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The First Apology
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Chapter 26: Christians Do Not Trust Magicians
THIRDLY: after Christ's ascension into heaven, the devils influenced certain men who claimed to be gods. Not only were they not persecuted by you, but they were even honored. There was a Samaritan named Simon, from a village called Gitto, who, during the reign of Claudius Caesar, performed mighty acts of magic in your royal city of Rome, through the influence of devils working in him. He was regarded as a god and honored by you with a statue, which was erected on the River Tiber between the two bridges, bearing this inscription in the Roman language: "Simoni Deo Sancto," meaning "To Simon the holy God." Almost all the Samaritans and even a few people from other nations worship him and acknowledge him as the first god.
A woman named Helena, who traveled with him at that time and was formerly a prostitute, is said to be the first idea generated by him. A man named Menander, also a Samaritan from the town of Capparetæa and a disciple of Simon, was inspired by devils and is known to have deceived many in Antioch with his magical arts. He convinced his followers that they would never die, and even now some people still hold his beliefs. Marcion, a man from Pontus, is alive today and teaches his disciples to believe in a god greater than the Creator.
With the help of devils, he has led many from every nation to blaspheme and deny that God is the maker of this universe, claiming that another being greater than Him has done greater works. All those who adopt these men's views are, as we mentioned before, called Christians, just like those who do not agree with philosophers' doctrines are still commonly called philosophers. Whether they commit the disgraceful acts attributed to them, like turning out the lamp for promiscuous intercourse or eating human flesh, we do not know, but we do know that they are neither persecuted nor executed by you for their beliefs.
I have a treatise against all the heresies that have existed, which I can provide if you wish to read it.
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