Forgiveness – Day 18

₉A man named Simon lived there, who for some time had astounded the Samaritans with his magic. He claimed that he was someone great, ₁₀and everyone in the city, from all classes of society, paid close attention to him. “He is that power of God known as ‘The Great Power’,” they said. ₁₁They paid this attention to him because for such a long time he had astonished them with his magic. ₁₂But when they believed Philip's message about the good news of the Kingdom of God and about Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. ₁₃Simon himself also believed; and after being baptized, he stayed close to Philip and was astounded when he saw the great wonders and miracles that were being performed.

₁₄The apostles in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had received the word of God, so they sent Peter and John to them. ₁₅When they arrived, they prayed for the believers that they might receive the Holy Spirit. ₁₆For the Holy Spirit had not yet come down on any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. ₁₇Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

₁₈Simon saw that the Spirit had been given to the believers when the apostles placed their hands on them. So he offered money to Peter and John, ₁₉and said, “Give this power to me too, so that anyone I place my hands on will receive the Holy Spirit.”

₂₀But Peter answered him, “May you and your money go to hell, for thinking that you can buy God's gift with money! ₂₁You have no part or share in our work, because your heart is not right in God's sight. ₂₂Repent, then, of this evil plan of yours, and pray to the Lord that he will forgive you for thinking such a thing as this. ₂₃For I see that you are full of bitter envy and are a prisoner of sin.”

₂₄Simon said to Peter and John, “Please pray to the Lord for me, so that none of these things you spoke of will happen to me.”

₂₅After they had given their testimony and proclaimed the Lord's message, Peter and John went back to Jerusalem. On their way they preached the Good News in many villages of Samaria.