7. With loud shrieks, unclean spirits came out of many people, and many who were paralyzed or crippled were healed.
8. There was great rejoicing in that city.
9. Before Philip’s arrival, a certain man named Simon had practiced sorcery in that city and baffled the people of Samaria. He claimed to be a great person.
10. Everyone, from the least to the greatest, gave him their undivided attention and referred to him as "the power of God called Great."
11. He had their attention because he had baffled them with sorcery for a long time.
12. After they came to believe Philip, who preached the good news about God’s kingdom and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.
13. Even Simon himself came to believe and was baptized. Afterward, he became one of Philip’s supporters. As he saw firsthand the signs and great miracles that were happening, he was astonished.
14. When word reached the apostles in Jerusalem that Samaria had accepted God’s word, they commissioned Peter and John to go to Samaria.
15. Peter and John went down to Samaria where they prayed that the new believers would receive the Holy Spirit. (
16. This was because the Holy Spirit had not yet fallen on any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
17. So Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.