⁶ We have different gifts,^(A) according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying,^(B) then prophesy in accordance with your^[a] faith;^{(C) 7} if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach;^{(D) 8} if it is to encourage, then give encouragement;^(E) if it is giving, then give generously;^(F) if it is to lead,^[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

¹⁸ Therefore encourage one another^(A) with these words.

³¹ Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria^(A) enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.^(B)

⁴ For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us,^(A) so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

⁵ May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind^(B) toward each other that Christ Jesus had,

¹¹ So Christ himself gave^(A) the apostles,^(B) the prophets,^(C) the evangelists,^(D) the pastors and teachers,^(E)

⁸ Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea^(A) and stayed at the house of Philip^(B) the evangelist,^(C) one of the Seven.

Philip in Samaria

⁴ Those who had been scattered^(A) preached the word wherever they went.^{(B) 5} Philip^(C) 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,^(D) and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed.^{(E) 8} So there was great joy in that city.

Simon the Sorcerer

⁹ Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery^(F) in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great,^{(G) 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.”^{(H) 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^(I) and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized,^(J) both men and women. ¹³ Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles^(K) he saw.

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

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!^{(T) 21} You have no part or share^(U) in this ministry, because your heart is not right^(V) before God. ²² Repent^(W) 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^(X) so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”

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

³⁵ Then Philip began^(A) with that very passage of Scripture^(B) and told him the good news^(C) about Jesus.