Acts 8:13

‘And Simon also himself believed, and being baptised, he continued with Philip, and beholding signs and great miracles wrought, he was amazed.'

‘Also himself believed.' Simon also believed and was baptised. If there had been any hint when Luke wrote this that his conversion was not genuine, Luke would surely have worded it differently. We must not find ourselves too persuaded by myths and legends just because they are ‘interesting'.

And just as the lame man in the Temple ‘laid hold' of the Apostles, so Simon ‘continued with' Philip. And he beheld the signs and great miracles that Philip wrought, and he was amazed. There is a deliberate comparison here with Acts 8:9, which stresses how superior Philip was to Simon. The amazer was amazed.