Acts 8:9-25 - Simon The Magician
9 There was staying in the city a man named Simon, who had been practicing magic there and mystifying the Samaritan people, giving himself out to be some great Being. 10 Every one, high and low, paid attention to him. 'This man,' they used to say, 'must be that Power of God which men call "The Great Power."' 11 And they paid attention to him because they had for a long time been mystified by his magic arts. 12 However, when they came to believe Philip, as he told them the Good News about the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Even Simon believed, and after his baptism attached himself to Philip, and was in his turn mystified at seeing signs and great miracles constantly occurring.
14 When the Apostles at Jerusalem heard that the Samaritans had welcomed God's Message, they sent Peter and John to them; 15 And they, on their arrival, prayed that the Samaritans might receive the Holy Spirit. 16 (As yet the Spirit had not descended upon any of them; they had only been baptized into the Faith of the Lord Jesus). 17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18 When Simon saw that it was through the placing of the Apostles' hands on them that the Spirit was given, he brought them a sum of money and said: 19 "Give me also this power of yours, so that, if I place my hands upon any one, he may receive the Holy Spirit."
20 "A curse upon you and upon your money," Peter exclaimed, "for thinking that God's free gift can be bought with gold! 21 You have no share or part in our Message, for your 'heart is not right with God.' 22 Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord, that, if possible, you may be forgiven for such a thought; 23 For I see that you have fallen into the 'bitterness of envy' and the 'fetters of sin.'"
24 "Pray to the Lord for me, all of you," Simon answered, "so that none of the things you have spoken of may befall me."
25 Peter and John, having borne their testimony and delivered the Lord's Message, returned to Jerusalem, telling the Good News, as they went, in many Samaritan villages.