Book of Common Prayer

8 ¹ And Saul was giving-approval to his killing.

The Church Is Persecuted And Driven Out of Jerusalem

And a great persecution came about on that day against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all dispersed^[a] throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. ² And reverent men carried-in Stephen [for burial], and made a loud lamentation over him. ³ And Saul was destroying^[b] the church. Entering from house to house, dragging-away both men and women, he was handing them over to prison. ⁴ So indeed, the ones having been dispersed went about announcing the word as good news.

Philip Proclaims Christ And Does Miracles In Samaria. Many Are Baptized, Including Simon

⁵ Now Philip, having gone down to the city^[c] of Samaria, was proclaiming the Christ to them. ⁶ And the crowds were with-one-accord paying-attention-to^[d] the things being said by Philip, during their hearing and seeing the signs which he was doing. ⁷ For many of the ones having unclean spirits— they were coming out while shouting with a loud voice. And many paralyzed ones and lame ones were cured. ⁸ And there was great joy in that city. ⁹ Now a certain man, Simon by name, was-previously in the city practicing-magic and astonishing the nation of Samaria, saying that he was someone great, ¹⁰ to whom they all, from the small up to the great, were paying attention, saying, “This one is the Power^[e] of God being called ‘Great’”. ¹¹ And they were paying attention to him because he had astonished them for a considerable time with the magic-arts. ¹² And when they believed Philip announcing-the-good-news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized— both men and women. ¹³ Now Simon himself also believed. And having been baptized, he was attaching-himself to Philip. He was astonished, seeing both signs and great miracles taking place.

⁶³ And the men holding Him were mocking Him while beating Him. ⁶⁴ And having covered Him, they were asking Him, saying “Prophesy— who is the one having hit You?” ⁶⁵ And blaspheming, they were saying many other things against Him.

Jesus Is Led Before The Sanhedrin. He Tells Them He Is The Son of God

⁶⁶ And when it became day, the Council-of-elders of the people was gathered together— both chief priests and scribes. And they led Him away to their council^[a] [chamber], ⁶⁷ saying “If You are the Christ, tell us”. But He said to them, “If I tell you, you will by no means believe. ⁶⁸ And if I question you, you will by no means answer. ⁶⁹ But from now on, the Son of Man will be sitting^[b] on the right side of the power of God”. ⁷⁰ And they all said, “Are You then the Son of God?” And the One said to them, “You are saying^[c] that I am”. ⁷¹ And the ones said, “What further need do we have of testimony? For we ourselves heard it from His mouth”.