Simon was a guy who was a magician. He made his living, as far as we can tell from the New Testament book of Acts, from performing magic or tricks: he did something and people wanted it. In fact Simon amazed people in Samaria, the town where he polished his gig. Simon was pretty happy about his accomplishments and thought of himself as 'someone great.'
Simon was not some ding-dong pulling rabbits out of his hat, he probably had some real power. Remember in the Old Testament when Moses was trying to convince Pharaoh to let Israel go, some of the Egyptian magicians were able to perform some of the same 'miracles' Moses was able to do; Simon was no illusionist.
Well after Philip came and preached to he people how they were sinners headed straight off the cliff and into God's rightful judgment, but Jesus died for them and His payment was for all who entrusted themselves to Jesus; after the gospel was revealed, people trusted in Jesus, even Simon. So he set aside his chicken bones and wand and followed Philip around as Philip met with people and elaborated on this new found Jesus. Simon wanted to learn from a guy who knew Jesus Christ.
It wasn't too long before Philip, by the working of God's power, did some pretty cool miracles himself. He probably healed some folks and other supernatural things, so much so that Simon, the self proclaimed pretty awesome guy, was flat amazed. More so, Peter and John--some more disciples of Jesus--came into town and by the laying on of hands gave the Holy Spirit of God to the new believers of Jesus Christ. Well Simon is doing head stands at this point and it flat broke on comprehension so he, like any respectable entrepreneur, offers the Apostles some cash so that he may have this same power.
This is when Peter flips out, 'May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money...your heart is not right with God.' Basically Peter said no.
Aw but his intent was good, he wanted to help others; Peter must have been scarred and on a power trip. We see in verse 22 that it is Simon's very intent that was wrong.
We do not have the same gift as Peter, giving the Holy Spirit to others. But we do have the ability to give the Gospel to others and the very same foul intent which resided in Simon is often in us: we want to be the doing person in order to be be the person who is known for doing.
The Gospel, the fantastic news of Jesus paying our sins is free to us, free to all humanity. But the Gospel is never a means of self-promotion or self-recognition; the Gospel is all about Jesus. Jesus did not do what he did in order to provide a tool for his followers to be thought of as holy rollers who got it goin on. Quite the opposite: Jesus died for nobodies to be known and know the Creator and Sustainer of all life, to have a right and good and joyful relationship with God, the Almighty.
Sometimes we use our wisdom and pleasant speech to only gain respect and credit from others; we, being the messenger of the life-giving message, want to get in on the warm-fuzzies and pat ourselves on the back for all we have done. Friends, we have done nothing and Christ has done everything.
The great part is that even when we act like Simon and have moments of stupidity God is graciously accepting us, delighting in our turning afresh to Him. Simon, after receiving his verbal shellacking, says to Peter, 'Pray for me' he desires to walk back to God, confessing his idiocy and sin. No matter what you have done--10 years ago or 2 seconds ago--the path to God is always open and there are never any toll booths.
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