The Samaritans were descended from The Babylonians who had brought their "Mystery Religion" with them when they arrived from Babylon. Notice in verse 34....they are still practicing their Mystery Religion and this was the same religion of Simon Magus. This is one of the reasons Christ warned his disciples to stay out of Samaria [Matthew 10:5] as they were still practicing this same type of religion in the first century.
Did not Jesus Himself travel through Samaria and, personally, convert many of the Samaritians ?John 4:5 Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.Did not Jesus, ultimately, send His Apostles to Samaria ?
6 Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.
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John 4:39 And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did.
40 So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days.
41 And many more believed because of his own word;
42 And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.Did not Phillip, a NT evangelist, enjoy much evangelistic success among the Samaritans ?Acts 8:5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.And the following describes Simon the Magus, does it not ... ?
6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.
8 And there was great joy in that city.Acts 8:9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:Looks for all the world like a struggling new believer to me.
10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.
11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.
12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
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Acts 8:18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.
24 Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.
25 And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.
He would have Avoided it if possible but it was on his way. Yes, he converted some Samaritans, but at the time of his visit they were still pagans and his disciples were surprised he was even talking to them [4:27]. He had instructed the twelve to not go there [Matthew 10:5] because these folks were a gentile people and the twelve were to go only to the "Lost Sheep of the House of Israel."
Acts 8:18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money
Evidently you did not read my link to Justin Martyr so I will give you another one to Ireneus Book I, Chapter XXIII and Eusebius Book II, Chapter XIII....a later writer.
Now, if Simon was a genuine convert, he obviously fell away later.....probably right after Peter rebuked him. The statement was made earlier, "Show me any pagan convert that ended up changing anything in the early church." If you don't think that "Simon Magus" influenced early Christian theology in Rome, spreading it eastward to Greece, then I guess we'll just leave it like that!