Single lesson
Philip and Simon in Samaria
Acts 8:4–25
This lesson helps children follow the account of Philip, Simon, Peter and John in Samaria. They will sequence what happened, notice different choices, and learn from the passage that God’s gift cannot be obtained with money.
Before you teach
The passage begins with believers who had been scattered going about preaching the word. Philip went to Samaria and proclaimed the Christ. Many listened, saw signs, and the city had great joy. In that same city, Simon had long amazed people with sorcery, so this account contrasts responses to the good news and to God’s gift.
Students will be able to retell Acts 8:4–25 in order and explain that people received the good news with joy, while Simon was rebuked for thinking God’s gift could be obtained with money.
Welcome: The message keeps spreading
5 minBegin by explaining the first step in the account. People who had been scattered did not stop speaking. They went around preaching the word. Then Philip went to Samaria and proclaimed the Christ. Ask children to listen for how people responded to this message and what happened later with Simon.
Acts 8:4, Acts 8:5
Read and explain: Philip brings good news and joy
8 minRead about Philip in Samaria. The crowds listened together to what Philip said when they heard and saw the signs he did. Many were healed, and the city had great joy. Then read about Simon, who had amazed people through sorcery and made himself out to be great before Philip arrived.
Acts 8:6, Acts 8:7, Acts 8:8, Acts 8:9, Acts 8:10, Acts 8:11
Discuss: Believing Philip and receiving the word
6 minExplain that Philip preached good news concerning God’s Kingdom and the name of Jesus Christ. Men and women believed and were baptised. Simon also believed, was baptised, and continued with Philip, amazed at the signs and great miracles. Later, the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God.
Acts 8:12, Acts 8:13, Acts 8:14
Make and respond: Sequence the account
7 minChildren make simple picture cards and place them in order: scattered believers preaching, Philip proclaiming Christ, people believing and being baptised, Peter and John praying, the believers receiving the Holy Spirit, Simon offering money, Peter telling him to repent, Simon asking for prayer, and Peter and John preaching in Samaritan villages. Discuss each choice and outcome.
Acts 8:4, Acts 8:5, Acts 8:12, Acts 8:15, Acts 8:17, Acts 8:18, Acts 8:22, Acts 8:24, Acts 8:25
Closing: Simon’s offer, Peter’s rebuke, and Simon’s reply
4 minRead the final verses slowly. Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the apostles’ laying on of hands and offered money. Peter said God’s gift could not be obtained with money and that Simon’s heart was not right before God. Peter told him to repent and ask God. Simon then asked for prayer, and Peter and John continued preaching.
Acts 8:18, Acts 8:19, Acts 8:20, Acts 8:21, Acts 8:22, Acts 8:24, Acts 8:25
Questions to explore
What happens first in this account before Philip arrives in Samaria?
Look at the opening verse and notice what the scattered believers were doing before Philip is mentioned.
Acts 8:4, Acts 8:5
How did people respond differently to Simon and to Philip in Samaria?
Compare the verses about Simon amazing people with sorcery and making himself out to be great with the verses about Philip preaching good news concerning God’s Kingdom and the name of Jesus Christ.
Acts 8:9, Acts 8:10, Acts 8:11, Acts 8:12
What did Simon do after Peter rebuked him, and what does that add to the end of the account?
Notice Simon’s words after Peter told him to repent and ask God.
Acts 8:22, Acts 8:24
Make, think or respond
Samaria Story Sequence Cards
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or crayons
- scissors
- Bible
Try it together
- Draw nine simple scenes from the account: scattered believers preaching, Philip in Samaria, crowds listening, people being baptised, Peter and John praying, believers receiving the Holy Spirit, Simon offering money, Peter telling Simon to repent, and Simon asking for prayer.
- Cut out the cards and mix them up.
- Work together to place the cards in order.
- As each card is placed, ask what happened in that part of the account and what happened next.
The sequence cards help children trace the order of the passage and notice the contrast between receiving the good news and thinking God’s gift could be obtained with money.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, write a short label for each card and let them match the labels to their drawings before ordering the scenes.
- For older children, ask them to add one sentence under each card using words from the passage, especially from Acts 8:12, Acts 8:17, Acts 8:20, Acts 8:21, and Acts 8:24.
An optional closing prayer
You may pray: “God, thank you for the good news about Jesus Christ. Help us listen to your word with honest hearts and turn from wrong thoughts and actions. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Acts 8
4 Therefore those who were scattered abroad went around preaching the word.
5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ.
6 The multitudes listened with one accord to the things that were spoken by Philip when they heard and saw the signs which he did.
7 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.
8 There was great joy in that city.
9 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,
10 to whom they all listened, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is that great power of God.”
11 They listened to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his sorceries.
12 But when they believed Philip preaching good news concerning God’s Kingdom and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
13 Simon himself also believed. Being baptized, he continued with Philip. Seeing signs and great miracles occurring, he was amazed.
14 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them,
15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit;
16 for as yet he had fallen on none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of Christ Jesus.
17 Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18 Now when Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money,
19 saying, “Give me also this power, that whomever I lay my hands on may receive the Holy Spirit.”
20 But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!
21 You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart isn’t right before God.
22 Repent therefore of this, your wickedness, and ask God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.
23 For I see that you are in the poison of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity.”
24 Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that none of the things which you have spoken happen to me.”
25 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.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.