Simon Magus

5Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.

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

6And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

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

7For 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.

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

8And there was great joy in that city.

So there was great joy in that city.

9But 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:

A 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.

10To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.

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

11And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.

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

12But 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.

Then Philip told them the good news about God's kingdom and about Jesus Christ. They believed him. Men and women were baptized. To be baptized is to be dipped in water to show you now belong to Jesus.

13Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

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

14Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:

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

15Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:

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

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

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

17Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

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

18And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,

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

19Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

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

20But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

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

21Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.

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

22Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

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

23For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.

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

24Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the LORD for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.

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

25And 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.

Peter 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.