“But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:”
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 - Simon the sorcerer is established as a spiritual authority in Samaria, a practitioner of 'sorcery' (mageia, magic, sorcery, from which English 'magic' derives). He 'amazed' (existēmi, astounded) the people, establishing religious authority through spectacle. His boasting 'that he was someone great' (megale eimi, I am great) is spiritual self-promotion, the antithesis of gospel humility.
Church Fathers on Acts 8:9
Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word. Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spoke, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. And there was great joy in that city. But…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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