Acts 8:1–25
1 aSaul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death.
And on that day a great persecution 1began against bthe church in Jerusalem, and they were all cscattered throughout the regions of Judea and dSamaria, except the apostles.
2 Some devout men buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him.
3 But aSaul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and bdragging off men and women, he would put them in prison.
4 Therefore, those awho had been scattered went about 1bpreaching the word.
5 aPhilip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming 1Christ to them.
6 The crowds with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip, as they heard and saw the 1signs which he was performing.
7 For in the case of many who had aunclean spirits, they were coming out of them shouting with a loud voice; and many who had been bparalyzed and lame were healed.
8 So there was amuch rejoicing in that city.
9 Now there was a man named Simon, who formerly was practicing amagic in the city and astonishing the people of Samaria, bclaiming to be someone great;
10 and they all, from smallest to greatest, were giving attention to him, saying, “aThis man is what is called the Great Power of God.”
11 And they were giving him attention because he had for a long time astonished them with his amagic arts.
12 But when they believed Philip apreaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being bbaptized, men and women alike.
13 Even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed asigns and bgreat miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed.
14 Now when athe apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them bPeter and John,
15 who came down and prayed for them athat they might receive the Holy Spirit.
16 For He had anot yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been bbaptized 1in the name of the Lord Jesus.
17 Then they abegan laying their hands on them, and they were breceiving the Holy Spirit.
18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money,
19 saying, “Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
20 But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could aobtain the gift of God with money!
21 “You have ano part or portion in this 1matter, for your heart is not bright before God.
22 “Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, aif possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you.
23 “For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in athe 1bondage of iniquity.”
24 But Simon answered and said, “aPray to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.”
25 So, when they had solemnly atestified and spoken bthe word of the Lord, they started back to Jerusalem, and were cpreaching the gospel to many villages of the dSamaritans.