CHAPTER XVII

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SIMON MAGUS AND THE CONVERSION OF SAMARIA.

Prominence of Hellenists in the Church's Earliest Days--Apostles and Deacons Contrasted--Source of St. Luke's Knowledge of Early Church History--St. Philip at Cæsarea--Exact Locality where Philip taught in Samaria--Our Lord's Ministry in Samaria a Failure-- Why?--Because the Spirit was not yet given--Presence of the Holy Ghost the Condition of Permanent Blessing--St. Philip and Simon Magus--Story of Simon as told by Justin Martyr--Evidence for Early Date of the Acts-- Justin and Simon's Statue--Simon a Sorcerer--Jews and Sorcery--Jewish Gnosticism--Fayûm Manuscripts and Magic--Contrast between Philip's Miracles and Simon's Magic--Need of Miracles at Outset of Christianity--Philip's Doctrine Concerning the Kingdom of God--What it involved--Church's Prosperity Dependent entirely upon Christ--Threefold Result of Philip's Teaching--John Keble on Christian Joy 346-368

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