8 ⁹ For some time a man named Simon had lived in the city of Samaria and had amazed the people. He practiced witchcraft and claimed to be somebody great. ¹⁰ Everyone, rich and poor, crowded around him. They said, "This man is the power of God called ‘The Great Power.’" ¹¹ For a long time, Simon had used witchcraft to amaze the people, and they kept crowding around him. ¹² But when they believed what Philip was saying about God’s kingdom and about the name of Jesus Christ, they were all baptized. ¹³ Even Simon believed and was baptized. He stayed close to Philip, because he marveled at all the miracles and wonders.