Scriptures

New Living Translation (NLT)

Acts 8
⁸ So there was great joy in that city.
⁹ A man named Simon had been a sorcerer there for many years, amazing the people of Samaria and claiming to be someone great.
¹⁰ Everyone, from the least to the greatest, often spoke of him as “the Great One—the Power of God.”
¹¹ They listened closely to him because for a long time he had astounded them with his magic.
¹² But now the people believed Philip’s message of Good News concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. As a result, many men and women were baptized.
¹³ Then Simon himself believed and was baptized. He began following Philip wherever he went, and he was amazed by the signs and great miracles Philip performed.
¹⁴ When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had accepted God’s message, they sent Peter and John there.
¹⁵ As soon as they arrived, they prayed for these new believers to receive the Holy Spirit.
¹⁶ The Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them, for they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
¹⁷ Then Peter and John laid their hands upon these believers, and they received the Holy Spirit.
¹⁸ When Simon saw that the Spirit was given when the apostles laid their hands on people, he offered them money to buy this power.