepted God’s message, they sent Peter and John there.
As soon as they arrived, they prayed for these new believers to receive the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them, for they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John laid their hands upon these believers, and they received the Holy Spirit. When Simon saw that the Spirit was given when the apostles laid their hands on people, he offered them money to buy this power. “Let me have this power, too,” he exclaimed, “so that when I lay my hands on people, they will receive the Holy Spirit!” But Peter replied, “May your money be destroyed with you for thinking God’s gift can be bought! You can have no part in this, for your heart is not right with God. Repent of your wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps He will forgive your evil thoughts, for I can see that you are full of bitter jealousy and are held captive by sin.” “Pray to the Lord for me,” Simon exclaimed, “that these terrible things you’ve said won’t happen to me!”
Acts 8:9-24
Now we come to a story that baffles us as to why it should be included in the series of stories that Luke includes here. It is Luke who has selected which material he included in this collection from his sources. Our task now is to decide why does the story of Simon the Magus or Sorcerer warrant inclusion? We have to decide the reason for its inclusion because frankly, its puzzling. David’s series of questions are good ones to focus our attention on some of the details of the encounter between Simon and Philip. Thanks for your questions David. But the overarching questions have not been stated yet. Why is the story of Philip’s encounter with Simon included in the first place?
- What feature of the story is in focus?
- Who is in focus here? Is it Simon or is it Philip?
- What exactly is being called great? Simon as a Sorcerer? The power he manifests? The Power of God? Is the power great? Or is it God behind the power Who is Great?
- What exactly is the meaning of the phrase in verse 10? – Everyone, from the least to the greatest, often spoke of him as “the Great One—the Power of God.
The Greek of this verse reads:
ᾧ προσεῖχον πάντες ἀπὸ μικροῦ ἕως μεγάλου λέγοντες οὗτός ἐστιν ἡ δύναμις τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡ μεγάλη.
{To whom} {giving heed} all from small until great saying {this one} is the power of God the great
There is much debate about the meaning of this verse and there is much variation between the English translations bringing out the nuances and possible shades of meaning or intent behind this verse.
- (ABP+) To whom all gave heed from small unto great, saying, This one is the power of the great].
- (ASV) to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is that power of God which is called Great.
- (BBE) To whom they all gave attention, from the smallest to the greatest, saying, This man is that power of God which is named Great.
- (CEV) Everyone, rich and poor, crowded around him. They said, “This man is the power of God called ‘The Great Power.’ ”
- (EMTV) to whom they gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the great power of God.”
- (ESV) They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the power of God that is called Great.”
- (GNB) and everyone in the city, from all classes of society, paid close attention to him. “He is that power of God known as ‘The Great Power,’ ” they said.
- (GW) Everyone from children to adults paid attention to him. They said, “This man is the power of God, and that power is called great.”
- (ISV) Everyone from the least to the greatest paid close attention to him, saying, “This man is the power of God, which is called great!”
- (KJV) To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.
- (LEB) They were all paying attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the power of God that is called ‘Great.'”
- (LITV) All were paying attention tohim, from small to great, saying, This one is the power of God, whichisgreat.
- (MSG) He had them all, from little children to old men, eating out of his hand. They all thought he had supernatural powers, and called him “the Great Wizard.”
- (Murdock) And they all inclined towards him, great and small; and they said, This is the mighty power of God.
- (NASB) and they all, from smallest to greatest, were giving attention to him, saying, “This man is what is called the Great Power of God.”
- (NLT) Everyone, from the least to the greatest, often spoke of him as “the Great One—the Power of God.”
- (RV) to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is that power of God which is called Great.
Here are the questions we have gathered between us till now:
- I have never understood why the story of Simon is included in the story? Do you know Ian? (Alan)
- What is the point of this story about Simon? Why did Luke include it? (David)
- This is not the same Simon as Simon Peter is it Ian? (Alan)
- Note how much space is given to Simon in Acts 8. (16 Verses) Do you think its important?
- What does it mean these new believers received the Holy Spirit when they have already believed and been baptised? (Alan)
- Didn’t they receive the Holy Spirit when they became believers? What is the difference Ian? (Alan)
- Is there any difference between being baptised in water and being baptised in the Holy Spirit and being baptised with fire? (Alan)
- What does verse 23 mean – “I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity”? (Dewi)
- What do we know about 1st century sourcerers?
- What kind of “magic” was Simon practicing? David
- Why didn’t Simon approach Philip and offer to pay money for the ability to heal, or cast out demons? David
- What was enticing about imparting the Holy Spirit to people that Simon wanted that power? David
- What was Simon planning to do with this power — Help out Peter and John? Garner esteem? Make money off of it? — or does it even matter? David
- What exactly is “wicked” about Simon’s request?
- Simon may have been thinking too much like a businessman, and been a bit pretentious for a new believer, but “wicked”? “evil”? really? David
- How did Peter see/know/understand what was in Simon’s heart? David
- What was the object of Simon’s jealousy? David
- What was the sin that Simon was in bondage to? David
- Why does Peter react the way he does to SImon?
- Given Simon’s past, and that he is a new believer, why didn’t Peter correct him more gently? David
- Does Simon’s response mean that he repented — as Peter had urged him to do? David
- Whatever happened to Simon? Why does Luke end the story where he does, without any “epilogue”? David
Of course the moment has come for me to leave you to ponder the puzzle in the light of the questions above. It goes without saying there is still time for you to add to our list of questions.
A ruler questioned Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.
Luke 18:18-19
And someone came to Him and said, “Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?”
Matthew 19:16
Why do you call Simon great? No one is great except God alone.
Ian Vail
Good and great are seldom in the same man.
Winston Churchill
A great man is always willing to be little.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Christians don’t tell lies, they just go to church and sing them.
A.W. Tozer
It’s amazing what can be accomplished if you don’t worry about who gets the credit.
Clarence W. Jones