Acts 8:9-24

New Life Version

Simon the Witch Doctor

⁹ A man by the name of Simon had done witchcraft there. The people of Samaria were surprised at the things he did. He pretended that he was a great man. ¹⁰ All the people watched and listened to him. They said, “This man must be that great power of God.” ¹¹ They kept running after him. For a long time he fooled them with his witchcraft.

¹² Philip told the Good News of the holy nation of God and of Jesus Christ. Both men and women put their trust in Christ and were baptized. ¹³ Even Simon believed in Christ and was baptized. He went along with Philip everywhere. He was surprised when he saw the powerful works that were being done.

¹⁴ The missionaries in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had received the Word of God. They sent Peter and John to them. ¹⁵ When Peter and John got there, they prayed that the new followers might receive the Holy Spirit. ¹⁶ He had not yet come on any of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. ¹⁷ They laid their hands on them and the followers received the Holy Spirit.

¹⁸ When Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given when the missionaries laid their hands on the people, he wanted to give money to the missionaries. ¹⁹ He said, “Let me also have this power. Then I can give the Holy Spirit to anyone I lay my hands on.” ²⁰ Peter said to him, “May your money be destroyed with you because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! ²¹ You have no part or place in this work. Your heart is not right in God’s sight. ²² You must be sorry for this sin of yours and turn from it. Pray to the Lord that He will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. ²³ I see that you are full of jealousy and chained by your sin.” ²⁴ Simon said, “Pray to the Lord for me that nothing you have said will come to me.”