Simon Magus

noun

Si·​mon Ma·​gus ˌsī-mən-ˈmā-gəs How to pronounce Simon Magus (audio)
: a Samaritan sorcerer converted by the apostle Philip and severely rebuked by Peter for offering money for the gifts of the Holy Spirit

Examples of Simon Magus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The German Lutheran reformer Philip Melanchthon told of a Faust who tried to do a Simon Magus over the rooftops of Venice, crashing to his death in a canal. James Wood, The New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1548, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Simon Magus was circa 1548

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Cite this Entry

“Simon Magus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Simon%20Magus. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

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