Acts 7:58-8:9

English Standard Version

⁵⁸ Then ^(A)they cast him out of the city and ^(B)stoned him. And ^(C)the witnesses laid down their garments ^(D)at the feet of a young man named Saul. ⁵⁹ And as they were stoning Stephen, ^(E)he called out, “Lord Jesus, ^(F)receive my spirit.” ⁶⁰ And ^(G)falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, ^(H)“Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, ^(I)he fell asleep.

Saul Ravages the Church

8 And ^(J)Saul ^(K)approved of his execution.

And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and ^(L)they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. ² Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. ³ But ^(M)Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he ^(N)dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.

Philip Proclaims Christ in Samaria

⁴ Now ^(O)those who were scattered went about preaching the word. ^5 (P)Philip went down to the city^[a] of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. ^6 (Q)And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip, when they heard him ^(R)and saw the signs that he did. ⁷ For ^(S)unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. ⁸ So ^(T)there was much joy in that city.

Simon the Magician Believes

⁹ But there was a man named Simon, ^(U)who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, ^(V)saying that he himself was somebody great.