Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of king Herod, behold, there came certain wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is the king of the Jews that is born here? for we have seen his star in the east and are come to worship Him. read more. And when Herod the king heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him: and having summoned together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he enquired of them where the Messiah was to be born: and they told him, at Bethlehem in Judea; for thus it is written by the prophet, "And thou Bethlehem in the land of Juda art not the meanest among the cities of the princes of Juda; for out of thee shall come forth a ruler, that shall feed my people Israel." Then Herod called the wise men to him privately, and inquired of them exactly the time of the star's appearing: and sending them to Bethlehem, he said, Go and make diligent search for the child, and when ye have found Him, let me know, that I also may come and worship Him. When they had heard the king, they went: and lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went on before them, till it came and stood over the place where the child was. And when they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy; and coming into the house, they found the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshipped Him: and when they had opened their treasures, they brought Him presents, of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And being warned of God in a dream not to return to Herod, they went back into their own country another way.

But there was before in the city a man named Simon practising magic and bewitching the people of Samaria, giving out that he was some great person. Whom they all greatly regarded, from the lest to the greatest, saying, This man is as the great power of God. read more. And they were attentive to him, because he had for a considerable time astonished them by his magic arts. But as they believed Philip, preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women; and Simon himself also believed, and was baptized, and kept constantly with Philip: and beholding the signs and miracles that were wrought, he was amazed. Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John: who when they were come down prayed for them that they might receive the holy Spirit: (for He was not yet fallen upon any of them, only they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus:) and then they laid their hands on them, and they received the holy Spirit. And when Simon saw that the holy Spirit was given by the imposition of the hands of the apostles, he offered them money, saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the holy Spirit. But Peter said unto him, Let thy money perish with thee, since thou thoughtest to purchase the gift of God with money. Thou hast no part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray to God, if so be the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee: for I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness and bond of iniquity. And Simon answered, and said, Do ye pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which ye have spoken may come upon me.

And going quite through the island even to Paphos, they found there a certain magician, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus. Who was with the proconsul Sergius Paulus, an understanding man: who calling for Barnabas and Saul, desired to hear the word of God. read more. But Elymas the magician (for so his name signifies) withstood them endeavouring to turn away the proconsul from the faith. Then Saul, who also is called Paul, being filled with the holy Spirit, and looking earnestly at him, said, O thou son of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, who art full of all deceit and craft, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? And now behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing even the sun for a time. And immediately there fell upon him a mist and darkness; and groping about he sought for somebody to lead him by the hand. Then the proconsul, seeing what was done, believed, being struck with admiration at the doctrine of the Lord.

And many of them that believed came confessing and declaring their former practices. And a great number of those that had used inquisitive arts, brought the books, and burned them before them all: and they computed the price of them, and found it to be fifty thousand pieces of silver.