By Jon Croft
Gitta, Samaria (Ancient Palestine) 36AD
“Master Peter, please excuse my interrupting your prayers…”
The imposing villa was constructed in the Roman style, with wall frescoes in vibrant “late Pompeian” style and murals in lively, celebratory colors depicting life in the Roman Empire. Virgilian and Homeric banquet scenes, gods and satyrs, landscapes of lush Roman country estates and mythology burst forth from every wall face of the residence. The floors were covered in vibrant mosaics in the Greek fashion, the height of architectural and ornamental style of the period. No expenses were spared in their creation. These were visual clues of the man who – until recently – lived there: Pontius Pilate, Roman Prefect of Judea and Samaria.
A Roman Centurion had just left. He’d carried word from Rome that Pontius Pilate just died there. Emperor Tiberius took the liberty of interring Pilate’s body at the man’s family estates in Abruzzo. Claudia, Pilate’s wife, was overwhelmed with grief. She sent for the only man who could console her: the Apostle Peter. She – the widow of the man who condemned Jesus Christ to be crucified – was now a Christian.
Peter looked up from his meditations. He’d heard the young man’s footsteps as he approached. His sounds reverberated throughout the capacious central atrium where he and Claudia were praying. Peter was so deep in his devotions that he didn’t notice Claudia had collapsed into her cushioned chair, exhausted and now mercifully fast asleep.
“Yes, my son?”
The old Apostle strained to see the face of the young man before him. His eyesight had grown foggy and indistinct of late. He used a staff to help him walk and pain coursed throughout his withered body whichever way he moved.
“Master….a famous Samaritan Magician waits without seeking an audience with you. He says that Philip baptized him – but that Philip’s ministrations were incomplete. He demands the gift of the Holy Spirit that our Lord Jesus promised….He is a man of great wealth – and he comes prepared to pay any amount of silver Denarii to be initiated into the hidden secrets of Christ.”
Peter’s body started shaking as he listened to his Novice. He’d heard about some supposed Magus that was seeking an audience with him but wanted no part of his heathen necromancy. Soon Peter’s hands were trembling as if he’d been smitten by palsy. Enough was enough! He got up on his feet and tore at his white beard. The young man instinctively pulled away from him, genuinely frightened by Peter’s display of emotions he’d never seen before. The old man was livid.
“I must speak to a heretic who disparages our most Holy Spirit? He who thinks the Grace of God almighty can be purchased with filthy lucre? Who offers to us this blasphemous, Demonic bargain?”
The young man fumbled with his hands and started to stammer. He chose his words carefully, fearful that Peter was actually going to strike him.
“He is known throughout Samaria as Simon the Sorcerer…Simon Magus. He is a famous Magician – an adept of the Ancient Mystery Schools of Alexandria and Abydos. A Master of the Scrolls of Thoth. He was taught by the very Priests of Osiris at Karnak that schooled Moses. It is said that Simon the Sorcerer can levitate – and become invisible. His reputation is known throughout this land. Even Judeans fear him”.
Peter – quaking now with even greater rage – grabbed his staff and shook it at the young man.
“Tell this malevolent apostate that I will have words with him in the Courtyard”.
Years later this same Novice who attended Apostle Peter that day would recount the words that Peter and Simon Magus exchanged. Simon demanded that Peter finish the Baptismal ritual that Apostle Philip had not the power to complete. Simon’s answer shocked the Novice to his very core.
Simon stood defiant in Peter’s presence. His voice was formal…measured…but menacing.
“Great Peter, Apostle of Christ, forgive my boldness in approaching you this way. Please address my heartfelt grievance.
Philip baptized me not long ago into Christ’s Mysteries – the ministrations of your Jewish Prophet who performed miracles – made the blind see and raised the dead. Everyone knows that he was crucified by the Roman authorities – by Pilate, in whose house you now take repose…
I have money – bags of silver Denarii! Share with me the secrets of these Christian mysteries! I have studied at the Temples of Karnak and at the feet of Osiris himself. I’ve beheld the majesty of Toth’s Emerald Tablets and recited the sacred words of Ptah at Abydos.
I am a scholar! I bear the sacred skin etchings of Egypt on my arms and chest- applied with needles by the very High Priests of Amun who taught your Patriarch Moses! I am worthy to receive this so-called Holy Spirit. Give me that power, Peter! I won’t be denied!
Give me Eternal Life…”
Simon then produced a pouch from under his robes and dropped it at Peter’s feet. It burst open and silver Denarii poured out. Wages sufficient to pay a cohort of servants for a year. More money than the Novice had ever seen in his life.
Peter stood immobile for what seemed to be an eternity, his face a mask of sadness.
There were tears in Peter’s eyes as he addressed Simon Magus. He had conquered his rage. Peter’s voice was strong, but gentle. He betrayed no anger or hatred. He spoke slowly and stared directly into Simon’s eyes.
“The Lord Jesus charged me as follows:
Thou art are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church. And the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the Kingdon of Heaven. Whatsoever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven. And whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
You are indeed learned, Simon Magus – but you are bereft of wisdom. Wisdom cometh only through age – and deeds.
You seek Eternal Life?
Alright. I give it to you. But henceforth you will be bound to earth. Such is my Judgement. Eternal life. On earth.
Perhaps – as you see your family and friends wither and die generation after generation you will learn something of the human soul. Perhaps in the passing of centuries you will learn Wisdom. Thy heart is at this time not right in the eyes of God.
Tread your path carefully in the coming times, Simon Magus. Your days will be long and penance great for your blasphemy and hubris.
Never forget that it was I, Peter, who cursed you so that your soul might be saved.”
Nothing further is known of that meeting between this Samaritan Magician and the Apostle Peter.
But much is whispered about Simon Magus in the years to come. His journey to redemption is the stuff of legend.
And every rung on his agonizingly solitary Jacob’s Ladder to reconsecrate his soul to God will drip with the gore of a decapitated or staked Vampire.
His story follows.
Copyright, 2024 Jon Croft
vlchek1@gmail.com
(*I’m making available the first few chapters of my new book, Simon Magus, for free. Next Chapter: Gabriel)
