5 Philip went down to aA city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah to them.d 6 The crowds were all paying attention to what Philip said, as they listened and saw the signs he was performing. 7 For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed, and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed.e 8 So there was great joy in that city.

THE RESPONSE OF SIMON

9 A man named Simon had previously practiced sorcery in that city and amazed the Samaritan people, while claiming to be somebody great.f 10 They all paid attention to him, from the least of them to the greatest, and they said, “This man is called the Great Power of God.”B,g 11 They were attentive to him because he had amazed them with his sorceries for a long time. 12 But when they believed Philip, as he proclaimed the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.h 13 Even Simon himself believed. And after he was baptized, he followed Philip everywhere and was amazed as he observed the signs and great miraclesi that were being performed.

SIMON’S SIN

14 When the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.j 15 After they went down there, they prayed for them so that the Samaritans might receive the Holy Spirit because he had not yet come down on any of them. 16 (They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.k) 17 Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

18 When Simon saw that the SpiritC was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me this power also so that anyone I lay hands on may receive the Holy Spirit.”

20 But Peter told him, “May your silver be destroyed with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!l 21 You have no part or share in this matter, because your heart is not right before God.m 22 Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, your heart’s intent may be forgiven. 23 For I see you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by wickedness.”n