⁹ But there was a man named Simon in that city. Before Philip came there, Simon had practiced magic. He amazed all the people of Samaria with his magic. He bragged and called himself a great man. ¹⁰ All the people—the least important and the most important—paid attention to what Simon said. They said, “This man has the power of God, called ‘the Great Power’!” ¹¹ Simon had amazed them with his magic tricks so long that the people became his followers. ¹² But Philip told them the Good News about the kingdom of God and the power of Jesus Christ. Men and women believed Philip and were baptized. ¹³ Simon himself believed and was baptized. He stayed very close to Philip. When he saw the miracles and the very powerful things that Philip did, Simon was amazed.

¹⁴ The apostles were still in Jerusalem. They heard that the people of Samaria had accepted the word of God. So they sent Peter and John to them. ¹⁵ When Peter and John arrived, they prayed that the Samaritan believers might receive the Holy Spirit. ¹⁶ These people had been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. But the Holy Spirit had not yet entered any of them. ¹⁷ Then, when the two apostles began laying their hands on^[a] the people, they received the Holy Spirit.

¹⁸ Simon saw that the Spirit was given to people when the apostles laid their hands on them. So he offered the apostles money. ¹⁹ He said, “Give me also this power so that when I lay my hands on a person, he will receive the Holy Spirit.”

²⁰ Peter said to him, “You and your money should both be destroyed! You thought you could buy God’s gift with money. ²¹ You cannot share with us in this work. Your heart is not right before God. ²² Change your heart! Turn away from this evil thing you have done. Pray to the Lord. Maybe he will forgive you for thinking this. ²³ I see that you are full of bitter jealousy and ruled by sin.”

²⁴ Simon answered, “Both of you pray for me to the Lord. Pray that the things you have said will not happen to me!”

²⁵ Then the two apostles told the people the things they had seen Jesus do. And after the apostles had given the message of the Lord, they went back to Jerusalem. On the way, they went through many Samaritan towns and preached the Good News to the people.

Do Not Follow Other Nations

⁹ You will enter the land the Lord your God is giving you. But don’t learn to do the terrible things the other nations do. ¹⁰ Don’t let anyone among you offer his son or daughter as a sacrifice in the fire. Don’t let anyone use magic or witchcraft. No one should try to explain the meaning of signs. ¹¹ Don’t let anyone try to control others with magic. Don’t let them be mediums or try to talk with the spirits of dead people. ¹² The Lord hates anyone who does these things. The other nations do these things. That is why the Lord your God will force them out of the land ahead of you. ¹³ You must be innocent in the presence of the Lord your God.

The Lord’s Special Prophet

¹⁴ The nations you will force out listen to people who use magic and witchcraft. But the Lord your God will not let you do those things.