Acts 8:14–24

¹⁴When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that the Samaritans had accepted God’s word, they sent Peter and John to them. ¹⁵Peter and John went to Samaria and prayed that the Samaritans would receive the Holy Spirit. ¹⁶(Before this the Holy Spirit had not come to any of the Samaritans. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) ¹⁷Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and the Samaritans received the Holy Spirit. 

¹⁸Simon saw that the Spirit was given to the Samaritans when the apostles placed their hands on them. So he offered Peter and John money ¹⁹and said, “Give me this power so that anyone I place my hands on will receive the Holy Spirit.” 

²⁰Peter told Simon, “May your money be destroyed with you because you thought you could buy God’s gift. ²¹You won’t have any share in this because God can see how twisted your thinking is. ²²So change your wicked thoughts, and ask the Lord if he will forgive you for thinking like this. ²³I can see that you are bitter with jealousy and wrapped up in your evil ways.” 

²⁴Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me that none of the things you said will happen to me.”