Acts 8:9–24

⁹Now there was a man named Simon, who formerly was practicing ^amagic in the city and astounding the people of Samaria, ^bclaiming to be someone great;

¹⁰and they all, from smallest to greatest, were giving attention to him, saying, “^aThis man is what is called the Great Power of God.”

¹¹And they were giving him attention because he had for a long time astounded them with his ^amagic arts.

¹²But when they believed Philip ^aproclaiming the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being ^bbaptized, both men and women.

¹³Even 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 astounded.

¹⁴Now when ^athe apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them ^bPeter and John,

¹⁵who came down and prayed for them ^athat they might receive the Holy Spirit.

¹⁶For He had ^anot yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been ^bbaptized ¹in the name of the Lord Jesus.

¹⁷Then they ^abegan laying their hands on them, and they were ^breceiving the Holy Spirit.

¹⁸Now when Simon saw that the Spirit had been bestowed through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money,

¹⁹saying, “Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

²⁰But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you supposed 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 earnestly to 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 unrighteousness.”

²⁴But Simon answered and said, “^aPray earnestly to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.”