Acts 8:9-25 - Simon The Magician

⁹ Now for some time previous a man called Simon had been practising magic arts in the town, to the utter astonishment of the Samaritan nation; he made himself out to be a great person, ¹⁰ and all sorts and conditions of people attached themselves to him, declaring he was that Power of God which is known as 'the Great Power.' ¹¹ They attached themselves to him because he had dazzled them with his skill in magic for a considerable time. ¹² But when they believed Philip, who preached the gospel of the Reign of God and the name of Jesus, they had themselves baptized, both men and women; ¹³ indeed Simon himself believed, and after his baptism kept close to Philip, utterly astonished to see the signs and striking miracles which were taking place.

¹⁴ When the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they despatched Peter and John, ¹⁵ who came down and prayed that the Samaritans might receive the holy Spirit. ¹⁶ (As yet it had not fallen 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 Now Simon noticed that the holy Spirit was conferred by the laying on of the apostles' hands; so he brought them money, ¹⁹ saying, "Let me share this power too, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the holy Spirit."

²⁰ Peter said to him, "Death to you and your money, for dreaming you could buy the gift of God! ²¹ You come in for no share or lot in this religion. Your heart is all wrong in the sight of God. ²² So repent of this wickedness of yours, and ask God whether you cannot be forgiven for your heart's purpose. ²³ For I see you are a bitter poison and a pack of evil."

²⁴ Simon replied, "Beseech the Lord for me! Pray that nothing you have said may befall me!"

²⁵ After bearing their testimony to the word of the Lord and preaching it, the apostles went back to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to a number of the Samaritan villages;