Besides the extracts from this hook, Hippolytus also tells us (vi. 20) that Simon went .-is far as Koine, where ho seduced many by his magical arts, but was opposed by Peter. This is the earliest refer- ence to a contest with St. Peter at Rome, unless the notice in I'hilaster (see below) was derived from the earlier treatise of Hippolytus, in wliich case it would belong to the close of the 2nd cent. Hippolytus goes on to give an account of his death, diltcicnt from any that we have in other sources. At the end of his life Simon stated that if he were buried alive he would rise on the third day. He ordered his disciples to dig a grave and to bury him. They did as they were ordered, ' but ho remained away even to tlie present day. For he was not the Christ.*
(h-iijoi (c. 249 A.D.), in the contra Celsum, v. 62, tells us that Celsus, enumerating all the Christian heretics, speaks of Simonians who, worshippiii'; Helena, or a teacher Helenus, are called Ileleniani. Origen points out that Celsus has omitted to notice that the Simonians never confess Jesus as the Son 01 (lod, but say that Simon is the power of God.
In vi. 11 Driven points out that Simon has nc followers, and Dositheus not more than thirty, lie adds that this is all the more marvellous, aa Simon had taken away for his disciples the danger of death, saying that to sacritice to idols was a matter of indillerence. In the same work (i. 57) we are told that Simon has not thirty followers, or that that is an e.\.iggerated number.
Commodian (c. 2.")U), in Cnrm. apol, p. 613, speak- ing of beasts which have had the power of speech by the power of God, tells ns of the dog which St. Peter made to speak to Simon. This story is found in the Apocryphal Acts.
The author of the treatise de Itebaptitmate, ch. 16 (c. 2U0 A.D.), tells us of followers of Simon who make tire appear in the water when they baptize.
In the Si/riac Didascalia (end of 3rd cent.), vi. 8 and 9 (Lagarde, Syriac text, and in Bunsen, Ana- lectn Antenirtena, ii. p. 325), we have a reference to Simon and Cleobius and others of his followers, and an account of the linal destruction of Siinon in the contest with Peter at Rome. As this work is almost inaccessible, and its evidence is import- ant, the following extracts are given in full : * —
Syriac. p. 100, I. 18 * (Concerning Simon the sorcerer). For the beginning of heresies was on this wise. Satan clothed him- self with .Simon, a man who was a sorcerer, and of old time was his servant. And when we, by the gift of the Lord our God, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, were doing powers of lieal- ing in Jerusalem, and by means of the laying on of hands, the coiumuniejition of the Holy Spirit was given to those who presented themselves, then he brought to us much silver, and desired that, as he had deprived Adam of the knowledge of life bv the eating of the tree, so also he might deprive us of the pift of God by the gift of silver, and might seize our uniierstand- ings by the gift of riches, in order that we might give to him in exchange for silver the power of the Holy Spirit. And we were all trouDled about this. Then Peter looked at Satan, who was dwelhng in Simon, and said to him, "Thy silver shall go with thee to destruction, and thou shaJt not have part m this matter." *
P. 101 * (Concerning false apostles). But when we divided t« the twelve parts for all the world, and went forth among the Gentiles in all the world, to preach the word, then Satan wrought and disturbed the people to send after us fal.se apo.stles for the refutation of the word. And he sent out from the people one whose name was Cleobius, and joined him to Simon, and also others after them. They of the house of Simon followed me, Peter, and came to corrupt the word. .\iid when he was in Uonie he disturbed the Church [much], and turned away many. And showed himself as though Hying. And lie laid hold of the Gentiles, terrifying them by the power of the working of his sorceries. And in one of the days I went and saw liiiii Hying in the air. Then I rose up and said, " By the power of the name of Jesus I cut away thy powers." And he fell, and the ankle of his foot was broken. And then many tunied away from him. But others who were worthy of him clave to him. And thus first was established and became that heresy of his. And also by means of other false apostles,' etc".
(Brackets as io Syriac text).
Amohius (c. 310, contra Gentcs, ii. 12) knows of the story of the contest of Simon and I'eter at Rome. ' For they had seen,' he says, ' the chariot of Simon M.agus and the four flaming horses scattered by the inouth of Peter, and di.sapneiiring at the name of Christ.' He had been hurled down, and his legs broken ; then, taken to IJninda, worn out with tortures and with shame, he had again thrown himself down from a lofty siimmit.