At the time when the church was first spreading in the midst of persecution, there was a man named Simon, who had practiced magic in the city of Samaria and amazed the people, boasting that he himself was somebody great. The people believed him and thought he had the power of God because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic. But
when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. When he saw the signs and great miracles being performed, he was amazed.
When the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. They came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them
money, saying, “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! You have no part in this ministry because your heart is not right before God. Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord. Maybe he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”
Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may happen to me.”
Now when they had testified and proclaimed the word of the Lord, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.