Acts 8:4-25  English Standard Version

Philip Proclaims Christ in Samaria

⁴ Now ^(A)those who were scattered went about preaching the word. ^5 (B)Philip went down to the city^[a] of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. ^6 (C)And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip, when they heard him ^(D)and saw the signs that he did. ⁷ For ^(E)unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. ⁸ So ^(F)there was much joy in that city.

Simon the Magician Believes

⁹ But there was a man named Simon, ^(G)who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, ^(H)saying that he himself was somebody great. ¹⁰ They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, ^(I)“This man is the power of God that is called ^(J)Great.” ¹¹ And they paid attention to him because for a long time he had ^(K)amazed them with his magic. ¹² But when ^(L)they believed Philip as he preached good news ^(M)about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, ^(N)they were baptized, both men and women. ¹³ Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And ^(O)seeing signs and ^(P)great miracles^[b] performed, ^(Q)he was amazed.

¹⁴ Now when ^(R)the apostles at Jerusalem heard that ^(S)Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, ¹⁵ who came down and prayed for them ^(T)that they might receive the Holy Spirit, ¹⁶ for ^(U)he had not yet ^(V)fallen on any of them, but ^(W)they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. ¹⁷ Then ^(X)they laid their hands on them and ^(Y)they received 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 me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” ²⁰ But Peter said to him, ^(Z)“May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God ^(AA)with money! ²¹ You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for ^(AB)your heart is not right before God. ²² Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, ^(AC)if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. ²³ For I see that you are in ^(AD)the gall^[c] of bitterness and in ^(AE)the bond of iniquity.” ²⁴ And Simon answered, ^(AF)“Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.”

²⁵ Now when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, ^(AG)preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.