⁴The believers who were scattered went from place to place, where they spread the word. ⁵Philip went to the city of Samaria and told people about the Messiah. ⁶The crowds paid close attention to what Philip said. They listened to him and saw the miracles that he performed. ⁷Evil spirits screamed as they came out of the many people they had possessed. Many paralyzed and lame people were cured. ⁸As a result, that city was extremely happy.

⁹A man named Simon lived in that city. He amazed the people of Samaria with his practice of magic. He claimed that he was great. ¹⁰Everyone from children to adults paid attention to him. They said, “This man is the power of God, and that power is called great.” ¹¹They paid attention to Simon because he had amazed them for a long time with his practice of magic. ¹²However, when Philip spread the Good News about God’s kingdom and the one named Jesus Christ, men and women believed him and were baptized. ¹³Even Simon believed, and after he was baptized, he became devoted to Philip. Simon was amazed to see the miracles and impressive things that were happening.

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.”

²⁵After they had boldly spoken about the message of the Lord, they spread the Good News in many Samaritan villages on their way back to Jerusalem.

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