The Strange Life of Simon Magus, Christian, Pagan, Magician, and Sorcerer

Simon the Magician, otherwise known as Simon Magus, comes down through history predominately from the New Testament account, Acts of the Apostles 8:9-24, with all other ancient sources pertaining to him written after his death.  Simon is discussed in a variety of different lights, most notably “as a Christian, a Jew, a pagan and the founder of a new religion; a magician, a sorcerer, a religious philosopher and an arch-heretic; a pseudo-apostle, a pseudo-Messiah and a pretended incarnation of God; and the 'father of all heresies.'”  It is with this widespread influence in mind that Simon Magus' teachings have survived as long and as intact as they have.