The subject had practiced magic in Samaria and amazed the people, who from the least to the greatest said he was the power of God that is called Great, and they gave him heed because of his sorceries.

When Philip preached Christ and the crowds believed and were baptized, the subject himself believed, was baptized, and followed Philip, astonished at the signs and miracles that were done.

When Peter and John came and laid hands on the believers so they received the Holy Spirit, the subject saw it and offered the apostles money, asking to buy the power to give the Spirit by the laying on of his hands.

Peter answered sharply, May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money. He told him his heart was not right before God, and that he was in the gall of bitterness and the bond of iniquity.

He called the subject to repent of his wickedness and pray that the intent of his heart might be forgiven; and the subject answered, Pray for me. His name is remembered in the sin of simony, the attempt to buy or sell holy things.