Simon Magus

5Philip went down to a city in Samaria. He told the people there about Christ. Christ means the special King God had promised to send.

Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.

NoteJewish people and Samaritans usually stayed away from each other. They did not agree about how to worship God. So it was surprising that Philip went there. "Christ" is a word that means "the chosen one." Long ago, oil was poured on a new king's head to show God had chosen him.

6The crowds all listened carefully to what Philip said. They heard his words and saw the wonders he did.

And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

NoteA wonder, or miracle, is something amazing that only God can do. People also called these "signs," because they pointed to God.

7Evil spirits screamed loudly and came out of many people. Many people who could not move or walk were made well.

For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.

NoteEvil spirits are bad beings that people cannot see. The King James says "palsy," an old word for a body that cannot move.

8So there was great joy in that city.

And there was great joy in that city.

9A man named Simon lived in that city. Before this he had done magic there. He amazed the people of Samaria. He told everyone that he was someone great.

But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:

NoteMagic here means spells and secret tricks. Simon used them to look powerful and important.

10Everyone listened to him, the least important and the greatest. They said, "This man is the great power of God."

To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.

Note"From the least to the greatest" means everybody. Poor people and important people all listened to him.

11They listened to him because his magic had amazed them for a long time.

And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.

12Then Philip told them the good news about God's kingdom and about Jesus Christ. They believed him. Men and women were baptized.

But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

NoteGod's kingdom means God being King over people's lives. To baptize someone, you dip them under water and lift them up again. It shows that person now belongs to Jesus.

13Simon himself believed too. He was baptized and stayed close to Philip. He was amazed at the great signs and wonders he saw.

Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

14The apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received God's word. So they sent Peter and John to the people there.

Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:

NotePeter and John were two of Jesus' closest friends. They were leaders of the church in Jerusalem.

15Peter and John came down and prayed for the people. They asked that the people would receive the Holy Spirit.

Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:

NoteThe Holy Spirit is God himself, coming close to people to help them.

16The Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

17Then Peter and John laid their hands on them. And they received the Holy Spirit.

Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

NotePutting your hands on someone's head was a way of praying for them. It was like saying, "God's gift is for you."

18Simon saw that the Spirit came when the apostles laid their hands on people. So he offered the apostles money.

And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,

19He said, "Give me this power too. Then anyone I touch will receive the Holy Spirit."

Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

20But Peter said to him, "May your money be destroyed with you. You thought you could buy God's gift with money."

But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

NoteMoney then was made of silver coins. The King James says "Thy money perish with thee," which means, "Let your money be destroyed along with you."

21"You have no part and no share in this work. Your heart is not right in God's sight."

Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.

NoteThe King James says "neither part nor lot." A lot was a stone used to share things out fairly. Peter is saying Simon gets no share at all.

22"So turn away from this wrong you have done. Pray to the Lord. Maybe he will forgive what you were thinking."

Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

NoteTo repent means to turn away from something wrong and change how you live.

23"I can see that you are full of bitterness. Wrong is holding you tight, like a rope."

For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.

NoteThe King James says "the gall of bitterness." Gall is a taste so bitter it makes you want to spit. Peter means Simon's heart is sour inside.

24Then Simon answered, "Please pray to the Lord for me. I do not want any of this to happen to me."

Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the LORD for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.

25Peter and John told what they had seen and taught the Lord's word. Then they started back to Jerusalem. On the way they told the good news in many Samaritan villages.

And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.