"Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money, saying, 'Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.'”

Like Simon the Sorcerer, we can become addicted to power and wealth and see the realm of the genuine Spirit of God and grace as either threat or opportunity to gain more power and wealth of ourselves.. Peter names the addiction as "the gall of bitterness and the bond in the bond of iniquity."

Ponder that.

It is a bond that binds and a poison that "toxifies" the soul.

Yet, the possibility of repentance and forgiveness is held out, even for such a malignant evil.

Imagine how deeply Simon had to humble his heart to ask someone else to pray for him.

But, he did.

"Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money, saying, “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.” And Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.”"
– Acts 8:14-24 (ESV)