Acts 8:5-25 - Philip Preaches In Samaria

⁵ Philip [the evangelist] went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed) to them. ⁶ The crowds gathered and were paying close attention to everything Philip said, as they heard [the message] and saw the [miraculous] signs which he was doing [validating his message]. ⁷ For unclean spirits (demons), shouting loudly, were coming out of many who were possessed; and many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed. ⁸ So there was great rejoicing in that city.

⁹ Now there was a man named Simon, who previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great. ¹⁰ They all paid [a great deal of] attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is what is called the Great Power of God!” ¹¹ They were paying attention to him because for a long time he had mystified and dazzled them with his magic. ¹² But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, both men and women. ¹³ Even Simon believed [Philip’s message of salvation]; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he watched the attesting signs and great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed.

¹⁴ When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that [the people of] Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. ¹⁵ They came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit; ¹⁶ for He had not yet fallen on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus [as His possession]. ¹⁷ Then Peter and John laid their hands on them [one by one], and they received the Holy Spirit.

¹⁸ Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, ¹⁹ saying, “Give me this authority and power too, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

²⁰ But Peter said to him, “May your money be destroyed along with you, because you thought you could buy the [free] gift of God with money! ²¹ You have no part or share in this matter, because your heart (motive, purpose) is not right before God. ²² So repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, this thought of your heart may be forgiven you. ²³ For I see that you are provoked by bitterness and bound by sin.”

²⁴ But Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me both of you, so that nothing of what you have said will come upon me.”

²⁵ So, when Peter and John had given their testimony and preached the word of the Lord, they started back to Jerusalem, preaching the good news [about salvation] in many Samaritan villages [along the way].