8 And Saul had agreed with the Sanhedrin that Stephen should die.

The Church Is Treated Badly and Scattered

On that day the church in Jerusalem began to be attacked and treated badly. All except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. ² Godly Jews buried Stephen. They mourned deeply for him. ³ But Saul began to destroy the church. He went from house to house. He dragged away men and women and put them in prison.

Philip Goes to Samaria

⁴ The believers who had been scattered preached the word everywhere they went. ⁵ Philip went down to a city in Samaria. There he preached about the Messiah. ⁶ The crowds listened to Philip and saw the signs he did. All of them paid close attention to what he said. ⁷ Evil spirits screamed and came out of many people. Many people who were disabled or who couldn’t walk were healed. ⁸ So there was great joy in that city.

Simon the Evil Magician

⁹ A man named Simon lived in the city. For quite a while he had practiced evil magic there. He amazed all the people of Samaria. He claimed to be someone great. ¹⁰ And all the people listened to him, from the least important of them to the most important. They exclaimed, “It is right to call this man the Great Power of God!” ¹¹ He had amazed them for a long time with his evil magic. So they followed him. ¹² But Philip announced the good news of God’s kingdom and the name of Jesus Christ. So men and women believed and were baptized.

⁹ Say with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord.” Believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead. Then you will be saved. ¹⁰ With your heart you believe and are made right with God. With your mouth you say what you believe. And so you are saved. ¹¹ Scripture says, “The one who believes in him will never be put to shame.” (Isaiah 28:16) ¹² There is no difference between those who are Jews and those who are not. The same Lord is Lord of all. He richly blesses everyone who calls on him. ¹³ Scripture says, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Joel 2:32)

¹⁴ How can they call on him unless they believe in him? How can they believe in him unless they hear about him? How can they hear about him unless someone preaches to them? ¹⁵ And how can anyone preach without being sent? It is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” (Isaiah 52:7)

²⁴ God is spirit. His worshipers must worship him in the Spirit and in truth.”

²⁵ The woman said, “I know that Messiah is coming.” Messiah means Christ. “When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”

²⁶ Then Jesus said, “The one you’re talking about is the one speaking to you. I am he.”

The Disciples Join Jesus Again

²⁷ Just then Jesus’ disciples returned. They were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want from her?” No one asked, “Why are you talking with her?”

²⁸ The woman left her water jar and went back to the town. She said to the people, ²⁹ “Come. See a man who told me everything I’ve ever done. Could this be the Messiah?”