The Sorcerer’s Profession of Faith

⁹ But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously ^(A)practiced ^[a]sorcery in the city and ^(B)astonished the ^[b]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 the great power of God.” ¹¹ And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his ^[c]sorceries for a long time. ¹² But when they believed Philip as he preached the things ^(C)concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. ¹³ Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done.

The Sorcerer’s Sin

¹⁴ Now when the ^(D)apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, ¹⁵ who, when they had come down, prayed for them ^(E)that they might receive the Holy Spirit. ¹⁶ For ^(F)as yet He had fallen upon none of them. ^(G)They had only been baptized in ^(H)the name of the Lord Jesus. ¹⁷ Then ^(I)they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

¹⁸ And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, ¹⁹ saying, “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

²⁰ But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because ^(J)you thought that ^(K)the gift of God could be purchased with money! ²¹ You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your ^(L)heart is not right in the sight of God. ²² Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God ^(M)if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. ²³ For I see that you are ^(N)poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.”

²⁴ Then Simon answered and said, ^(O)“Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me.”

²⁵ So when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.

Avoid Wicked Customs

⁹ “When you come into the land which the Lord your God is giving you, ^(A)you shall not learn to follow the ^[a]abominations of those nations. ¹⁰ There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter ^(B)pass^[b] through the fire, ^(C)or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, ^11 (D)or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or ^(E)one who calls up the dead. ¹² For all who do these things are ^[c]an abomination to the Lord, and ^(F)because of these abominations the Lord your God drives them out from before you. ¹³ You shall be ^[d]blameless before the Lord your God. ¹⁴ For these nations which you will dispossess listened to soothsayers and diviners; but as for you, the Lord your God has not ^[e]appointed such for you.

^18 (A)“You shall not permit a sorceress to live.

¹⁹ Now ^(A)the works of the flesh are evident, which are: ^[a]adultery, ^[b]fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, ²¹ envy, ^[c]murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that ^(B)those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

³¹ ‘Give no regard to mediums and familiar spirits; do not seek after ^(A)them, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God.

^27 (A)‘A man or a woman who is a medium, or who has familiar spirits, shall surely be put to death; they shall stone them with stones. Their blood shall be upon them.’ ”