⁴ Therefore those who were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the Word.

⁵ Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.

⁶ And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spoke, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

⁷ For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed with them; and many taken with palsies and who were lame, were healed.

⁸ And there was great joy in that city.

⁹ But there was a certain man called Simon, who earlier in the same city had used sorcery and bewitched the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great,

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

¹¹ And for him they had regard, because for a long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.

¹² But when they believed Philip’s preaching of 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.

¹⁴ Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that amaria had received the Word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John,

¹⁵ who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Ghost.

¹⁶ (For as yet, He had fallen upon none of them, for they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus).

¹⁷ Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

¹⁸ And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,

¹⁹ saying, “Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.”

²⁰ But Peter said unto him, “Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money!

²¹ Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter, for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.

²² Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God that perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

²³ For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.”

²⁴ Then Simon answered and said, “Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.”

³⁰ As He spoke those words, many believed in Him.

³¹ Then said Jesus to those Jews who believed in Him, “If ye continue in My Word, then are ye My disciples indeed.

³² And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

³³ They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man. How sayest thou, ‘Ye shall be made free’?”

³⁴ Jesus answered them, “Verily, verily I say unto you, whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.

³⁵ And the servant abideth not in the house for ever, but the Son abideth ever.

³⁶ If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

³⁷ I know that ye are Abraham’s seed, but ye seek to kill Me, because My Word hath no place in you.

³⁸ I speak that which I have seen with My Father, and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.”

³⁹ They answered and said unto Him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said unto them, “If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.

⁴⁰ But now ye seek to kill Me, a Man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard from God: this did not Abraham.

⁴¹ Ye do the deeds of your father.” Then they said to Him, “We are not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.”

⁴² Jesus said unto them, “If God were your Father, ye would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of Myself, but He sent Me.

⁴³ Why do ye not understand My speech? Even because ye cannot hear My Word!

⁴⁴ Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own, for he is a liar and the father of it.

⁴⁵ And because I tell you the truth, ye believe Me not.

⁴⁶ Which of you convicteth Me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe Me?

⁴⁷ He that is of God heareth God’s words; ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.”