Acts:8:2-25

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* Devout men buried Stephen , and lamented greatly over him . * But Saul ravaged the assembly , entering into every house , and dragged both men and women off to prison . * Therefore those who were scattered abroad went around preaching the word . * Philip went down to the city of Samaria , and proclaimed to them the Christ . * The multitudes listened with one accord to the things that were spoken by Philip , when they heard and saw the signs which he did . * For unclean spirits came out of many of those who had them . They came out , crying with a loud voice . Many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed . * There was great joy in that city . * But there was a certain man , Simon by name , who used to practice sorcery in the city , and amazed the people of Samaria , making himself out to be some great one , * to whom they all listened , from the least to the greatest , saying , "This man is that great power of God ." * They listened to him , because for a long time he had amazed them with his sorceries . * But when they believed Philip preaching good news concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ , they were baptized , both men and women . * Simon himself also believed . Being baptized , he continued with Philip . Seeing signs and great miracles occurring , he was amazed . * Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God , they sent Peter and John to them , * who , when they had come down , prayed for them , that they might receive the Holy Spirit ; * for as yet he had fallen on none of them . They had only been baptized in the name of Christ Jesus . * Then they laid their hands on them , and they received the Holy Spirit . * Now when Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles ' hands , he offered them money , * saying , "Give me also this power , that whomever I lay my hands on 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 neither part nor lot in this matter , for your heart isn 't right before God . * Repent therefore of this , your wickedness , and ask God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you . * For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity ." * Simon answered , "Pray for me to the Lord , that none of the things which you have spoken happen to me ." * They therefore , when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord , returned to Jerusalem , and preached the Good News to many villages of the Samaritans .

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