8 ¹ And Saul approved of their killing him.

Saul Persecutes the Church

That day a severe persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria.^{(A) 2} Devout men buried Stephen and made loud lamentation over him.^{(B) 3} But Saul was ravaging the church by entering house after house; dragging off both men and women, he committed them to prison.^(C)

Philip Preaches in Samaria

⁴ Now those who were scattered went from place to place proclaiming the word.^{(D) 5} Philip went down to the city^[a] of Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah^[b] to them.^{(E) 6} The crowds with one accord listened eagerly to what was said by Philip, hearing and seeing the signs that he did, ⁷ for unclean spirits, crying with loud shrieks, came out of many who were possessed, and many others who were paralyzed or lame were cured.^{(F) 8} So there was great joy in that city.

⁹ Now a certain man named Simon had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he was someone great.^{(G) 10} All of them, from the least to the greatest, listened to him eagerly, saying, “This man is the power of God that is called Great.”^{(H) 11} And they listened eagerly to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic. ¹² But when they believed Philip, who was proclaiming the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.^{(I) 13} Even Simon himself believed. After being baptized, he stayed constantly with Philip and was amazed when he saw the signs and great miracles that took place.^(J)

¹⁴ Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.^{(K) 15} The two went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit^{(L) 16} (for as yet the Spirit had not come^[c] upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus).^{(M) 17} Then Peter and John^[d] laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.^{(N) 18} Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, ¹⁹ saying, “Give me also this power so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” ²⁰ But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain God’s gift with money!^{(O) 21} You have no part or share in this, for your heart is not right before God.^{(P) 22} Repent therefore of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. ²³ For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and the chains of wickedness.”^{(Q) 24} Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you^[e] have said may happen to me.”

²⁵ Now after Peter and John^[f] had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, proclaiming the good news to many villages of the Samaritans.^(R)