The Daily Audio Bible

⁵¹ You stiff-necked people, and of uncircumcised hearts and ears! You have always resisted the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. ⁵² Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who told before of the coming of the Just One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered. ⁵³ And you also have received a law by the ordinance of angels, and have not kept it.

⁵⁴ When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. ⁵⁵ But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up steadfastly with his eyes into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God. ⁵⁶ And he said, Behold, I see the heavens open, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

⁵⁷ Then they gave a shout with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him all at once, ⁵⁸ and cast him out of the city, and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. ⁵⁹ And they stoned Stephen, who was calling on the Lord and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit! ⁶⁰ And he kneeled down and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge! And when he had thus spoken, he fell asleep.

Saul persecutes the Christians. The apostles are scattered abroad. Philip comes into Samaria. Simon Magus is baptized; he dissembles. Philip baptizes the chamberlain.

8 Saul had pleasure in Stephen’s death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the congregation that was at Jerusalem, and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

² Then devout men arranged Stephen’s burial, and made great lamentation over him. ³ But Saul made havoc of the congregation, and entered into every house, and drew out both men and women, and thrust them into prison.

⁴ However, those who were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word. ⁵ Then Philip went into a city of Samaria, and preached Christ to them. ⁶ And the people gave heed to the things that Philip spoke with one accord, when they heard and saw the miracles that he did. ⁷ For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many who were possessed by them. And many who were paralyzed, and many who limped, were healed. ⁸ And there was great joy in that city.

⁹ And there was a certain man called Simon, who had previously practiced witchcraft and magic in that same city, and had bewitched the people of Samaria, saying that he was a man who could do great things. ¹⁰ They regarded him highly, from the least to the greatest, saying, This fellow is the great power of God! ¹¹ And they set much store by him, because for a long time he had taken them in with magic.

¹² But as soon as they believed Philip’s preaching of the kingdom of God and of the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. ¹³ Then Simon himself believed also, and was baptized, and continued with Philip; and he marvelled, seeing the miracles and signs that were shown.