New Testament in a Year

Saul Persecutes the Church

8 ^(A)Now Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death.

And on that day a great persecution ^[a]began against ^(B)the church in Jerusalem, and they were all ^(C)scattered throughout the regions of Judea and ^(D)Samaria, except the apostles. ² And some devout men buried Stephen and made loud lamentation over him. ³ But ^(E)Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and ^(F)dragging off men and women, he was delivering them into prison.

Philip Preaches in Samaria

⁴ Therefore, those ^(G)who had been scattered went about, ^(H)proclaiming the good news of the word. ^5 (I)Now Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began preaching ^[b]Christ to them. ⁶ And the crowds with one accord were giving attention to what was being said by Philip, as they heard and saw the ^[c]signs which he was doing. ⁷ For in the case of many who had ^(J)unclean spirits, they were coming out of them shouting with a loud voice; and many who had been ^(K)paralyzed and lame were healed. ⁸ So there was ^(L)great joy in that city.

⁹ Now there was a man named Simon, who formerly was practicing ^(M)magic in the city and astounding the people of Samaria, ^(N)claiming to be someone great; ¹⁰ and they all, from smallest to greatest, were giving attention to him, saying, “^(O)This man is what is called the Great Power of God.” ¹¹ And they were giving him attention because he had for a long time astounded them with his ^(P)magic arts. ¹² But when they believed Philip ^(Q)proclaiming the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being ^(R)baptized, both men and women. ¹³ Even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed ^(S)signs and ^(T)great miracles taking place, he was constantly astounded.

¹⁴ Now when ^(U)the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them ^(V)Peter and John, ¹⁵ who came down and prayed for them ^(W)that they might receive the Holy Spirit. ¹⁶ For He had ^(X)not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been ^(Y)baptized ^[d]in the name of the Lord Jesus. ¹⁷ Then they ^(Z)began laying their hands on them, and they were ^(AA)receiving the Holy Spirit. ¹⁸ Now when Simon saw that the Spirit had been bestowed 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 supposed you could ^(AB)obtain the gift of God with money! ²¹ You have ^(AC)no part or portion in this ^[e]matter, for your heart is not ^(AD)right before God. ²² Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray earnestly to the Lord that, ^(AE)if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you. ²³ For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in ^(AF)the ^[f]bondage of unrighteousness.” ²⁴ But Simon answered and said, “^(AG)Pray earnestly 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 ^(AH)borne witness and spoken ^(AI)the word of the Lord, they started back to Jerusalem, and were ^(AJ)proclaiming the gospel to many villages of the ^(AK)Samaritans.