¹⁶ and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a ^(A)Samaritan.

⁵ Then ^(A)Philip went down to ^[a]the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. ⁶ And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. ⁷ For ^(B)unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. ⁸ And there was great joy in that city.

The Sorcerer’s Profession of Faith

⁹ But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously ^(C)practiced ^[b]sorcery in the city and ^(D)astonished the ^[c]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 ^[d]sorceries for a long time. ¹² But when they believed Philip as he preached the things ^(E)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 ^(F)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 ^(G)that they might receive the Holy Spirit. ¹⁶ For ^(H)as yet He had fallen upon none of them. ^(I)They had only been baptized in ^(J)the name of the Lord Jesus. ¹⁷ Then ^(K)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 ^(L)you thought that ^(M)the gift of God could be purchased with money! ²¹ You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your ^(N)heart is not right in the sight of God. ²² Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God ^(O)if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. ²³ For I see that you are ^(P)poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.”

²⁴ Then Simon answered and said, ^(Q)“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.

Sending Out the Twelve^(A)

⁵ These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: ^(B)“Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of ^(C)the Samaritans.

¹⁰ And ^(A)I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, ^(B)“See that you do not do that! I am your ^(C)fellow servant, and of your brethren ^(D)who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the ^(E)testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

⁴ And ^(A)the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, ^(B)“Amen! Alleluia!” ⁵ Then a voice came from the throne, saying, ^(C)“Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, ^(D)both^[a] small and great!”