Book 2 — Chapter 13 — Simon the Magician
Returning to Simon of Shomron, Eusebius describes him as the origin point of a line of deceptive movements. After his confrontation with the emissaries in Acts, Simon is said to have traveled widely, using magic and presenting himself in exalted language. Eusebius depends partly on Justin and Irenaeus for traditions that Simon received honors in Rome and traveled with a woman named Helena whom he represented in cosmic mythology. Some details, especially the interpretation of a Roman inscription as dedicated to Simon, are now known to involve ancient misidentification; HaSefarim keeps the claim as part of Eusebius's source tradition. The chapter is important because Eusebius frames later “heresies” genealogically, tracing them through teachers whom he sees as corrupting apostolic proclamation.