Old/New Testament

8 Saul agreed to Stephen being killed. At that time the church people at Jerusalem had much trouble. The church people all went into Judea and Samaria. Only the apostles stayed on at Jerusalem.

² Good men buried Stephen. They were very sad because he died.

³ Saul made much trouble for the church people. He went into every house, pulled out men and women, and put them into prison.

⁴ The people who left Jerusalem went all around telling the good news about Jesus.

⁵ Then Philip went to the city of Samaria and told people about Christ.

⁶ And all the people together listened to what Philip said because they heard and saw the big works which he did.

⁷ Many people who were held by bad spirits were made free from them. The spirits came out of them crying loudly. Many other sick people were healed too. People who could not stand, and others who were lame, were healed.

⁸ The people all over the city were very glad.

⁹ But there was one man named Simon, a witch-doctor, who fooled the people of Samaria. He tried to make people believe that he could do big things.

¹⁰ And all the people, young and old, listened to him. They said, `This man is a big power of God.'

¹¹ He had fooled them for a long time with his work as a witch. That is why they listened to him.

¹² But Philip came and told them about God's kingdom and the name of Jesus Christ. The people believed him. Then both men and women were baptised.

¹³ Simon believed also. When he was baptised, he went with Philip. He was very much surprised when he saw the signs and the big works which were done.

¹⁴ Then the apostles at Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria believed God's word. So they sent Peter and John to them.

¹⁵ When they came to them, they prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit.

¹⁶ Until that time, none of the people there had received the Holy Spirit. They had only been baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus.

¹⁷ Then the apostles put their hands on the people and they received the Holy Spirit.

¹⁸ Simon saw that the people received the Holy Spirit when the apostles put their hands on them. Then he brought money to the apostles.

¹⁹ He said, `Give me this power, too, so that anyone on whom I put my hands will receive the Holy Spirit.'

²⁰ Peter said, `May you and your money be destroyed! You thought that you could buy the gift of God with money.

²¹ You have no part in this matter. You cannot have any of this because God sees that your heart is not right.

²² Stop your wrong ways. Ask the Lord. Perhaps God will forgive you for the wrong things you wanted to do.

²³ I see that you are very bitter. Your wrong ways control you all together.'

²⁴ Simon said, `Ask the Lord for me, so that none of the things you have talked about will happen to me.'

²⁵ The apostles told the people the word of the Lord. Then they went back to Jerusalem. On the way they told the good news in many villages in Samaria.