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 whoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
What is worthy of note is that The Holy Spirit, given His thorough understanding of all things, does not prevent Simon from being baptized into the new body of believers. God sees his utter insincerity and He knows more than finite man does, what the end product will be, yet He allows it to go through. Why would God allow this witch doctor to be baptized?
Why would not The Holy Ghost give Phillip a heads-up, as He had done with Peter, when Ananias and his wife, Saphira, proved to be insincere? Since the witch doctor was obviously not changed in his heart, why would God allow him to join the body of new believers? Remember, that the servants of God were baptizing in the name of The Father, The Son, and The Holy Ghost, and therefore, some of us would expect that this fraud would have been duly exposed up front, to prevent him from joining.
But that isn’t how God works; and especially during the time of the latter rain, the motives, intentions, and purposes of individuals are to be left solely in God’s hands. God does not view the witch doctor as a risk to the true believer, neither did He view Judas as a risk to the other disciples. This fact was clearly sated by Christ as He treated on the topic.
John 6:70 Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? 71 He spoke of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.
May God add His blessing to the study of His word. “Good night” and God bless!