At the time Philip went to Samaria, there was a man named Simon in the city, who was a great pretender. He claimed to be a sorcerer, and made a great deal of money by bewitching people with his sorceries. However, when the people heard the true Gospel, and saw miracles wrought by the power of God, they lost interest in Simon's sorceries, and were baptized by Philip. [IMAGE: ST. PETER AND ST. JOHN IN SAMARIA. "On the heads of these baptized believers, Peter and John then laid their hands, and conferred upon them the Holy Ghost."] "Then Simon himself believed also; and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the signs and great miracles which were done." But he was not converted. His only purpose of joining the Church was to find out how these miracles were performed, thinking he might use them for gain. [Sidenote: His Greed.] When Simon saw that through the laying on of the Apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, saying, "Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost." Poor, greedy man! His lust for gold led him to sacrifice even his honor! "And hence one master passion in the breast, Like Aaron's serpent, swallows up the rest." [Sidenote: Simon Rebuked.] If he thought Peter's heart was as avaricious as his own, he soon learned better, for the indignant Apostle, looking straight into the sordid soul of this mercenary hypocrite, answered: "Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. "Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God." Outward show and hypocritical pretenses could not influence Peter any more than they could win the favor of God. Only a sincere heart was acceptable. Seeing that Simon's heart was set on making money at the sacrifice of honor, and even the desecration of the word of God, Peter told him to repent of his wickedness, and to pray to God for forgiveness, "for" he added, "I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity." Such a scathing rebuke, filled the sorcerer with fear, and he pleaded with Peter to pray to God "that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me." Peter continued for a short time to preach in other cities in Samaria and then returned to Jerusalem. LESSON 15 AT LYDDA AND JOPPA [Sidenote: Church Established.] Though only a few years had passed since the Apostles had received the final commission to "Go into all the world and preach the Gospel," yet, through their earnest and continuous labors, churches were established in all Judea, Galilee and Samaria. As it was the duty of the Twelve to look after the interests of the whole Church, it became necessary for them to travel throughout all the land of the Jews. Peter visited from place to place, organizing, ordaining, blessing, and preaching the Gospel of Christ. [Sidenote: Eneas the Cripple.]