Meaning of SIMON

(Hellenized form of the Heb. name "shim'õn", Simeon).

(a) Simon Peter (see PETER).

(b) Father of Judas Iscariot (John 6:71; 13:26).

(c) Simon the Zealot. A member of a party of patriots, he received this name to distinguish him from Simon Peter (Mt. 10: 4; cf. Lk. 6:15).

(d) One of the Lord's brothers. (See BROTHERS OF JESUS.)

(e) Pharisee who invited the Lord to a meal in his house. On this occasion a sinful woman anointed the feet of the Lord Jesus (Luke 7:36-50).

(f) Inhabitant of Bethany; owner of a house in this town. He had been a leper, and it is surely the Lord who healed him. Mary, sister of Lazarus, anointed Jesus' feet with a very precious perfume while the Lord was at table in Simon's house (Mt. 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9; John 12:1 -8).

The presence of Lazarus and the two sisters, the part they assumed in the organization of the meal, the fact that the house of Simon the leper was in Bethany, all this suggests that the ex-leper was related to Lazarus and his sisters, or that he was at least a friend of the family. He could even be Marta's own husband. (See MARTA.)

(g) Father of Alexander and Rufus (Mt. 27:32), he was a native of Cyrene; he was forced to carry the cross of Jesus.

(h) Sorcerer, known as Simon the magician. His artifices had so fascinated the Samaritans that they said of him that he was the great power of God.

Simon apparently received the Gospel preached by Philip, and was baptized. Having wanted to buy with money the privilege of granting the Holy Spirit to whomever he wanted through the laying on of hands, the magician suffered a severe rebuke.

Peter reproached him for lacking righteousness and being bound by iniquity; He urged him to repent and pray directly to the Lord to obtain forgiveness from him.

Simon did not revolt against the apostle's words, but begged him to intercede on his behalf (Acts 8:9-24). Despite this, we do not know if he genuinely repented.

From his name the term "simony" has been derived, that is, trafficking in holy things for lucrative interests.

(i) Tanner of Joppa. Peter lived for a time in his house (Acts 9:43; 10:6, 7, 32).