Tractates on the Gospel of John
146 ST. AUGUSTINE also where on the day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit was sent, in parted tongues as of fire.^^ We read there that in Samaria many believed through the preaching of Philip,^^ and it is understood that he is either one of the apostles or one of the deacons; for we read there that seven deacons were ordained, among whom is also the name Philip.
(2) Through Philip's preaching, therefore, the Samaritans believed; Samaria began to have an abundance of believers. The infamous Simon Magus was there; through his works of magic he had bewitched the people so that they thought he was the power of God. And yet, moved by the signs which were performed by Philip, he himself also believed; but how he believed the following passages showed.
(3) And Simon, too, was baptized. The apostles who were in Jerusalem heard this; Peter and John were sent to them and they found many baptized. And because none of them had yet received the Holy Spirit in the way in which he descended at that time, so that they, upon whom the Holy Spirit descended, might speak with tongues to provide a clear sign that the nations would believe, they laid hands on them, praying for them, and they received the Holy Spirit. That Simon, who was not a dove in the Church, but a raven, because he was seeking what was his own, not what was Jesus Christ's^'' and for that reason he had loved in Christians their power more than their justice — he saw that the Holy Spirit was being given through the imposition of the apostles' hands (not that they themselves were giving, but that he was given through their prayers), and he said to the apostles, "What amount of money do you wish to receive from me that the Holy Spirit may also be given through the imposition of my hands?" And Peter said to him, "May you and your money perish together, because you thought that the gift of God might be purchased with money."
(4) To whom did he say "May you and your money perish together"? Why, to one baptized. He already had baptism; but
52. Cf. Acts 2.1-4. 54. Cf. Acts 6.1-6. 56. Cf. Acts 8.19-20.
53. Cf. Acts 8.4-8. 55. Cf. Phil 2.21.