I came across something interesting in Acts 8:9--24. It's about a guy named Simon who was a magician or sorcerer (depending on the bible version) that was described as a believer of the Gospel (verse 13), ...........
Seems the Apostles had their hands full with characters like Simon.
Such as this event in Acts 13 concerning Bar-Jesus/Elymas.
Acts 13:
4 Then Barnabas and Saul, sent forth by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. 5 When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. And John was with them as their helper.
6 They traveled through the whole island as far as Paphos, where they found a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, 7 an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus.
The proconsul, a man of intelligence, summoned Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God.
8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith.
9 Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked directly at Elymas 10 and said, “O child of the devil and enemy of all righteousness! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the straight ways of the Lord?
11 Now look, the hand of the Lord is against you, and for a time you will be blind and unable to see the light of the sun.”
Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand.
12 When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was astonished at the teaching about the Lord.
There was a lot of that going on around Jerusalem and Judea after the ascension of Jesus, as shown in the writings of Josephus:
The Destruction of Jerusalem - George Peter Holford, 1805AD
The Destruction Of JERUSALEM
An Absolute and Irresistible PROOF OF THE DIVINE ORIGIN OF CHRISTIANITY:
"
Tell us, when shall these things be ? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled ?"
Such were the questions of the disciples, in answer to which our LORD condescended to give them a particular account of the several important events that would precede, as well as of the prognostics which would announce, the approaching desolations ; including suitable directions for the regulation of their conduct under the various trials to which they were to be exposed. He commences with a caution :
"
Take heed," says be, "
that no man deceive you ;
for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ, and shall deceive many."
The necessity for this friendly warning soon appeared ; for within one year after our Lord's ascension, rose
Dositheus the Samaritan,
who had the boldness to assert that he was the Messiah, of whom Moses prophesied ;
while his disciple
Simon Magus deluded multitudes into a belief that he, himself, was the " GREAT POWER OF GOD."
About three years afterwards
another Samaritan impostor appeared, and declared that he would shew the people the sacred utensils, said to have been deposited by Moses, in mount Gerizim.
Induced by an idea that the Messiah, their great deliverer, was now come, an armed multitude assembled under him, but Pilate speedily defeated them, and slew their chief.
While Cuspius Fadus was procurator in Judea,
another deceiver arose, whose name was
Theudas.
[4] This man actually succeeded s O far as to persuade a very great multitude to take their effects and follow him to Jordan, assuring them, that the river would divide at his command. Fadus, however, pursued their with a troop of horse, and slew many of them, and among the rest the impostor himself,
whose head was cut off and carried to Jerusalem.
Under the government of Felix,
deceivers rose up daily in Judea, and persuaded the people to follow them into the wilderness, assuring them that they should there behold conspicuous signs and wonders performed by the ALMIGHTY. Of these Felix, from time to time, apprehended many, and put them to death.
About this period (A.D. 55,) arose
Felix the celebrated Egyptian impostor, who collected thirty-thousand followers, and persuaded them to accompany him to the Mount of Olives, telling, them that from thence they should see the walls of Jerusalem fall down at his command, as, a prelude to the capture of the Roman garrison, and to their obtaining the sovereignty of the city. The Roman governor, however, apprehending this to be the beginning of revolt, immediately attacked them, slew four hundred of them, and dispersed the rest ; but the Egyptian effected his escape.
In the time of Porcius Festus (A.D.60,)
another distinguished impostor seduced the people, by promising them deliverance from the Roman yoke, if they would follow him into the wilderness ; but Festus sent out an armed force which speedily destroyed both the deceiver and his followers.
In short, impostors, to a divine commission, continually and fatally deceived the people, and at once justified the caution, and fulfilled the prediction of our LORD................
Revelation 9:21
Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, G5331 nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.
Revelation 18
2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
23 And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries G5331 were all nations deceived.
