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Simon Magus was Catholicism’s first pope. Scripture records an incident that took place between Simon Magus and the apostles that began the process of apostasy infiltrating the early Christian church. Simon Magus exalted himself as the first leader of the false worldwide religious system – the Roman Catholic Church.

After the ascension of Yeshua Messiah (Jesus Christ), Simon Peter (Kepha) left Jerusalem BRIEFLY to travel to Samaria, and then RETURNED to Jerusalem. Simon Magus met Simon Peter in Samaria and later went on to usurp Christianity under Catholicism. Simon Peter traveled to the places he wrote of (Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia), but never mentioned traveling to Rome (1 Peter 1:1). Peter NEVER served as the first pope of the Catholic Church or the bishop of Rome.

ACTS 8:9-19:
But there was a certain man called Simon [MAGUS], who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great, to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the great power of God.” And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time. But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Yeshua Messiah (Jesus Christ), both men and women were baptized. Then Simon [MAGUS] himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs, which were done. Now when the apostles WHO WERE AT JERUSALEM heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Yeshua (Jesus). Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. And when Simon [MAGUS] saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying, “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

Simon Magus went on to deceive many, founding Roman Catholicism, usurping Simon Peter’s name, and declaring Himself God on Earth and the first Catholic pope. Simon Peter returned to Jerusalem and remained there to be the apostle to the Jews (Acts 8:25; Galatians 2:7-8).

ACTS 8:20-25:
But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.”
Then Simon [MAGUS] answered and said, “Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me.”
So when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, THEY RETURNED TO JERUSALEM, preaching the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.

Simon Peter was never the Catholic pope of Rome. Simon Magus assumed that role. Peter NEVER traveled to Rome. Peter was the Apostle to the circumcised Jews as Paul was the Apostle to the uncircumcised Gentiles. Scripture records where Peter traveled to and visited, but Rome was NOT listed as one of the destinations.

GALATIANS 2:7-8:
But on the contrary, when they saw that the gospel for the uncircumcised [GENTILES] had been committed to me [PAUL], as the gospel for the circumcised [JEWS] was to Peter (for He who worked effectually in Peter for the apostleship to the circumcised [JEWS] also worked effectively in me toward the Gentiles)…

1 PETER 1:1:
Peter, an apostle of Yeshua Messiah (Jesus Christ), to the pilgrims of the Dispersion in PONTUS, GALATIA, CAPPADOCIA, ASIA, and BITHYNIA, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Yeshua Messiah (Jesus Christ): Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

The Catholic Church has built itself upon a lie and anything built upon a lie will not stand. Yeshua (Jesus) did not build the Catholic Church upon the rock of Peter (Matthew 16:16-18); He built His church upon the faithful answer that Peter gave to Yeshua (Jesus), that He is the Messiah (Christ), the Son of the living God.

Simon Magus is the foundational rock, the lie upon which the Roman Catholic Church was built.