Simon Magus

Although later legend, or tradition, arises about him, these few verses from Acts are all we "know" about Simon the Magician, for whom is named "simony," buying religious office for personal benefit. Growing out of the event described in today's reading, a terrible reputation developed in the early church for poor Simon, who after all was only trying to put bread on the table. The below link from Catholic Encyclopedia expands, expounds, for anyone who would like to know more.
 http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13797b.htm

And oh, may Simon Magus fairly be regarded as a spiritual father of evangelical preachers in giant megachurches of today? IDK

http://babylonbee.com/news/benny-hinn-carefully-applies-not-world-sticker-ferrari-458-italia/

Note that, per Luke's agenda, the early church continues to originate and develop from Jerusalem, home of the prophets.

Acts 8:9-25 Simon Magus  Now a certain man named Simon had previously practised magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he was someone great. All of them, from the least to the greatest, listened to him eagerly, saying, ‘This man is the power of God that is called Great.’ And they listened eagerly to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic. But when they believed Philip, who was proclaiming the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Even Simon himself believed. After being baptized, he stayed constantly with Philip and was amazed when he saw the signs and great miracles that took place.

 Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. The two went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit (for as yet the Spirit had not come upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus). Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, ‘Give me also this power so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.’ But Peter said to him, ‘May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain God’s gift with money! You have no part or share in this, for your heart is not right before God. Repent therefore of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and the chains of wickedness.’ Simon answered, ‘Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may happen to me.’

 Now after Peter and John had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, proclaiming the good news to many villages of the Samaritans.