Simon The Magician Believes

Spring, c. 33 AD

Simon The Magician Believes

The revival in Samaria has produced a shocking convert. For a long time, the city had been under the spell of a man named Simon, who practiced magic and claimed to be someone great. The people, from the least to the greatest, were astonished by his dark arts, calling him "the Great Power of God."

However, when Philip arrived preaching the good news of the Kingdom, the people abandoned Simon's magic and were baptized. Seeing the genuine miracles performed by Philip, Simon himself believed and was baptized. He began following Philip constantly, utterly amazed by the authentic signs and great miracles that eclipsed his own sorcery.

"Even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed signs and great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed."
— Acts 8:13

Timeline Box: The conversion of Simon the Sorcerer highlights the superiority of apostolic power over pagan magic.

United Kingdom Era, c. 1010 BC

Saul Consults The Witch Of Endor

Terrified by the encroaching Philistine army and receiving no answer from Yahweh, King Saul has resorted to the occult. He disguised himself and traveled by night to consult a medium at Endor, demanding she bring up the spirit of the deceased prophet Samuel. This desperate act marks the absolute spiritual rock bottom of Israel's first king.

"Then Saul disguised himself by putting on other clothes, and went, he and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night..."
— 1 Samuel 28:8

Timeline Box: Saul's consultation of the medium occurred on the eve of his death at Mount Gilboa.

Mosaic Era, 1446 BC

Aaron Fashions The Golden Calf

While Moses has been delayed on the mountain, the camp of Israel has descended into total idolatry. At the people's demand, Aaron collected their gold rings and fashioned them into a molten calf. The people are shockingly declaring that this golden statue is the god who brought them out of Egypt, preparing to throw a massive festival of debauchery.

"He took this from their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool and made it into a molten calf; and they said, 'This is your god, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.'"
— Exodus 32:4

Timeline Box: The Golden Calf incident represents the most catastrophic failure of the Sinai covenant.

Editorial: The Limits Of Magic

Humans have an innate desire for power, and they will often turn to dark or counterfeit sources to get it. The Israelites turned to a golden calf when they felt abandoned; Saul turned to a witch when God fell silent; and the Samaritans were captivated by the demonic magic of Simon.

But counterfeit power always collapses in the presence of the authentic. When Simon saw the true miracles of the Holy Spirit operating through Philip, he immediately realized his magic was a cheap parlor trick. The world offers many "golden calves" and false powers that promise control, but only the Gospel of Jesus Christ offers the true power to heal, save, and transform.

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