Luke spends several verses documenting the false faith of a Samaritan magician in the passage before us. A careful reading of the passage reveals that this man, Simon, was a very powerful influence among the Samaritan people—from the least to the greatest of them. Twice it is said that they paid careful attention to him. He preformed feats of unusual power. We are not informed as to the nature of the powerful displays, but they earned him the reputation of being a deity: “This man is the power of God, the Great One” (v. 10). However, when Philip comes to town, things change and they believe the gospel and are baptized.
Simon also believes, but it is a false faith which is exposed by Peter. When Simon sees Peter and John conveying the Holy Spirit on the believers, he thinks that they have that power by virtue of the office. He offers them money to buy the office of apostle for himself. Peter rebukes him and exposes his spurious profession.
It is very likely that Luke's purpose in this detail is to explain the beginnings of Simon's false Christianity that he will carry to Rome. Early Christian fathers write about Simon Magus (priest) and his heresies plaguing the early church. It is very likely that Jude and John (Revelation) also warn of him. Was this the “mystery of iniquity” that Paul speaks of in 2 Thessalonians 2?
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