Now for some time previous a man called Simon had been practising magic arts in the town, to the utter astonishment of the Samaritan nation; he made himself out to be a great person,

They attached themselves to him because he had dazzled them with his skill in magic for a considerable time.

Many believers would also come to confess and disclose their magic spells;

and numbers who had practised magic arts collected their books and burned them in the presence of all. On adding up the value of them, it was found that they were worth two thousand pounds.

idolatry, magic, quarrels, dissension, jealousy, temper, rivalry, factions, party-spirit,

nor did they repent of their murders or of their magic spells or of their sexual vice or of their thefts.

For the magnates of earth were thy traders; all nations were seduced by thy magic spells.