⁹ Now a man named Simon had previously been practicing ^(A)magic in the city and astonishing the people of Samaria, ^(B)claiming to be someone great; ¹⁰ and all the people, from small to great, were paying attention to him, saying, “^(C)This man is the Power of God that is called Great.” ¹¹ And they were paying attention to him because for a long time he had astounded them with his ^(D)magic arts. ¹² But when they believed Philip ^(E)as he was preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were being ^(F)baptized. ¹³ Now even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed ^(G)signs and ^(H)great miracles taking place, he was repeatedly amazed.

¹⁴ Now when ^(I)the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them ^(J)Peter and John, ¹⁵ who came down and prayed for them ^(K)that they would receive the Holy Spirit. ¹⁶ (For He had ^(L)not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been ^(M)baptized ^[a]in the name of the Lord Jesus.) ¹⁷ Then they ^(N)began laying their hands on them, and they were ^(O)receiving the Holy Spirit. ¹⁸ Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, ¹⁹ saying, “Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” ²⁰ But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could ^(P)acquire the gift of God with money! ²¹ You have ^(Q)no part or share in this ^[b]matter, for your heart is not ^(R)right before God. ²² Therefore, repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, ^(S)if possible, the intention of your heart will be forgiven you. ²³ For I see that you are ^[c]in the gall of bitterness and in ^(T)the ^[d]bondage of unrighteousness.” ²⁴ But Simon answered and said, “^(U)Pray to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.”

An Ethiopian Receives Christ

²⁵ So, when they had solemnly ^(V)testified and spoken ^(W)the word of the Lord, they started back to Jerusalem, and were ^(X)preaching the gospel to many villages of the ^(Y)Samaritans.