The Response of Simon

⁹ A man named Simon had previously practiced sorcery in that city and astounded the Samaritan people, while claiming to be somebody great.^{(A) 10} They all paid attention to him, from the least of them to the greatest, and they said, “This man is called the Great Power of God!”^{[a](B) 11} They were attentive to him because he had astounded them with his sorceries for a long time. ¹² But when they believed Philip, as he preached the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.^{(C) 13} Then even Simon himself believed. And after he was baptized, he went around constantly with^[b] Philip and was astounded as he observed the signs and great miracles^(D) that were being performed.

Simon’s Sin

¹⁴ When the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had welcomed God’s message, they sent Peter and John to them.^{(E) 15} After they went down there, they prayed for them, so the Samaritans might receive the Holy Spirit. ¹⁶ For He had not yet come down on^[c] any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.^{(F) 17} Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

¹⁸ When Simon saw that the Holy^[d] Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, ¹⁹ saying, “Give me this power too, so that anyone I lay hands on may receive the Holy Spirit.”

²⁰ But Peter told him, “May your silver be destroyed with you, because you thought the gift of God could be obtained with money!^{(G) 21} You have no part or share in this matter, because your heart is not right before God.^{(H) 22} Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. ²³ For I see you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.”^(I)

²⁴ “Please pray^[e] to the Lord for me,” Simon replied, “so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”^(J)