v. [Hippolytus (?)] (_Philosophumena_, vi. 7-20); date unknown, probably last decade of second to third of third century; author unknown and only conjecturally Hippolytus; MS. fourteenth century. vi. Origenes (_Contra Celsum_, i. 57; v. 62; vi. 11); born A.D. 185-6, died 254-5; MS. fourteenth century. vii. Philastrius (_De Haeresibus_); date of birth unknown, died probably A.D. 387. viii. Epiphanius (_Contra Haereses_, ii. 1-6); born A.D. 310-20, died 404; MS. eleventh century. ix. Hieronymus (_Commentarium in Evangelicum Matthaei_, IV. xxiv. 5); written A.D. 387. x. Theodoretus (_Hereticarum Fabularum Compendium_, i. 1); born towards the end of the fourth century, died A.D. 453-58; MS. eleventh century. III.--_The Simon of the Legends._ A. The so-called Clementine literature. i. _Recognitiones_, 2. _Homiliae_, of which the Greek originals are lost, and the Latin translation of Rufinus (born c.A.D. 345, died 410) alone remains to us. The originals are placed by conjecture somewhere about the beginning of the third century; MS. eleventh century. B. A mediaeval account; (_Constitutiones Sanctorum Apostolorum_, VI. vii, viii, xvi); these were never heard of prior to 1546, when a Venetian, Carolus Capellus, printed an epitomized translation of them from an MS. found in Crete. They are hopelessly apocryphal. * * * * * I.--_The Simon of the New Testament._ _Acts_ (viii. 9-24). Text: _The Greek Testament_ (with the readings adopted by the revisers of the authorized version); Oxford, 1881. Now a certain fellow by name Simon had been previously in the city practising magic and driving the people of Samaria out of their wits, saying that he was some great one; to whom all from small to great gave heed, saying: "This man is the Power of God which is called Great." And they gave heed to him, owing to his having driven them out of their wits for a long time by his magic arts. But when they believed on Philip preaching about the Kingdom of God and the Name of Jesus Christ, they began to be baptized, both men and women. And Simon himself also believed, and after being baptized remained constantly with Philip; and was driven out of _his_ wits on seeing the signs and great wonders[3] that took place. And the apostles in Jerusalem hearing that Samaria had received the Word of God, sent Peter and John to them. And they went down and prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet it had not fallen upon any of them, but they had only been baptized unto the Name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. And when Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given by the laying on of the hands of the apostles, he offered them money, saying: "Give unto me also this power, in order that on whomsoever I lay my hands he may receive the Holy Spirit."