⁵Philip went down to a city in Samaria. There he preached about the Christ. ⁶The crowds listened to Philip. They saw the miraculous signs he did. They all paid close attention to what he said. ⁷Evil spirits screamed and came out of many people. Many who were disabled or who couldn’t walk were healed. ⁸So there was great joy in that city.

Simon the Evil Magician

⁹A man named Simon lived in the city. For quite a while he had practiced evil magic there. He amazed all the people of Samaria. He claimed to be someone great. ¹⁰All of the people listened to him, from the least important of them to the most important. They exclaimed, “This man is known as the Great Power of God!” ¹¹He had amazed them for a long time with his magic. So they followed him.

¹²But Philip preached the good news of God’s kingdom. He preached the name of Jesus Christ. So men and women believed and were baptized. ¹³Simon himself believed and was baptized. He followed Philip everywhere. He was amazed by the great signs and miracles he saw.

¹⁴The apostles in Jerusalem heard that people in Samaria had accepted God’s word. So they sent Peter and John to them. ¹⁵When they arrived there, they prayed that the believers would receive the Holy Spirit. ¹⁶The Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. ¹⁷Then Peter and John placed their hands on them. And they received the Holy Spirit.

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