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SIMON THE SORCERER

Acts 8:1-24

Saul was searching for Christians who lived in work God was doing in Samaria through Philip, they
Jerusalem. He went from house to house, looking for sent Peter and John to help. When the Apostles arrived,
people who believed in Jesus. When Saul found them, they prayed that the people would receive the Holy
he had them thrown in prison. Because of this perse- Spirit. "Then laid they their hands on them, and they
cution, Christians began to leave Jerusalem and travel received the Holy Ghost."
to other cities, "preaching the word" everywhere they When Simon saw this, he knew he wanted that
went. same power. He wanted to lay hands on people and
A man named Philip was one of the men who left cause them to receive the Holy Spirit. (Was Simon
Jerusalem during this time. He was one of the seven interested in having the Holy Spirit live in his heart? Or
deacons chosen to care for the poor, the sick, and the was he thinking of once again having "power" over the
widows of the church (Acts people?)
6:1-5). (A deacon is someone Simon offered the Apos-
who takes care of the needs of tles money for "this power,"
the saints.) Philip traveled to but Peter rebuked him. He
Samaria and preached to the said, "Thy money perish with
people about Jesus. When the thee, because thou hast
people heard Philip's preach- thought that the gift of God
ing, saw him heal the sick and may be purchased with mon-
cast out devils, "there was ey." Gifts of God (1 Corinthi-
great joy in the city." ans, Chapter 12) are given
In this city lived a well- freely by God, not bought with
known man whose name was money.
Simon. Simon was a sorcerer Peter continued to speak
(a wizard; someone who prac- sternly to Simon, telling him
tices witchcraft). Simon had that his heart was not right
amazed and greatly influenced with God and that there was
the people of Samaria, causing wickedness and bitterness in
them to believe that he was his heart. Peter told Simon to
"some great one." They were repent of his wickedness and
all so deceived that every one to pray to God for forgiveness.
of them—"from the least to the At first it must have
greatest"—would say, "This seemed like Simon was a gen-
man is the great power of God." uine Christian. He heard the Gospel and saw the
For some time the Samaritans had believed and fol- miracles, he believed and was baptized, and he fol-
lowed Simon. But now Philip had come to their city, lowed Philip everywhere. No doubt, when the Chris-
"preaching . . . the kingdom of God." The power of tians gathered together for worship, Simon was right
God through Philip's message was so strong that it there with them. But in time Simon's fruits (words and
broke Simon's influence over the people. Many people actions) proved what was in his heart—wickedness!
believed and were baptized. Simon, too, believed what Instead of praying himself, Simon asked Peter to
Philip had to say. After being baptized, Simon followed pray to God for him, "that none of these things which
Philip everywhere, amazed at the "miracles and signs ye have spoken come upon me." Simon was not sorry
which were done." for the wickedness and bitterness in his heart. He was
When the Apostles in Jerusalem heard of the great only thinking of the consequences (results) of his sins.
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That kind of sorrow is often called "worldly sorrow." Perhaps the temptation to once again have this power
It is being only sorry because you got caught or be- and influence was too much for Simon to resist. If so,
cause of punishment. True sorrow is called "godly Simon failed to understand that the power of having
sorrow" (2 Corinthians 7:10). It is being sorry you God's Spirit in his heart, guiding and directing him,
sinned, sorry that you have hurt God, and determined was stronger than any power he ever had before. God
not to do it again! would have changed him and given him power to do
The Bible does not tell us anymore about Simon great good for the cause of Christ. Simon could have
the Sorcerer, so we do not know for sure if Simon ever been remembered as a mighty Christian instead of "The
truly repented. Tradition says he invented a new Father of Heresies."
religion by mixing the teachings of Christ and the
teachings of paganism. Some early church history
writers have called Simon "The Father of Heresies." MEMORY VERSE:
(Heresies are religious teachings that are against God's "Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee,
Word.) because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be
No doubt, Simon remembered the influence and purchased with money." —Acts 8:20
power he had over the people before Philip's arrival.

Help Philip Find Samaria

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Philip traveled from

Circle the two words

What did Simon offer to give to Peter?

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