16. Before this, the Holy Spirit had not been given to anyone in Samaria, though some of them had been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
17. Peter and John then placed their hands on everyone who had faith in the Lord, and they were given the Holy Spirit.
18. Simon noticed that the Spirit was given only when the apostles placed their hands on the people. So he brought money
19. and said to Peter and John, “Let me have this power too! Then anyone I place my hands on will also be given the Holy Spirit.”
20. Peter said to him, “You and your money will both end up in hell if you think you can buy God's gift!
21. You don't have any part in this, and God sees that your heart isn't right.
22. Get rid of these evil thoughts and ask God to forgive you.
23. I can see that you are jealous and bound by your evil ways.”
24. Simon said, “Please pray to the Lord, so that what you said won't happen to me.”
25. After Peter and John had preached about the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem. On their way they told the good news in many villages of Samaria.
26. The Lord's angel said to Philip, “Go south along the desert road that leads from Jerusalem to Gaza.”
27. So Philip left.An important Ethiopian official happened to be going along that road in his chariot. He was the chief treasurer for Candace, the Queen of Ethiopia. The official had gone to Jerusalem to worship
28. and was now on his way home. He was sitting in his chariot, reading the book of the prophet Isaiah.
29. The Spirit told Philip to catch up with the chariot.
30. Philip ran up close and heard the man reading aloud from the book of Isaiah. Philip asked him, “Do you understand what you are reading?”