Acts 8:9-25 - Simon The Magician
9 Now in that city there was a man named Simon. He was practicing occult arts and thrilling the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great. 10 Everyone from the least to the greatest paid close attention to him, saying, "This is what we call the great power of God!" 11 They paid careful attention to him because he had thrilled them for a long time with his occult performances. 12 But when Philip proclaimed the good news about the kingdom of God and about the name of Jesus the Messiah, men and women believed and were baptized. 13 Even Simon believed, and after he was baptized he became devoted to Philip. He was amazed to see the signs and great miracles that were happening.
14 Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaritans had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15 They went down and prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit. 16 Before this, he had not come on any of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, 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 and said, "Give me this power too, so that when I lay my hands on someone, he will receive the Holy Spirit."
20 But Peter told him, "May your money perish with you, because you thought you could obtain God's free gift with money! 21 You have no part or share in what we're saying, because your heart isn't right with God. 22 So repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, your heart's intent may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you're being poisoned by bitterness and you're a prisoner of wickedness!"
24 Simon answered, "Both of you pray to the Lord for me that none of the things you have said will happen to me."
25 After they had given their testimony and spoken the word of the Lord, they started back to Jerusalem, continuing to proclaim the good news in many Samaritan villages.