Simon the Sorcerer is one of the most interesting characters in all of Scripture. He was a proud man who liked to go around town boasting about how "great" he was. For some reason, this really attracted some of the townsfolk. They responded by giving him a lot of attention. He also appeared to do magic tricks, which completely captivated them and made them think he was empowered by God.
"Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is rightly called the Great Power of God.” They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his sorcery." (Acts 8:9-11)
The townsfolk just loved Simon. Even though it was clear he had a boastful and greedy heart, they liked that he was bold, he was "powerful," and he had a lot of charisma. They figured he must be anointed by God, and so, they followed him everywhere! Maybe he could make them "great," too!
Simon was well aware that he had a certain spiritual power that seduced his followers. It didn't come from heaven, but he didn't care, because it was elevating him and MAKING HIM GREAT! Why, he could shoot someone on 5th Avenue and his followers wouldn't even care! They would just continue to follow him, hoping some of his "magic" would rub off. It made him even more proud and arrogant. He lied, committed crimes, and promoted violence, all with impunity! In fact, the more he did these things, the stronger the seduction of his sorcery became.
One day, Simon the Sorcerer got a little too greedy for his own good. He saw some Christians who had more spiritual power than he did. He figured that if he could just get his hands on what THEY had, it would elevate him even more! He would become bigger, have MORE power, MORE success, MORE attention, and be even greater! He could obtain all the power in the world! So even though he had no intention of actually humbling himself to their God, he "became" a Christian. This would really get the townsfolk talking! He went up to Peter and offered to buy whatever it was that Peter possessed.
But Peter saw right through him. He discerned that Simon's heart was full of wickedness and greed, and that although he had "become" a Christian, his heart was not in alignment with God. Simon wanted what the name of God could provide, even as he remained a slave to iniquity, and a slave to the spiritual darkness that had corrupted him in the first place. So Peter did what every Christian should do when they see someone powerful hiding behind the name of God and seducing people and selling Bibles for their own gain. He rebuked him.
"You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.” (Acts 8:21-23)
God is not for sale. Nor does he want his children to align themselves with a Sorcerer. This is why he gives his church the gift of "discerning of spirits," (1 Corinthians 12:10) and tells us to test them (1 John 4:1). He doesn't want us being taken in by a power-hungry false leader. By taking note of Simon's boastfulness, grandiosity, and greed, Peter was able to judge rightly that Simon had a heart full of iniquity, which had allowed him to be used and even elevated by a masquerading spirit.
It is a mistake for the church to assume that because someone dodges a bullet, skirts the law, and achieves high levels of influence, he is empowered by God. The story of Simon the Sorcerer shows us that not all spiritual empowerment comes from God. It is up to the people of God to discern correctly. Otherwise, we leave ourselves open and vulnerable to the wrong kind of power, and may someday find out that we have enabled a dark, masquerading spirit that means to cause harm and was never operating on behalf of God at all.
"For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light." (2 Corinthians 11:13-14)
More on Simon the Sorcerer here:
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