Simon the Sorcerer

Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery(A) in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great,(B) 10 and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is rightly called the Great Power of God.”(C) 11 They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his sorcery. 12 But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God(D) and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized,(E) both men and women. 13 Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles(F) he saw.

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The Response of Simon

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.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 8:10 Or This is the power of God called Great
  2. Acts 8:13 Or he kept close company with

But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:

10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.

11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.

12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

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