Magus, Simon
Peopleâš¡ IN BRIEF (SUMMARY)
Simon Magus was a Samaritan practitioner of magic who, according to the Acts of the Apostles, attempted to purchase the ability to confer the Holy Spirit from the apostles Peter and John, an act that led to his condemnation as a heretic.
What is the meaning of Magus, Simon in the Bible?
Simon Magus was a Samaritan practitioner of magic who, according to the Acts of the Apostles, attempted to purchase the ability to confer the Holy Spirit from the apostles Peter and John, an act that led to his condemnation as a heretic.
SIGNIFICANCE
Understanding Simon Magus clarifies the early Christian distinction between spiritual authority and commercial transaction, highlighting the apostolic rejection of simony and the establishment of grace as a free gift rather than a commodity.
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Source Attribution & Provenance
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been editorially modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and formatted for fast contextual reference.