But it is not absurd, in quoting the extremely wise observation of that Gamaliel named in the book of Acts, to show how those persons above mentioned were strangers to the promise, being neither “sons of God” nor “powers” of God, whereas Christ Jesus was truly the Son of God. Now Gamaliel, in the passage referred to, said: “If this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought” (as also did the designs of those men already mentioned after their death); “but if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow this doctrine, lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.” There was also Simon the Samaritan magician, who wished to draw away certain by his magical arts. And on that occasion he was successful; but now-a-days it is impossible to find, I suppose, thirty of his followers in the entire world, and probably I have even overstated the number. There are exceedingly few in Palestine; while in the rest of the world, through which he desired to spread the glory of his name, you find it nowhere mentioned. And where it is found, it is found quoted from the Acts of the Apostles; so that it is to Christians that he owes this mention of himself, the unmistakeable result having proved that Simon was in no respect divine.

Origen. 1885. “Origen against Celsus.” In Fathers of the Third Century: Tertullian, Part Fourth; Minucius Felix; Commodian; Origen, Parts First and Second, edited by Alexander Roberts, James Donaldson, and A. Cleveland Coxe, translated by Frederick Crombie, 4:421–22. The Ante-Nicene Fathers. Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Company.

Into modern english via Grok:

It’s not ridiculous to quote the very wise words of Gamaliel—the one mentioned in the Book of Acts—to demonstrate that those people I referred to earlier had no connection to the true promise. They were neither “sons of God” nor any kind of “powers” from God, while Jesus Christ really was the Son of God.

In the passage I’m thinking of, Gamaliel said: “If this plan or this movement is merely human, it will fall apart on its own” (just like the schemes of those other men eventually did after they died). “But if it really comes from God, you won’t be able to stop it—and you might even find yourselves fighting against God.”

There was also Simon, the Samaritan magician, who tried to attract followers using his magic tricks. Back then, he actually succeeded for a while. But these days, I doubt you’d find even thirty of his followers anywhere in the whole world—and honestly, that might be an overestimate. There are hardly any left even in Palestine. In the rest of the world—where he wanted his name to become famous—you won’t hear anything about him. The only place his name even comes up is when people quote from the Acts of the Apostles. So in the end, it’s Christians who keep his memory alive at all. The clear outcome shows that Simon was in no way divine.

P.S. – Much like the prophets of old and the fake gods from the past. “Thus you shall say to them, “The gods that did not make the heavens and the earth will perish from the earth and from under the heavens.” – Jeremiah 10:11

Heaven and earth shall pass away but my words shall never pass away – Jesus

Trust Jesus over whatever it is you are trusting over Him! God bless..

Did you know that the Biblical writings from the BC (BCE) predicted a coming “Servant/Messiah” who would bring God’s word to the nations world over? Did you know that Jesus claimed to be that Messiah and claimed that His message would go to the nations world over? Did you know that Jesus predicted both good and bad players in His multicultural/cross border/ever enduting kingdom? Did you know Jesus said His kingdom is not of this world? And yet the gates of hell would not prevail against it.

The rest is history….