Acts 8:5-25 - Philip Preaches In Samaria

⁵ Philip reached the city of Samaria, and proclaimed the Christ to them. ⁶ When the people heard Philip and saw the signs that he showed they were all interested in what he had to say, ⁷ for with loud cries foul spirits came out of many who had been possessed by them, and many paralytics and lame people were cured. ⁸ So there was great rejoicing in that city.

⁹ There was a man named Simon in the town, who had been amazing the Samaritan people by practicing magic there, and who made great pretensions. ¹⁰ Everyone there, high and low, made much of him, and said, "He must be what is known as the Great Power of God!" ¹¹ They made much of him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic. ¹² But when they believed Philip's message of the good news of the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, men and women alike accepted baptism. ¹³ Even Simon himself believed and after his baptism devoted himself to Philip, and he was amazed at seeing such signs and great wonders taking place.

¹⁴ When the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted God's message, they sent Peter and John there. ¹⁵ When they came, they prayed that the Samaritans might receive the holy Spirit, ¹⁶ for it had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. ¹⁷ Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the holy Spirit.

¹⁸ But when Simon saw that the holy Spirit was imparted through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money, ¹⁹ saying, "Give me also this power to communicate the holy Spirit to anyone I place my hands upon."

²⁰ But Peter said to him, "Go to destruction with your money, for thinking you could buy God's gift with it! ²¹ You have no share or part in this movement, for your heart is not honest in the sight of God. ²² So repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord, to see if you may not be forgiven for thinking of such a thing. ²³ For I see that you are a bitter poison and a bundle of iniquity!"

²⁴ Simon answered, "You must pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things you have said may happen to me!"

²⁵ After they had given their testimony and delivered the Lord's message, they went back to Jerusalem, telling the good news in many Samaritan villages on the way.