⁵⁷ But they shouted with loud voices, and covered their ears and rushed at him with one ^[a]mind. ⁵⁸ When they had ^(A)driven him out of the city, they began stoning him; and ^(B)the witnesses ^(C)laid aside their cloaks at the feet of ^(D)a young man named Saul. ⁵⁹ They went on stoning Stephen as he ^(E)called on the Lord and said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” ⁶⁰ Then he ^(F)fell on his knees and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, ^(G)do not hold this sin against them!” Having said this, he ^[b](H)fell asleep.

Saul Persecutes the Church

8 ^(I)Now Saul approved of putting ^[c]Stephen to death.

And on that day a great persecution ^[d]began against ^(J)the church in Jerusalem, and they were all ^(K)scattered throughout the regions of Judea and ^(L)Samaria, except for the apostles. ² Some devout men buried Stephen, and mourned loudly for him. ³ But ^(M)Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house; and he would ^(N)drag away men and women and put them in prison.

Philip in Samaria

⁴ Therefore, those ^(O)who had been scattered went through places ^[e](P)preaching the word. ^5 (Q)Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming the ^[f]Christ to them. ⁶ The crowds were paying attention with one mind to what was being said by Philip, as they heard and saw the ^[g]signs which he was performing. ⁷ For in the case of many who had ^(R)unclean spirits, they were coming out of them shouting with a loud voice; and many who had been ^(S)paralyzed or limped on crutches were healed. ⁸ So there was ^(T)much rejoicing in that city.

⁹ Now a man named Simon had previously been practicing ^(U)magic in the city and astonishing the people of Samaria, ^(V)claiming to be someone great; ¹⁰ and all the people, from small to great, were paying attention to him, saying, “^(W)This man is the Power of God that is called Great.” ¹¹ And they were paying attention to him because for a long time he had astounded them with his ^(X)magic arts. ¹² But when they believed Philip ^(Y)as he was preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were being ^(Z)baptized. ¹³ Now even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed ^(AA)signs and ^(AB)great miracles taking place, he was repeatedly amazed.

¹⁴ Now when ^(AC)the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them ^(AD)Peter and John, ¹⁵ who came down and prayed for them ^(AE)that they would receive the Holy Spirit. ¹⁶ (For He had ^(AF)not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been ^(AG)baptized ^[h]in the name of the Lord Jesus.) ¹⁷ Then they ^(AH)began laying their hands on them, and they were ^(AI)receiving the Holy Spirit. 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 this authority to me as well, so that everyone 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 ^(AJ)acquire the gift of God with money! ²¹ You have ^(AK)no part or share in this ^[i]matter, for your heart is not ^(AL)right before God. ²² Therefore, repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, ^(AM)if possible, the intention of your heart will be forgiven you. ²³ For I see that you are ^[j]in the gall of bitterness and in ^(AN)the ^[k]bondage of unrighteousness.” ²⁴ But Simon answered and said, “^(AO)Pray to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.”

An Ethiopian Receives Christ

²⁵ So, when they had solemnly ^(AP)testified and spoken ^(AQ)the word of the Lord, they started back to Jerusalem, and were ^(AR)preaching the gospel to many villages of the ^(AS)Samaritans.