Simon [Sī'mon]—hearing.
- Simon Peter, one time Galilean fisherman, an early disciple and apostle of Jesus Christ (Matt. 4:18; 10:2). For a brief outline of his life and labor, see material under Peter.
- Another of the Twelve Apostles, called the “Canaanite,” because of his connection with Cana in Galilea.
The Man Who Was Zealous
The Hebrew canna means, “zealous,” thus the Greek Zelotes (Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13). As a Zealot, Simon belonged to the historical party which bore that name. This communion of noble-hearted men loved their own land and cherished their belief in its rightful independence, which made any foreign interference or dominion hateful. Their zeal for the laws of God which were their national laws, the guardian and source of their independence and liberty, attracted a lover of freedom such as Simon.
What we admire about this apostle is the fact that after he became Christ’s follower, he never ceased to be known as the Zealot. What had attracted him as a man, he came to love as a Christian. In Christ’s teaching the Zealot found the helper and handmaid of everything that he in his calmer moments could hope or look for. The lesson we gather for our own hearts is that we may carry our true and noblest selves into our following of Christ. Whatever hopes and aspirations we may have apart from Christ can find a true home in Christ. Simon, the Jewish patriot who chafed under the foreign yoke and sighed for emancipation, came to experience a sweeter yoke and a more blessed emancipation. May an increasing number of Christ’s disciples strive to earn the honorable title, “zealous of spiritual gifts” (1 Cor. 14:12).
3. One of the brothers of our Lord (Matt. 13:55; Mark 6:3).
4. The one-time leper in Bethany, in whose house the head of Jesus was anointed with oil (Matt. 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9; John 12:1-8).
5. A Cyrenian who was compelled to bear the cross after Jesus and who was the father of Alexander and Rufus (Matt. 27:32). Shortly after, Jesus bore the cross, not only for Simon but for all men.
6. A Pharisee in whose house Jesus dined and had His feet washed with tears and anointed with ointment (Luke 7:40-44). This wealthy Simon or Simeon had every reason to be pleased with the banquet he provided, for he saw Jesus signally honored and the Pharisees, including himself, severely rebuked for their lack of forgiving love and grace. The woman’s heart was as full of ointment as the box she carried. What sweet perfume filled the atmosphere as she stole to Christ’s feet and washed them with her scalding tears, and then wiped those sacred feet with her long black hair! With the light of heaven in her eyes and the blessed words of Jesus ringing in her ears, “Thy sins are forgiven; go in peace,” she left Simeon’s house with all her sins blotted out.
7. The father of Judas Iscariot (John 6:71; 12:4; 13:2, 26).
8. A sorcerer or magician in Samaria who sought to purchase the gifts of the Spirit with money (Acts 8:9-24).
The Man Who Tried to Buy Power
The first glimpse we have of Simon Magus is that he paraded himself as “some great one,” and is an exaggerated specimen of popularity seekers among us today. This Samaritan mountebank, who carried on his astounding impositions, was as bad as he was clever. He professed to be converted and was so deceitful that he completely deceived Philip.
In Samaria, Philip was having tremendous success in his evangelistic work, and Simon fell under the influence of his message, so much so that he professed belief in Christ and was baptized. But when Peter and John came on the scene to establish the work begun by Philip, through the laying on of hands, miraculous gifts were imparted to many of those Samaritan believers.
Simon, with his innate love of witchery, offered to buy from the apostles the power of conferring spiritual gifts, and was rebuked in language of such sternness as to lead him to beg of Peter to pray that the severe judgment of God would not fall upon him because of his sin. Peter detected that the thought of Simon’s heart had not been changed. Calvin says, “We may conjecture that Simon Magus repented.” Scripture, however, is silent about his life after Peter’s rebuke. Ignatius, the earliest of the Fathers, calls Simon “the first born of Satan.” Irenaeus marks him out as the first of all heretics. Because of his sin, the word simony came into being, a term meaning the effort to procure spiritual office by gifts. Simon Magus loved the praises and adulations of men. How we have to guard against the perils of popularity! Says Alexander Whyte, “Starve the self-seeking quack that is still within you. Beat him black and blue, as Paul tells us he did.”
9. A tanner of Joppa, with whom Simon Peter lodged when sent for by Cornelius (Acts 9:43; 10:6, 27, 32). What precious fellowship those two Simons must have had during those days! A tanner and a fisherman! How they come to Jesus from every walk of life!