Szymon Mag w Dziejach Apostolskich (8,4-25) miejsce narracji w strukturze księgi i jej znaczenie

Abstract

The subject of the article is the figure of Simon Magus, presented in the canonical Acts of the Apostles, also known from other early Christian sources as pregnostic. In the first part, the author presents pericope 8, 4–25 in the literary context of the book, the history of research related to its editing, and then attempts to answer the extent to which Luke's approach is historical. The second part of the article shows the cultural context of the narrative in Acts 8: 4–25, the religious conditions of the inhabitants of the city of Samaria (Sebaste), their attachment to magic, and against this background the figure of Simon Magus. The subject of his interest is also ancient magic that is in opposition to religion and the tensions that arise between it and the early Christian understanding of miracles (signs) and the preached Gospel of Jesus Christ. Summing up, it shows the importance of Simon Magus from Luke's message for the second generation of Christians (addressees of the Acts) and the performative nature of his narrative.