Acts 8:5-25

New International Version

⁵ Philip^(A) went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. ⁶ When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. ⁷ For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many,^(B) and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed.^{(C) 8} So there was great joy in that city.

Simon the Sorcerer

⁹ Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery^(D) in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great,^{(E) 10} and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is rightly called the Great Power of God.”^{(F) 11} They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his sorcery. ¹² But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God^(G) and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized,^(H) both men and women. ¹³ Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles^(I) he saw.

¹⁴ When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria^(J) had accepted the word of God,^(K) they sent Peter and John^(L) to Samaria. ¹⁵ When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit,^{(M) 16} because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them;^(N) they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.^{(O) 17} Then Peter and John placed their hands on them,^(P) and they received the Holy Spirit.^(Q)

¹⁸ When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money ¹⁹ and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

²⁰ Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!^{(R) 21} You have no part or share^(S) in this ministry, because your heart is not right^(T) before God. ²² Repent^(U) of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. ²³ For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”

²⁴ Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me^(V) so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”

²⁵ After they had further proclaimed the word of the Lord^(W) and testified about Jesus, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages.^(X)