Simon Magus facts for kids

Σίμων ὁ μάγος
Relief of Simon Magus at the gate of the Basilica of Saint-Sernin, Toulouse.
Religion	Early Christianity (Gnosticism)
Founder of	Simonianism
Known for	Founder of Gnosticism
Quick facts for kids Personal
Nationality	Samaritan

Simon Magus (also known as Simon the Sorcerer or Simon the Magician) was a religious person from the 1st century AD. He is famous for a story in the Bible's book of Acts where he meets Peter.

Simon tried to buy special powers from the Apostles. Because of this, the word "simony" was created. Simony means trying to buy or sell positions or influence in a church.

Who Was Simon Magus?

Simon was from Samaria, a region in the Middle East. He was a "magus," which meant he was a wise man or a religious leader with special knowledge.

He became a Christian and was baptized by Philip the Evangelist. However, he later had a big disagreement with Peter.

His Story in the Bible

In the book of Acts, Simon was very popular in Samaria. People believed he had great power from God. When Philip came to Samaria, he preached about Jesus, and many people, including Simon, believed and were baptized.

Later, Peter and John came to Samaria. They prayed for the new believers to receive the Holy Spirit. Simon saw that when Peter and John laid their hands on people, the Holy Spirit came upon them.

Simon offered Peter money, saying, "Give me this power too, so that anyone I lay my hands on will receive the Holy Spirit." Peter strongly refused. He told Simon that God's gift cannot be bought with money. Peter also told Simon to change his heart and ask God for forgiveness.

What Others Said About Him

Writers from the 2nd century AD also wrote about Simon. These stories are not in the Bible, and historians are not sure if they are completely true.

• Some early Christian writers, like Irenaeus and Justin Martyr, said Simon Magus was the founder of a group called Gnosticism. Gnosticism was a set of religious ideas that were different from mainstream Christianity.
• Other scholars today disagree. They think Simon was just called a Gnostic by these early writers, but he might not have been one himself.

Simon's Magical Powers (in Stories)

In some old, non-biblical writings (called apocryphal works), Simon Magus appears as a powerful sorcerer. These stories say he could do amazing things, like float in the air and even fly!

Because of his bad actions in these stories, he was sometimes called "the Bad Samaritan."

Images for kids

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  Peter's conflict with Simon Magus by Avanzino Nucci, 1620. Simon is on the right, wearing black.

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  Illustration of the Simonian philosophy

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  The Apostles Paul and Peter confront Simon Magus before Nero, as painted by Filippino Lippi.

See also

In Spanish: Simón el Mago para niños