Hypocrites Playing Church

[Acts 8:9] 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:
But there was a certain man, called Simon - The Fathers have written much respecting this man, and have given strange accounts of him; but nothing more is certainly known of him than is stated in this place. Simon Magus was probably a Jew or a Samaritan, who had addicted himself to the arts of magic, and who was much celebrated for it. He had studied philosophy in Alexandria in Egypt and then lived at Samaria. After he was cut off from the hope of adding to his other powers the power of working miracles, the Fathers say that he fell into many errors, and became the founder of the sect of the Simonians. They accused him of affirming that he came down as the Father in respect to the Samaritans; the Son in respect to the Jews; and the Holy Spirit in respect to the Gentiles, He did not acknowledge the Messiah to be the Son of G-d, but a rival, and pretended himself to be Messiah. He rejected the Law of Moses. Many other things are affirmed of him, which rest on doubtful authority. He seems to have become an enemy to Messianic; though he was willing then to avail himself of some of its doctrines in order to advance his own interests. The account that he came to a tragically death at Rome; that he was honored as a deity by the Roman senate; and that a statue was erected to his memory in the isle of Tiber, is now generally rejected. His end is not known.
Beforetime - The practice of magic, or sorcery, was common at that time, and in all the ancient nations.
Used sorcery - Exercising the arts of the Magi, or Magicians; hence the name Simon Magus. The ancient Magi had their rise in Persia, and were at first addicted to the study of philosophy, astronomy, medicine, etc. This name came afterwards to signify those who made use of the knowledge of these arts for the purpose of imposing on mankind--astrologers, soothsayers, necromancers, fortune-tellers, etc. Such persons pretended to predict future events by the positions of the stars, and to cure diseases by incantations, etc. See Isaiah 2:6; see also Daniel 1:20; 2:2. It was expressly forbidden the Jews to consult such persons on pain of death, Leviticus 19:31; 20:6. In these arts Simon had been eminently successful. The reasons which influenced Simon to make a profession of religion seem to have been these:
1. An impression that Messianic was true. He seems to have been convinced of this by the miracles of Philip.
2. The fact that many others were becoming Believers; and he went in with the multitude. This is often the case in revivals of religion.
3. He had no religion; but it is clear in verses 20, 21, that he was willing to make use of Messianic to advance his own power, influence, and popularity--a thing which multitudes of men of the same mind with Simon Magus have been willing since to do.
And wondered - This is the same word that is translated bewitched in verses 9, 11. It means that he was amazed that Philip could really perform so much greater miracles than he had even pretended to. Hypocrites will sometimes be greatly attentive to the external duties of religion, and will be greatly surprised at what is done by G-d for the salvation of sinners.
Vs. 18 He offered them money - He had had a remarkable influence over the Samaritans, and he saw that the possession of this power would perpetuate and increase his influence. Men commonly employ the tricks of legerdemain for the purpose of making money; and it seems probable that such had been the design of Simon. He saw that if he could communicate to others this power, if he could confer on them the talent of speaking other languages, it might be turned to vast account, and he sought therefore to purchase it of the apostles. From this act of Simon we have derived our word simony, to denote the buying and selling of religious advancement, leadership offices, where religion is supported by the state. This act of Simon shows conclusively that he was influenced by improper motives in becoming connected with the Messianic church.
Reader, is your heart right with G-d? Are your motives pure--and does G-d see there the exercise of holy, sincere, and benevolent affections towards Him? G-d knows the motives; and with unerring certainty He will judge; and with unerring justice He will fix our doom, according to the affections of the heart.